300 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 17, 1884, 
the ordinary deviations from the type, but by crossing with N. poeticus 
a series of distinct groups of hybrids have been produced, some of which 
combine in a remarkable manner the characters of both parents. Still, 
the whole of the N. incomparabilis family is very distinct, and Mr, 
Hibberd’s idea of grouping these under the title Chalice Daffodils is not 
a bad one in a popular point of view. 
Distinct in an unusual degree from the multitude of these Chalice 
Daffodils is the magnificent variety represented in fig. 73, and for which 
Messrs. James Dickson & Son, Chester, were awarded a first-class certi¬ 
ficate at Kensington recently. So distinct, indeed, is it that some little 
difference of opinion was expressed amongst the Narcissophiles as to 
whether it was really a form of N. incomparabilis or not. The cup is 
so much larger and longer than is ordinarily seen in that species that 
the doubt lingering in some minds was excusable. Mr. F. W. Burbidge, 
however, gives the weight of his authority in favour of N. incompara¬ 
bilis, and is, we understand, responsible for the varietal name bestowed 
upon it. There appears to be some evidence tending to show that the 
variety occurs in the north of England in a wild state, and it is said that 
flowers are frequently seen both in the Liverpool and London markets 
so that it must be abundant in certain districts if these statements be 
correct. It was sent to Dublin from Messrs. Dickson, and by them 
flowers were exhibited at Kensington. Perhaps some of our readers can 
add to this moderate history. 
The flowers are of wonderful size, fully 4 inches in diameter across 
the petals. The latter exceed an inch in diameter, and are sometimes 
nearly 1^ inch, elliptical in form, very thick and substantial, and of a 
pale but clear bright yellow. The crown or chalice is very handsomely 
proportioned, lj or lj inch in depth, and as much in diameter at the 
mouth, which has a slightly but regularly waved margin, and in colour 
is of a bright but not dark orange tint. The whole flower has a noble 
imposing appearance, which at once attracts attention. 
PEAS IN POTS. 
Aa a strong proof of the adaptability of the dwarf Pea known as 
American Wonder for early forcing, I may state that I have to-day 
(April 7th), gathered a good dish of Green Peas from the above variety. 
The seed was sown in 8-inch pots on January 16th, and placed in an 
early vinery until the plants came into flower, after which they were 
removed to the front stage of our early Peach house. There they have 
abundance of air night and day, and promise to afford several dishes. 
My employer pronounced their flavour excellent. I find they are as 
easy of culture as French Beans, the only difference, in fact, being the 
Peas need more air than the former. I do not call attention to this as 
being an extraordinary achievement, as others, including Mr. Barker of 
Hindlip, have accomplished the same thing, but my object is to point out 
the superior merits of this dwarf Pea for early forcing. Everyone with 
a vinery or Peach house may with very little trouble command a few 
dishes of Green Peas at this time of year.—T. W. Sanders. 
NOTES ON OECHIDS. 
Fumigating Cool Orchids.— I am of opinion that slight fumi¬ 
gations of tobacco smoke, provided the material used for that purpose 
is good, will not prove injurious to cool Orchids. Many good growers 
fumigate fieely, but I do not consider it a wise or a safe practice. 
What will suffer from fumigations of tobacco smoke sooner than 
Ccelogyme cristata or even Disa grandiflora ? but the latter is not 
affected if the application is not too strong. I should say the fumi¬ 
gation given to ■“ W. W.'splants has been the cause of injury, for 
I once saw some fine healthy plants affected in the same way by an 
overdose of smoke. I have discontinued subjecting my cool Orchids 
to tobacco smoke, and have found the plants have done better since. 
Aphides are the greatest enemy to these plants, and some attention 
is needed to keep the plants free even when tobacco is employed. 
I obtained a spray distributor and insert it into a bottle filled with a 
weak solution of tobacco water or Fir-tree oil. The former I prefer, 
although the latter is the cleanest. This is a ready way of destroying 
aphides, and does not occupy much more time than fumigating. 
Yellow Thrips. —This is the most destructive little pest the 
Orchid grower has to deal with, as it makes serious ravages on Aerides, 
Vandas, Cattleyas, or any other Orchid. It is very difficult to eradicate, 
and if this is attempted by the aid of tobacco smoke alone much injury 
would be done to the plants before it could be destroyed. A few 
years ago it was brought here upon some newly purchased plants 
which were stood amongst others and unnoticed ; it soon gained a 
good footing. The course alluded to was adopted, but did not prove 
satisfactory, so other means were tried, which proved successful. 
A number of small camel-hair brushes and ajar of nicotine soap were 
obtained, and three or four men commenced sponging them with a 
weak solution. One man followed with one of the small brushes, 
and applied the solution liberally to the axils of the leaves where it is 
impossible to place the sponge. All the plants, whether any thrips were 
upon them or not, were so treated ; and before the solution had time 
to dry it was drained out, the pflants washed with clean water and 
stood in a clean house. When all had been done the house was 
thoroughly cleansed and heavily fumigated two or three nights in 
succession, and then the plants returned to their former position. As 
they were brought back they were dewed with the syringe, and tobacco 
pov"der applied by means of a distributor. This w r as left on for 
about two days and then washed off. This did not exterminate all 
this troublesome thrips, but we dressed the plants frequently for a 
time at short intervals and eventually exterminated it, and have never 
been troubled since.— Scientia. 
Orchids at Fernfield, Bridge of Allan. —Dr. Patterson sends 
us a box of beautiful Orchid flowmrs, which abundantly prove by 
their size, strength of spike, and rich clear colours how well his system 
of culture suits them. Of Lycaste Skinneri a dozen blooms wete 
sent, all distinct varieties, differing in the size of flower, breadth of 
sepals and petals, and depth of colour in the lip. In some the sepals 
are pure white, the petals flushed with rose, and the lip rich crimson with 
a central white stripe and a few spots ; in others the sepals are tinged 
with rose, as well as the other portions of the flower ; in a few the 
lip is very faintly tinted, nearly white, but the more highly coloured 
forms predominate. Odontoglossum Halli is represented by a very 
strong spike of eleven handsome flowers, large and heavily" mottled 
with dark brown—a superb variety. 0. Halli leucoglossum is a 
lovely variety with a pale yellow ground colour, the sepals and petals 
bearing towards the apex broad circular brown blotches, but near the 
base are a series of narrow oblong bars ; the lip is white with a ymllow 
fringe at the base, and two or three brownish spots. The contrast of 
colours in this variety is most pleasing. Of Odontoglossum trium- 
phans a magnificent variety is sent, the spike bearing nine large and 
richly coloured flowers, very suggestive of 0. grande. The flowers 
are 3^ inches in diameter, the petals three-quarter inch broad, deep 
golden yellow, with numerous rich brown spots and blotches ; the lip 
is 1^ inch long and three-quarters broad, pure white at the base, and 
brown at the tip. It is one of the finest varieties we have seen. 
Coelogyne ocellata maxima is distinguished by its large flowers, 
2|- inches across, pure white, except for the yellow-tinted lip. Rodri- 
guezia planicaulis has pale greenish yellow flowers, very small, with 
wavy sepals and petals, but pleasantly fragrant ; and Chysis brac- 
tescens is represented by a spike of six ivory-like flowers. Such a 
choice collection as this is always most welcome, and considering the 
distance the flowers had travelled their freshness was surprising. 
Odontoglossum Pescatorei. —At one of Mr. Stevens’ sales last 
week a grand specimen of this beautiful Orchid was offered, and after 
some competition was sold to Mr. W. Bull for twenty-five guineas. This 
plant is reputedly" the finest in Europe, having been in the Trentham 
collection for seventeen years, and is thus really a genuine specimen. 
It is in most robust health, with six panicles, comprising a total of 
180 flowers, not individually large, but of good general outline, the 
petals broad and rounded. It was much admired at the King Street 
rooms, and will form an attractive feature in Mr. Bull’s nursery for 
some weeks. 
Specimen Piial.enopsis Schilleriana. —At one of the recent 
meetings of the New York Horticultural Society a magnificent 
specimen of the above Orchid is said to have been shown from the 
garden of Mr. Dinsmore at Staatsburgh. According to the Secretary's 
note in the American Gardeners' Monthly this plant was in superb 
condition, most healthy, bearing six spikes with a total of 246 flowers. 
Rarely do we see such a grand specimen in this country". 
Sale of Orchids. —At Mr. J. Stevens’ sale on the 9th inst. there 
w'as a handsome display" of Orchids in flower, the room presenting a 
beautiful appearance. Several magnificent varieties of w r ell-known 
Orchids were entered, and the prices were mostly good. A dark- 
flowered variety of Cattleya Mendeli realised 84 guineas ; Odonto¬ 
glossum Alexandra was admirably represented, one extremely fine 
rose-coloured variety being sold for 24 guineas ; and another, also 
distinguished by its large symmetrical flowers, fetched 14 guineas. 
A fine specimen of Odontoglossum Andersonianum with six flower 
spikes was sold for 10 guineas; and an unusually beautiful variety of 
Dendrobium Jamesianum realised 15 guineas. A small plant of a 
large-flowered dark-coloured Odontoglossum vexillarium was sold for 
the long price of 26 guineas, a striking instance of the value attached 
to fine varieties, for good plants of fail - forms of this Odontoglossum 
are sold at a less number of shillings than this one realised guineas. 
In addition to these the wonderful specimen Odontoglossum Pes- 
