May 8, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
365 
Saccolabiums, and others, but I shall pass these to notice the Phalsenopsis. 
These are arranged at the north end of the house, the wall being covered 
with Ferns, Fittonias, and other similar plants. Many of the plants are 
standing upon the stage, but elevated about a foot above the rim of 
large pots and blocks of wood, while the remainder are in baskets sus¬ 
pended at different levels. Many of the plants were in bloom, and the 
magnificence of the display should be seen to be fully realised. A variety 
with the growth of P. amabilis was particularly conspicuous, having in 
the flower the yellow of P. grandiflora. P. amabilis and P. Schilleriana 
were very fine, while two plants in full beauty of P. Stuartiana were 
really grand. P. leucorrhoda is, perhaps, the finest of all Phaltenopsids, 
having flowers 3 inches or more across, which resemble in size and shape 
those of its parent, P. amabilis ; they possess the beautiful colouring of 
its other parent, P. Schilleriana. These plants do not like being moved 
about, and to show their peculiarity in this respect it may be mentioned 
that those noted above were removed from an old house to the new one 
which they now occupy, but they did not take kindly to their new 
quarters ; but by care and judicious treatment Mr. Davies has during the 
past year restored them to their former health and vigour, and they are 
now in the best possible condition. 
Cypripediums are in good condition and well represented. A large 
plant of C. barbatum, over 4 feet in diameter, although not in flower, 
cannot be passed without notice. C. caudatum has eight or nine 
spikes visible, and when its peculiar long petals are developed this plant 
will be interesting. A large flower of C. Lawrencianum giganteum was 
just past its best, having been crossed with that distinct and beautiful 
variety, C. Spicerianum. A good plant of C. barbatum biflorum with its 
two flowers on one stem, as its name implies, was well flowered. Cypri¬ 
pediums Argus, Hookerii, lasvigatum, hirsutissimum, and villosum, a large 
plant with many flowers, were also worthy of mention. In the cool house 
there was a good opportunity of comparing the varieties of C. insigne, 
C. i. aureum being good, but a form named C. Chantinii was very much 
superior, being both larger and finer than the flowers of Maulei, the 
plants of both being equally strong. In the warm house was a very fine 
plant of Dendrochilum glumaceum with twenty-five of its hanging spikes, 
which scented the whole house. This Orchid is worth growing more 
largely in gardens, as it is admirably adapted for cultivation in baskets, 
and has a very beautiful appearance when in flower suspended from the 
roof. Leptotes bicolor was also pretty. 
In the houses devoted to cool Orchids quantities of Caelogyne cristata, 
large pans 3 feet or more in diameter, which had been masses of flower, 
were just over. The Trentham variety was still at its best, and is valu¬ 
able because it flowers later. C. Lemoniana was in full beauty, and 
flowers much later than the ordinary variety of C. cristata. The plant of 
C. Lemoniana is over 3 feet over, and has the peculiar habit of flowering 
freely from the top of the pseudo-bulbs in autumn, and from their base 
the same as C. cristata at this season of the year. This is the character 
of the plant under Mr. Davies’ charge, and it would be interesting to 
know if this is natural to this variety. Many plants of Lycaste Skinnerii 
of various shades were in full flower, while very fine plants of Laelia 
anceps were past their best; these must have been very fine. The 
Odontoglossum house was very gay with numbers of 0. Alexandras, 
0. Pescatorei, plants of 0. Hallii with seven or eight large spikes, and 
many others. Several plants of O. odoratum were in flower, but one 
struck me as a remarkably fine distinct form, having a pure white lip 
with a purple spot upon it. 0. Eossii majus and 0. Cervantesii were 
attractive, suspended from the roof in shallow pans in association with 
the bright scarlet flowers of Sophronitis grandiflora. The last is a great 
favourite, and Mr. Gaskell intends to have sufficient to fringe the whole 
of the house devoted to Odontoglossums ; and what is easier of cultivation 
or more beautiful at this season of the year ? 
Although many new and rare species and varieties are to be seen at 
Woolton Wood, yet room is found for good useful old kinds. Phajus 
grandifolius is one of these, and I noted a large plant with over two 
dozen spikes, and it would be difficult to select an Orchid when in flower 
that is more noble or commanding. Calanthes a short time ago were a 
great feature of attraction, one large house being filled with them while 
in bloom. I need scarcely add that where these plants are grown in 
large numbers such a sight once seen seldom fades from the memory. 
These plants are held in such high estimation that it is proposed to con¬ 
struct a house for them. The plants of C. veratrifolia which are grown 
in the stove are wonderful examples of cultivation, and a competent 
authority considers them the finest plants in Europe. They are growing 
in 10-inch and 12-inch pots, and are the picture of health ; in fact they 
resemble Phajus grandifolius in size and strength more than Calanthe 
veratrifolia. These plants are well elevated above the rim of the pots 
except one plant, which is not in good condition, but has been potted 
differently on someone’s recommendation. These Calanthes are potted 
in about equal parts of fibrous loam and peat, with a very liberal 
quantity of sandstone intermixed, and a few quarter-inch bones with the 
meal left amongst them as crushed. Mr. Davies feeds these plants 
liberally, and can do so with safety when small pieces of sandstone are 
freely employed in the compost. 
There is a house full of Masdevallias in the best of condition just 
commencing to throw up their showy flowers.—W. Babdney. 
NARCISSUS “JAMES DICKSON.” 
In reply to your correspondent “ Narcissophile ” under.the above head¬ 
ing in your valuable paper (May 1st), we did not send the flowers to the 
Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society until after we had 
purchased 1000 of the bulbs from Mr. Pickstone. The name as applied 
had previously been given to it by Mr. Burbidge at the Daffodil Confer¬ 
ence on April 1st, and, curiously coincident, the same name was given by 
the Rev. C. Wolley Dod. We have purchased the entire stock of flower¬ 
ing bulbs of this grand variety from Mr. Pickstone, and it was by his 
special desire that we wrote to the Floral Committee to change the name 
to “ Sir Watkin,” which they declined to do. Our intention is to send it 
out under the name of “ Sir Watkin ” early in the approaching autumn.— 
James Dickson & Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, 
NATIONAL AURICULA SOCIETY. 
Northern Section. 
This Exhibition, which was held in the Manchester Town Hall on 
Tuesday the 29th ult., was, in the opinion of many, not quite equal to those 
of former years, last year in particular. Undoubtedly the chief reason is 
the backward condition of many collections. Several large growers were 
almost unrepresented, notably the Rev. F. D. Horner, Wm. Bolton and 
Richard Gorton, Esqs., and some others were not in such strong force as 
on some other previous occasions ; nevertheless a good display was made, 
and it is worth while going a long way to witness the intense enthusiasm 
of the numerous growers, be they in humble or affluent circumstances. If 
a suggestion may be made here, it would be that the Committee should 
encourage the exhibition of larger collections, say fifty varieties, also to 
secure a larger number of Alpine exhibits, as that class is evidently very 
rapidly gaining the popular favour. Again, a much better and more distinct 
method of labelling should be insisted upon than exists at the present time. 
Growers know their plants as soon as they see them, but the public do not, 
aud the greatest difficulty is experienced in getting at the proper names of 
the plants when pasted on the pots, and frequently most indistinctly 
written. These are matters well worthy the consideration of the _Com- 
mittee, and undoubtedly their efforts to develope improvements will be 
cordially appreciated by the public and flower-loving section of the Lan¬ 
cashire community. A very large number of people visited the Exhibition, 
and at times the building was uncomfortably full. The Auriculas were 
fittingly supplemented by a very attractive display of stove and greenhouse 
plants. 
Show Auriculas. —Six dissimilar varieties.—In this class there were 
seven collections staged, all of which were good. First Mr. H. Wilson, 
Halifax, with grand plants of Prince of Greens (Trail), nine pips : Col. 
Taylor (Leigh), Acme (Read), Lancashire Hero (Lancashire), John Simonite 
(Walker), and Mrs. Douglas (Simonite), all of which showed evidence of 
the best culture, the plant of John Simonite was especially praiseworthy. 
Mr. E. Pohlman, Halifax, followed with a very even collection as follows :— 
Prince of Greens (Trail), Trail’s Beauty, Brilliant (seedling), Acme (Read), 
Col. Taylor (Leigh), and Alexander Meiklejohn (Kaye). The finest plants 
were Prince of Greens with eight charming pips, and Trail’s Beauty with 
nine very large pips ; the flowers of Acme were also good. Third Wm. 
Brockbank, Esq., Didsbury, whose best plants were George Lightbody 
(Headley) and Lancashire Hero (Lancashire), the latter being especially 
good. Fourth Mr. Ben. Simonite, Sheffield, whose collection included 
Merlina (Simonite), Heather Bell (Simonite), and a new seedling. Fifth, 
Wm. Bolton, Esq., Warrington ; sixth, Mr. E. Shaw; seventh, Miss Stewart, 
York. 
Four dissimilar varieties.—The premier position was again taken by 
Mr. H. Wilson with very neat plants, comprising Garibaldi (Pohlman), 
with seven first-rate pips ; Col. Taylor (Leigh), Acme (Read), with six very 
even pips ; and George Lightbody (Headley). A close second was gained 
by Mr. Pohlman with Acme (Read), George Lightbody (Headly), Ellen 
Lancaster (Pohlman), and Col. Taylor (Leigh) ; the plant of Ellen 
Lancaster was especially noteworthy. Mr. Wm. Taylor, florist, Middleton, 
was third; Wm. Brockbank, Esq., fourth; Wm. Bolton, Esq., Warrington, 
fifth; Arthur Potts, Esq., Hoole, Chester, sixth, this collection containing 
a good plant of Dr. Horner (Simonite) : and Mr. E. Shaw, seventh. There 
were nine collections staged in this class, some of them running very close 
in merit. 
Two dissimilar varieties.—As usual this was a very full class—sixteen 
pairs were staged, the honoured ones selected in the following order. 
First, Mr. E. Pohlman with Read’s Acme and George Lightbody (Headly), 
the former with seven very excellent pips, and the latter with six extra- 
sized pips. Second, Mr. John Beswick, Middleton, with George Lightbody 
(Headly) and Chas. J. Perry (Turner), the latter with ten large pips. 
Third, Mr. Wm. Taylor; fourth, S. Barlow, Esq., Stakehill, Manchester; 
fifth, Mr. R. Lord, Todmorden; sixth, Mr. E. Shaw; seventh, Mr. H. 
Wilson. This formed a most interesting class. 
Pair, for maiden growers.—Arthur Potts, Esq., took the lead in this class 
with Booth’s Freedom and Lancashire Hero (Lancashire), the_ former with 
six fine pips and in excellent condition, and the latter with six pips. Mr. 
J. Brodie, Rochdale, was second. These were the only two exhibitors in 
this class. 
Single Plants. — Green-edged. —In this class, as well as every other for 
single specimens, the competition was very keen. A large number of plants 
being staged, great difficulty was experienced in selecting the best for the 
awards. The premier was a plant of Lancashire Hero (Lancashire), the 
owner’s name being not given on the card ; after this the first prize was 
taken by Mr. R. Lord for a seedling of very promising character. Mr. E. 
Pohlman was second with Prince of Greens (Trail), and a grand plant it 
was, with ten fine pips. The following awards were made respectively— 
third, Mr. Jno. Beswick ; fourth, fifth, and eighth, Mr. Ben. Simonite; sixth, 
Wm. Brockbank, Esq.; seventh, Mr. E. Pohlman. There were thirty entries 
in this class. 
Grey-edged. —The premier was another grand plant of George Lightbody 
(Headly) from Mr. H. Wilson, carrying seven good pips; after which the 
first prize was given to a good specimen of Alexander Meiklegohn (Kaye), 
the owner’s name not transpiring. Mr. E. Pohlman was second with Lanca¬ 
shire Hero (Lancashire) ; third, Wm. Brockbank, Esq.; fourth, Mr. B. Simo¬ 
nite ; fifth, Mr. J. Simonite; sixth and eighth, S. Barlow, Esq.; seventh 
