8 4 



GARDENERS' 



MAGAZINE. 



February 5, ^ 



L/ELIA RUBESCENS. 



F 



TRIPHYLLA SUPERBA. 



Most orchids that have been in cultivation for any lengthy period have 

 several synonyms, and Laelia rubescens is not an exception. It was first 

 made known by Dr. Lindley, who, in 1840, was shown a specimen that 



J 



J 



and Sons, at the Chelsea 



Nurseries. L. peduncularis, L. acuminata, and Bletia rubescens are 



AMONG the many species of fuchsia scarcely one is more distinct th 

 the West Indian F. triphylla. It is a charming plant when well ^ r 

 but it needs more warmth than the majority of cultivated varieties 01 !! 

 has slender, graceful branches that terminate in nodding raceme 

 brilliant cinnabar-red flowers, each bloom being an inch and a half \ 

 and with a much elongated tube. The triphyllate character is noi*** 



rsursenes. l.. pcuuntuums, ^. aLuiu.iKua, aim x^i«« — — 7 , . . _ * - . . . * - 



names under which the species has been known, for while some consider constant in cultivated plants, but once seen there is never 



that different species are "referred to under the two former names, yet it 

 is now generally conceded that L. rubescens includes them all, thus 

 proving it to be a variable species. Two or three years after Ur. Lindley 

 named this orchid, it was rediscovered by Hartweg, who was collecting 

 for the Royal Horticultural Society, in Guatemala. Well-grown speci- 

 mens will produce slender scapes, bearing a loose raceme of six or 

 eight flowers. The latter are two to three inches across, and vary from 

 pure white to the ordinary rosy-lilac hue ; the spreading lip is lighter in 

 colour along the side lobes, and also immediately in front of the large 

 marone-purple blotch that occurs at the base. The pseudo-bulbs are 

 ovate, somwhat small and wrinkled, each bearing a single, leathery 

 leaf, oblong-lanceolate in shape. This Mexican orchid is usually best 

 managed in an intermediate house, grown on pieces of tree stem or in 



three inches in length, deep green above, 

 remarkable 

 towards the margin. 



, uui uncc been mere is never any diffi c 1' 

 in determining the species. The leaves vary from an inch and a hrill 



.nner in wnicn tne veins curve from the mi,** 



ww*^. ~o— 11 is °. nl y during the past ten or fifteen ^2 



that the species has been cultivated in gardens, and even now it is 

 by any means a common garden plant, though a batch of specimen! 

 flowering in an intermediate house is ever a great attraction. ThoJ 

 who have not hitherto grown the species should make a start with ii fa! 

 it has received the hall mark of merit— a first-class certificate of 2 

 Royal Horticultural Society, and that as long ago as August, 1886. 

 A strone rival to F. triphylla is its variety superba introduced bt 



Messrs. R. Veitch and Sons, of Exeter. It is a stronger grow» 

 plant than the type, having taller growths and larger racemes 4 



L.KLIA RUBESCENS. (Flowers deep rosy-lilac.) 



hanging baskets. It is not a difficult orchid to manage, but unfortunately 

 it is somewhat scarce, and the large importations of cattleyas and other 

 showy orchids have of late somewhat overwhelmed L. rubescens and 

 other orchids that are not less beautiful. Our illustration represents an 

 inflorescence shown by Mr. W« H. White, the clever orchid grower to Sir 

 Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Dorking, on December 14 last, at the Drill 

 Mall. The flowers were especially fine, and their colour, quite a 

 magenta shade, was more rich than we have ever seen before in this 

 species. On the same occasion Mr. Cragg, gardener to W. Walker, 

 Esq , Winchmore Hill, N., showed a flowering specimen, and in both 

 instances the Orchid Committee granted awards of merit. 



Adiantum Bessonianum. —This fine new maidenhair fern may be aptly 

 described as a glorified form of A. Pacotti. It is a strong grower, sometimes 

 attaining a height of eighteen inches. The fronds are not so dense, in proportion 

 to their size, as those of A. Pacotti. but they have the same general character of 

 numerous and overlapping pinn.u. Mr. James O'Brien introduced the fern from 

 the West Indies, and exhibited it at the K.H.S. meeting of July 14, 1896, when 

 a first-class certificate was awarded it. As regards origin, it appears to be a hybrid 

 between A. trape/itorme and A. tenerum. It is a very handsome fern, and comes 



of young plants seen recently in 

 Chelsea. A nil I description of this 



1806. -A C H. 



uliantum was given in the C1ari>kn 



Magazink of July 18 



blooms, as a reference to the accompanying illustration will P 

 There is, however, abundant room in gardens for both s V* clt 

 variety, for the latter, while being the largest in growth, foliage, rac 

 and flowers, is distinct in having crimson-scarlet instead of cinnaoj ^ 

 flowers. As in the case of garden varieties of fuchsias, so ^ 



variety under consideration, the racemes are so dense that the) 

 the branches to assume a slightly pendent position, and thus a 

 specimen is a most graceful object. Certainly those who hna so fc 

 pleasure in the cultivation of fuchsias should not omit F. tnpn>» 

 variety superba. 



Pickled Mushrooms. -Take small, freshly gathered button » u -*{°Ji* 

 off the stalks, and rub away the outer skin with flannel and sal t. 

 quickly in cold, salted water, drain, and dry them in a soft cloth until 

 hangs about them. Supposing there should be a quart of mustaooni. ^ r *» ■ 



them after thev are nr<Mv,rpH__™it * nint and a half of the best >i 1> _^ 



hangs about them. Supposing there should be a quart of mus / ir ^ n !f ne|!a r 

 them after they are prepared— put a pint and a half of the best J *\ 

 saucepan with an ounce of ground ginger, three blades of mace, nai 

 whole pepper, and a pinch of cavenne. When the pickle boils put in 



rooms 



rathe* 



ana let them boil gently for ten minutes, wncn n^j — - ,-^0* 



issjarsor wide-mouthed bottles with the mushrooms, ana . ^ 1 



spices and vinegar equally amongst them. When cold tie down in ^ ^ 



One other most important point to be attended to in pickling 1* ^ ^ 

 vinegar entirely covers every other ingredient, else the portions wni 

 |K)sed will speedily become mouldy.— Housewife. 



