April 24 , 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
025 
base of the old pseudo-bulbs that had been taken away. What 
I ca ^ the old pseudo-bulbs are those that have bloomed, and as 
those that make an early growth bloom on that growth the 
following spring, it is from the base of these that the young 
growths start. Some of my plants that flowered early have now 
made growths from a foot to 18 inches long. These will have 
finished their growths in June, and will be well ripened by 
autumn when they are put to rest. Plants that bloom late, say 
May or June, have not time to make their growths early enough 
to get them ripened, hence they do not bloom till the growths 
are two years old. In this way they lose their foliage the next 
summer after the growths are made, and when in bloom have 
no foliage. With me all my early-flowering plants have foliage 
on the growths when in bloom as green as when growing in the 
summer. I send a growth about 3 feet long, but I have taken 
the blooms off, as I wanted them to send away. If the pseudo¬ 
bulbs are two years old before they bloom then they do not send 
up growths from their base when taken away, as there will then 
be some one-year-old growths on the plants, and from the base 
of the one-year-old pseudo-bulbs the young growths start. All 
who have seen my Dendrobiums are astonished at their vigour. 
I was talking to a gardener a few days ago who called to see 
me about cutting down the Dendrobium nobile, and he made the 
remark that he should have been afraid of killing his plants if 
he treated them as I do mine.—B. 
I The pseudo-bulb sent is an exceedingly fine one. It is 
feet 9 inches long, and to the tip of the leaves is 2 feet 
11 inches long. The leaves are inch in diameter, and the 
stem at the flowering part is 2 inches in circumference. We 
have never seen a more healthy and robust pseudo-bulb pro¬ 
duced under any system of culture]. 
Calanthe discolor. —This pretty species has been known 
m cultivation for over forty years, but has been rather scarce 
in England, though it appears 
to have been better known 
in Holland, whence the first 
plants sent to this country 
were obtained. The leaves are 
similar to but much smaller 
than C. veratrifolia; and the 
flowers, which are about an 
inch in diameter, are borne in 
a neat spike, have narrow deep 
purplish - brown sepals and 
petals, and a white three- 
lobed lip with the central lobe 
deeply cut. In reference to 
this plant Messrs. Hooper and 
Co., Covent Garden, write as 
follows:— 
“ One of our correspondents 
has secured for us from the 
interior of Japan a quantity 
of flowering buds of the charm¬ 
ing terrestrial Orchid, Ca- 
Fig. 78—Calanthe discolor. lanthe discolor. It is appa¬ 
rently rare and scarcely known, 
and is presumably nearly or quite hardy. The sepals are rich 
brown, and the labellum white strongly stained with crimson. 
A small block carefully prepared from a native drawing is sent 
herewith.” 
Lissochiltts giganteus at Home. —In a work recently 
published entitled “ The River Congo from its Mouth to Bblobo,” 
by Mr. H. H. Johnson, F.Z.S., occurs an interesting reference to 
Lisspchilus giganteus, which is here reproduced:—“ A splendid 
Orchid that shoots up often to the height of 6 feet from the 
f round, bearing such a head of red-mauve golden-centred 
lossoms as scarcely any flower in the world can equal for 
beauty and delicacy of form. These Orchids, with their light 
green spear-like leaves and their tall swaying flower stalks, grow 
Id groups of forty or fifty together', often reflected in the shallow 
pools of stagnant water round their bases, and filling the fore^ 
ground of the high purple-green forest with a blaze of tender 
peach-like colour, upon which no European could gaze unmoved.” 
Orchid Sales.— At Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’s rooms in 
Cheapside on Friday last a large number of imported plants of 
Cattleya Eldorado, Cypripedium barbatum, Saccolabium gigan- 
teum, Oncidium cucullatum, Epidendrum prismatocarpum, and 
other Orchids were offered for sale in good condition, but mostly 
realised moderate prices. In addition, several handsome varie¬ 
ties of Odontoglossum Alexandra; and Wilckeanum were in¬ 
cluded, and for these the competition was very keen. _ One 
beautiful hybrid of the O. Alexandra} type or approaching O. 
Wilckeanum, with yellow ground flowers spotted with bright 
red, was sold for 19 guineas. Another of the O. Ruckerianum. 
type, exceedingly beautiful and one of the most distinct varieties 
yet produced, with sepals deep purplish-crimson on the back, 
the whole flower also flushed with the same colour, the sepals 
and petals thickly dotted with rich crimson on the upper surface, 
and having a well-defined yellow margin. This magnificent 
variety, which was the centre of attraction, was sold for 
21 guineas. A striking form of O. Wilckeanum with ivory- 
white flowers and very large spots realised 7J guineas, and 
others proportionate prices. Some of the less important plants 
were sold at very moderate prices; for instance, a good Cypri¬ 
pedium niveum and Oncidium concolor were sold for 15s. the 
pair. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 22nd. 
Though confined to a limited space in consequence of tlie National 
Auricula Society’s Show, the groups of plants and flowers were very 
attractive, especially the Roses, Rhododendrons, and Daffodils. Probably, 
however, the most generally admired group was the grand collection of 
Mignonette from Mr. Warren, which was of a quality rarely seen at 
exhibitions. Several new plants and Orchids imparted additional interest to 
the meeting, which was extremely well attended by visitors. 
Fruit Committee. —The duties of this Committee were exceedingly 
light, and limited to the consideration of a few Apples. Mr. R. Gilbert, 
Burghley Gardens, Stamford, sent specimen of a Cabbage Broccoli, with 
compact white heads, which is to be tried at Chiswick. Mr. R. Dean, gardener 
to G. Leveson Gower, Esq., Titsey Park, Surrey, had a collection of nine dishes 
of Apples, comprising Reinette du Canada, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Braddick s 
Nonpareil, Brickley Seedling, Court Pendu Plat, Winter Queening, W inter 
Pearmain, Stunner Pippin, and Cornish Aromatic in excellent condition. A 
vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. Divers, Wierton Gardens, near Maidstone, 
showed a collection of twelve dishes of Apples in good condition, and 
a bronze medal was awarded for them. First class certificate was 
awarded for 
Apple High Canons (Mr. Thrower, High Canons, Shenley, Herts).—A solid 
heavy Apple of good flavour, and evidently an excellent keeper. The fruits 
sent were 2 to 3 inches wide, slightly angular, with a deep open eye and short 
stalk. Its colour is a clean yellow, with a few streaks of crimson on the side 
to the sun. 
Floral Committee. —Section A.—Mr. E. Hill in the chair. Present: 
Messrs. J. O’Brien, H. Ballantyne, H. Williams, H. Herbst, J. Woodbridge, 
F. R. Kinghorn, and Rev. G. Henslow. Section B.—Mr. Shirley Hibberd 
in the chair. Present:—Messrs. W. B. Kellock, H. Bennett, G. F. Wilson, 
W. Bealby, J. Child, D. C. Lathbury, G. Duflfield, H. Cannell, H. Eekford, 
and J. T. D. Llewelyn. Messrs. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a choice 
collection of new plants, including several good Azaleas and Amaryllises, 
Six boxes of Narcissus bicolor Empress and lorifolius Emperor were hand¬ 
some. Mr. W. Warren, Worton Gardens, Isleworth, exhibited a group of 
extraordinarily fine Mignonette of the variety pyramidalis grandiflora. 
Seven or eight plants were placed in each pot, and formed dense compact 
specimens 8 or 9 inches high, with heads of flowers li or If inch in diameter, 
and 3 to 5 inches high, with prominent reddish anthers and white petals. 
The fragrance was extremely powerful, and altogether it was one of the 
finest samples of Mignonette that has ever been shown. A bronze Banksian 
medal was awarded for this. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, contributed a group of Cinerarias 
comprising a great diversity of colours, both self and parti-coloured flowers 
being of good form and size. The strain is evidently a very good one, the 
colours being rich and decided, delicate, or pure white. They formed a bright 
group. A bronze medal was awarded. Mr. J. Geggie, Bury, Lancashire, sent 
a pretty group of seedling Primulas, varieties from P. Sieboldi representing 
diverse shades of rose, purple, and lilac. Some were prettily fimbriated on the 
margin of the petals, and all were flowering profusely. Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking, sent several Orchids,_ three of which were 
certificated. The fourth was a good specimen of Cypripedium nsevium with 
large flowers densely dotted with small purple dots. Mr. G. Stevens, Putney, 
showed a group of Abutilons, including several good varieties, Lustrous with 
dark scarlet flowers being very noticeable; Miss Nicholls, pink, and Princess 
of Wales, deep rose, were the best. Mr. R. Aldous, gardener to G. Henot, 
Esq., Lilford House, Cholmondely Park, Highgate, had a fine plant of 
Phalmnopsis casta, with handsome flowers 3i inches across, the petals 
rounded, the lip marked with crimson at the base. A vote of thanks was 
accorded for it. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, exhibited a group of new plants, 
including several new Sarracenias, a wonderfully strong Epidendrum 
bicornutum, with six fine growths and two spikes of flowers. An elegant 
cut-leaved Grevillia named Manglesi was included, and a plant of Ccelogyne 
Parishi with yellowish green flowers and a black-spotted lip. For the 
Sarracenias, which were in fine condition, a vote of thanks was accorded. A 
vote of thanks was accorded to Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., Hildenley, Malton, 
for a healthy plant of Cattleya citrina, growing on cork bark and bearing two 
fine flowers. De Barry Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Sevenoaks, was accorded, 
a vote of thanks for a plant of Odontoglossum hebraicum with large flowers 
richly spotted with red, and a plant of Cypripedium Robelinii, something 
like C. lsevigatum, but the flowers were not fully expanded. Mr. Wilson, 
gardener to H. M. Pollett, Esq., Fernside, Bickley, sent plants of Odonto¬ 
glossum Stuartianum with fine flowers, yellow barred, and spotted with 
chocolate. 0. Ruckerianum insigne is a charming variety, spotted with 
crimson and edged with yellow. O. polyxanthum was also good with large 
clearly coloured flowers. Mr. A. J. Sanders, gardener to Viscountess 
Chewton, Bookharp Lodge, Cobkarn, sent two plants of a double purple 
