150 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 19, 1885. 
recognised in this country forty years ago ; but he died too early. The 
brother whose loss we now regret was in partnership with him in the 
Newburgh Nurseries, and he also edited the later editions of his brother’s 
“ Fruit and Fruit Trees of America.” 
- Me. B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper 
Holloway, has received a Royal Warrant appointing him nurseryman to 
H.R. Highness the Prince of Wales. 
- A Dorsetshire correspondent sends us a Double-spathed 
Richardia which is one of the best we have seen. The spathes are 
equal in size, 6 inches long by 4^ broad, and are directly opposite each 
other on each side of the spadix. Similar specimens have been sent us 
at various times, but usually there has been a very noticeable difference in 
the size of the two spathes. 
- At a recent monthly meeting of the Belgian Horticulturists 
at Ghent certificates of merit were awarded for the following new plants— 
To the Continental Horticultural Company for Brunsvigia magnifica, 
Hfemanthus Kalbreyeri maximus, and Cypripedium Haynaldianum roseum 
Te M. M. Vervaet & Cie. for Odontoglossum guttatum. To M. Peeters j 
Brussels, for Imantophyllum var. President C. Bernard; and to M. M. 
Desbois et Cie. for Begonia hybrida nova. 
- Floral Decorations at a Wedding. —On the occasion of the 
marriage between Viscount Lymington and Miss Beatrice M. Pease, on 
the 17th inst., at Sir Joseph Pease’s town mansion, Kensington Palace 
Gardens, the decorations were entrusted to Mr. J. Mclndoe, Sir Joseph 
Pease’s gardener at Hutton Hall, the whole being done by plants and 
flowers from that establishment. The principal flowering plants used 
were Azaleas, Bruvardias, Callas, Cyclamens, Deutzias, Dendrobiums, 
double white Primulas, Tree Pasonies, Pimelea spectabilis, Hyacinths, 
Narcissus, Spiraeas, Tulips, Crocuses. These judiciously intermixed with 
Ferns, Palms, Crotons, Dracaenas, Selaginellas, &c., made a very effective 
display. In the decoration of the breakfast table Lily of the Valley, 
Narcissus poeticus, ornatus, and Coelogynes were the flowers used. A 
number of small silver cups were filled with white Cyclamens, and Cocos 
Weddelliana. 
- A correspondent writes—“ There is now at Welham Hall, near 
Retford, the residence of Charles Thorold, E-q., a handsome Display 
OF Primulas, consisting of about 150 plants in 6-inch pots, raised from 
seed supplied by Messrs. Sutton. The plants are well grown and furnished 
with abundance of bloom, the trusses being thrown well above the foliage ; 
the colours are pure, bright, and distinct, ranging from deep rich purple 
to the purest white. Many of the individual flowers measure nearly 
7 inches in circumference. The collection as a whole is very creditable 
to the grower Mr. Channon. In the same garden is a fine example of 
the Mistletoe growing on an Apple tree, and forming a dense bush quite 
9 feet in diameter.” 
- Horticultural Club. —The annual dinner took place at the 
rooms, 1 Henrietta Street, on Tuesday evening last, under the presidency 
of Mr. John Lee. There were present the Rev. F. H. Gall and Th. 
Flintoff ; Messre. Harry J. Veitch, Sherwood, Crowley, Druery, William 
Bull, E. G. Loder, Geo. Bunyard, B. R. Cater, F. W. Cooling, C. F. Hoie^ 
Harry Turner, Geo. Deal, &c. In returning thanks for the Club the 
Secretary stated it had been ten years in existence, had been the means of 
bringing together in social intercourse a large number who were in¬ 
terested in horticulture, and although it did not expect to be other than 
a select Club, yet he thought that a Club which after ten years’ existence 
could leave off on its tenth year with a balance of £50, and had a fund 
of £300 invested in consols, might fairly be considered to be in a satis¬ 
factory condition. A very pleasant evening was spent, and much praise 
bestowed on the arrangements made for the convenience and comfort 
of the members. 
- At a Committee meeting of the Wimbledon Horticultural 
Society it was decided to offer a five-guinea silver cup, with second and 
third prizes £3 and £2, for twenty-four cut Roses, distinct, open to all 
comers ; also a silver cup of the same value, with second and third 
prizes of £2 and £1, for twelve cut Roses, distinct, open only to amateurs 
within the Wimbledon district. Several new special prizes are announced, 
and the schedule, which will be issued in the course of the present 
month, will be of a most attractive character. Subscribers will he in¬ 
terested to learn that a regulation was passed to the effect that the 
summer passes will be available at the autumn Exhibition of 
Chrysanthemums, and should the ordinary members’ tickets net be 
used for the summer Show, they will also admit at the autumn 
Exhibition. The date of the summer Show is fixed for the 8th of July, 
lo take place at Cannizaro, by kind permission of Mrs. Schuster- 
Mr. H. A. Rolt, 170, Hartfield Road, New Wimbledon, is Secretary. 
- “ M. M.” writes as follows on Propagating Dahlias: —‘‘There 
may be various ways of doing this, but my plan is to bring out the whole 
roots from their storage place about this time. Cut the roots away 
from the main stem, and have them all as single tubers. They are then 
placed closely up on end in boxes or pots with leaf soil or common 
earth around them, and then they are placed in a gentle heat. It is 
not loDg before little shoots are seen being emitted from the top of each 
tuber, and when these are a few inches in height the whole of them are 
lifted from their place in the box and potted singly. This is a much 
better mode of increasing the plants than taking cuttings, as the latter 
require a long time to form roots, and they do not make such fine plants 
the first season as those raised by dividing the roots. This spring we are 
only increasing two of our varieties, and those are the red and white 
Cactus varieties, which are very showy and useful.” 
-The annual meeting of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association was held on Saturday, the 7th inst., Mr. J. Richardson in 
the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The Chairman, in 
opening the proceedings, congratulated the meeting on the successful 
shows held by the Association and on the increased balance in their 
favour on the year’s workings. Mr. J. Gore submitted the sixth annual 
report, which stated that the exhibition, in point of merit, as well as 
attendance, had been the most successful the Association had ever held 
The statement of accounts was submitted by the sub-Treasurer, Mr. 
Minshall, which showed again on the year of £136 16s. 7d., which, added 
to balance in hand, made up a total reserve fund of £578 13s. 7d. After 
votes of thanks had been passed for the services rendered to the Society by 
the officers during the year the meeting proceeded to the election of 
officers for the coming year. The Mayor, Mr. David Ratcliffe, was elected 
President; Mr. Fletcher Rogers re-elected Honorary Treasurer; Mr. W. 
Minshull sub-Treasurer ; Messrs. J. Peers and J. Kelly Auditors. The 
Committee was elected by show of hands, the following being chosen :— 
Messrs. Richardson, Waterman, Curie, Powell, Green, Stephenson, Mease, 
Bromley, Morris, Foster, Hurst, Johnson, Young, and Mercer ; and Mr. 
Bridge was appointed Secretary. We are glad to notice the steady 
progress of this Association during recent years, which is the best proof 
of able management. The spring Show for the present year opens on 
March 17th, the summer Show on August 1st, and the autumn Show on 
November 24^b, the schedules being comprehensive and the prizes good. 
CYPKIPEDIUM INSIGNE. 
This is one of the most easily grown and, in my opinion, the 
most useful of all winter-flowering Orchids. It is neither a new 
nor an expensive variety, but for general culture it has much to 
recommend it. A cool frame in summer and an ordinary green¬ 
house or conservatory in winter will bring it out in perfection. 
In the catalogue of a well-known Orchid-growing firm *1 find 
C insigne priced at 5s., O. insigne Chantini G3s., and C. insigne 
Maulei 42s.; but I would rather possess a dozen of the 5s. plants 
than one of Chantini. 
With the majority of cultivators I believe that C. insigne 
would ultimately prove more serviceable and satisfactory than 
either of the others. We have over half a dozen of it. The largest 
specimens are in 10-inch pots and are fine masses. Each one 
produces dozens of flowers every autumn. They are very orna¬ 
mental as room plants, and for supplying cut flowers there is 
none to equal them. This time they began flowering in October, 
and we have many blooms open now. Some which were cut and 
placed in glasses, and some sprays of Calanthes, remained per¬ 
fectly fresh for over three weeks, and with a litt'e extra attention 
in changing the water three times or so weekly I am sure they 
might be kept up for six weeks at least. Mr. Cypher of Chelten¬ 
ham, who values this Orchid very highly, has lately had many 
spikes with two blooms on each ; but although our plants have 
been very free with single blooms, they have never given us any 
twins. The double ones are interesting, but not of much more 
value than the single ones. 
The cultural requirements of C. insigne are very simple. It 
makes roots freely and produces top growth in proportion. It is 
not subject to disease or liable to be attacked by insects. The 
roots are thick and fleshy and delight in plenty of drainage. The 
pot in which it is grown should always be a quarter filled with 
crocks properly arranged. Pure fibrous loam, with a small 
