506 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t June 26, 1884. 
elastically wide opeD, so that the plant may be benefited by the damp 
air. 
It commonly happens that when fungus spores germinate on the 
under surface of a leaf in humid weather, that the fine spawn threads 
from the spores find out these mouths of transpiration, and so get inside 
and amongst the tissues of the leaf by the open doors. Sometimes the 
thread of the fungus is of such a nature that it sets up putrescence in 
its course of growth. This is the case with the spawn of the fungus of 
the Potato disease; it gets inside the leaf by the little open mouths or 
organs of transpiration. It then not only lives inside the leaf and sets 
up putridity in its progress of growth, but it sends out new spawn 
threads from the inside of the leaves through the mouths outwards. 
This process soon chokes up all the stomata and reduces the stem as 
well as the leaves to a putrid mass. 
The slomata of the Anemone are somewhat small, and the spores of 
the invading fungus somewhat large, and it is supposed by some observers 
that the spores on germinating on the surface do not usually enter the 
Anemone leaf. This point is a hotly disputed one amongst botanists, 
hut we need not enter into controversial matters here. 
The iEcidium cups and the male organs termed spermagonia are 
embedded in the substance of the Anemone leaf, and it is desirable to 
see them both in section. For this purpose a leaf must be cut in two 
with a keen lancet, and the cut must be made through both iEcidium 
and spermagonium. When the leaf is divided, a slice, or rather film of 
inconceivable thinness, must be sliced off the cut surface and transferred to 
a slip of glass. If the slice is successfully made we shall see the fragment 
as shown in the lower illustration of fig. 117. The lower surface of the 
leaf is shown at E, and the upper surface at F. The epidermal cells 
top and bottom are colourless, not green. At c O two organs of 
transpiration are shown, both open and leading to the intercellular spaces 
between the constituent cells of the leaf. Between the two letters G G 
an immature Aicidium cup may be seen embedded in the leaf—a little 
chamber ”—full of spores or seeds—hence the name. Between E and G an 
immature dark-coloured spermagonium is seen embedded. At H a mature 
AEcidium cup is illustrated ; the cup has burst through the lower cuticle of 
the leaf, thrown back its frayed edges right and left, and the spores are 
hanging in chains from the open mouth. At J a ripe spermagonium is 
shown also bursting through the epidermis of the leaf. Attached to its 
glutinous mouth and protruded spermatic threads some of the shed spores 
from the AScidium cup may be seen. It will be observed that the leaf near 
H is considerably thicker than at E, F. This extra thickness, or hyper¬ 
trophy of the leaf tissues, is a common after result of the attack of 
parasitic fungi. The reader should remark that each A3cidium cup is 
made up of an investing membrane of one series or stratum of trans¬ 
parent cells, and that the presence of both iEcidium cups and sperma¬ 
gonia cause the tissues of the leaf to become corroded and blackened 
within. 
It is now only necessary to take a single spore from a cup and use the 
highest powers of the microscope for its magnification. If we enlarge 
1000 diameters we shall see the yellow spore, as at K, full of granular 
protoplasm, or vital formative material, and more or less studded by 
the sticky male dust from the protruded and broken-up threads of the 
spermagonium, or male organism. 
The Aicidium cups and the spermagonia both arise from the same 
spawn or mycelium within the leaf. The mycelium forms knots near the 
lower surface of the leaf where the constituent cells at E are looser and 
larger than the small and compact ones above, as at f, and where the 
little vertical strengthening pallisade cells seen just under the transparent 
stratum of the upper leaf surface at F are absent. The upper surface 
of the leaf at F is too firm for the development and bursting of the 
AUcidium cups and spermagonia. 
The Adcidium of Anemone is a close ally of the AScidium or “ blight ” 
of Barberry bushes, a fungus which is supposed by some observers to be 
the cause of the red rust and black mildew of corn. The fungi of rust 
and mildew are termed Uredo and Puccinia, but no members of these 
two genera have been yet associated with the AScidium of Anemones. 
All that is known of the fungus of Anemone blight (Aicidium quadri- 
fidum, D.C.) is that the phenomena we have described are repeated 
year after year on the produce of the same rootstock from the perennial 
mycelium within the tissues of the perennial host plant. There is 
no remedy for such a disease ; the only plan for the destruction of the 
fungus is to root up and burn all infected plants.—W. G. Smith. 
SPECIAL SOCIETIES—EXHIBITING. 
Much has been published under this and somewhat similar headings 
in the Journal of Horticulture, yet we are not much nearer to the solu¬ 
tion of one or two knotty questions than at the commencement cf the 
discussion. In the course of the correspondence a few proceedings have 
been brought to light, that to say the least were not expected. Now the 
question is, Who are those who lie under the imputation of trading iu a 
certain class of plants of which they h^ve made a speciality, and yet 
take many prizes as amateurs ? Why should there be any ambiguity 
about the term “amateur” as distinguished either from professional gar¬ 
deners or growers for trade purposes ? Separate classes are generally 
provided for each branch of the profession. Anyone managing their 
own gardens, only receiving occasional assistance, are termed amateurs, 
while gentlemen constantly employing a qualified gardener with or 
without further assistance have sometimes classes specially provided for 
them, but otherwise they must compete with professional gardeners. The 
nurserymen or those who grow principally for sale have their own classes, 
or meet the others in those “ open to all ” only. This is plain enough 
surely, though it does not appear to be understood by all, especially those 
who wish to win the lion’s share of prizes. 
If it is not thought desirable by the framers of the schedules cf 
the Royal Horticultural, Royal Botanic, and National Auricula and 
Carnation Societies to separate the amateurs from professional 
gardeners, then I hold that traders or those who market their surplus 
with their superior advantages over the ordinary amateur and profes¬ 
sional gardeners ought not to compete against the two latter, but should 
meet the nurserymen or growers for sale. We hear of no infringement 
of this well-understood rule at either of the exhibitions of the two first- 
mentioned Societies; and this brings me to the most important and 
seasonable subject matter. 
It will be observed the arrangements of the schedule of the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society prevent exhibitors of twelve blooms < f 
Carnations and twelve Picotees from competing in the classes for six 
Carnations and Picotees respectively—a commendable proviso intended, 
I presume, for the encouragement of beginners. Now, I should be glad 
c f a few plain answers to questions 1 propose to put in connection with 
these classes and Carnation showing generally. In the first place, who 
is Master Stanley Dodwell, Oxford, who at the 1882 Meeting was first and 
second respectively in these same set-apart classes, and first in both the 
classes last year ? What is his age and occupation ? We are gradually 
approaching the date of the next Carnation Show, hence the necessity 
for explanations. Perhaps replies to a few plain questions may tend to 
smooth matters somewhat, and decide waverers who may wdsh to com¬ 
pete, but who hesitate to do so under the circumstances.—No Amateuk. 
[We have made inquiry into the question which has been asked by 
“ No Amateur,” and we are informed by an Oxford correspondent that 
Master Stanley Dodwell is the grandson of Mr. E. S. Dodwell, Joint 
Honorary Secretary of the National Carnation and Picotee Society, that 
his age is “ about seven years; but it is immaterial whether his age be six, 
seven, or eight years, as he is a youth not advanced in years beyond the 
stage generally denominated the school-boy period.”] 
HARDY LADY’S SLIPPERS. 
We have under cultivation to-day in many instances a vast 
number of hardy terrestrial Orchids, all more or less beautiful 
and interesting, while many are really handsome, and may proudly 
vie with rare tropical species. The latter can only be grown by 
skilful hands and in heated structures, w hile those to which I 
shall draw attention may, by following these simple instructions, 
be grown by anyone under ordinary circumstances, and should 
in fact find a home in every English garden. Yaried (and pretty 
too) as are our native species and varieties of Orchis, still they 
fall a long way in the rear when we consider such gems as 
Calopogon pulchellus, Bletia hyacinthma, Cypripediums gene¬ 
rally, aud Habenarias likewise, which come to us from other 
parts of the globe. Neither time nor space, however, will allow 
of my entering into a detailed account of the many, hence it is 
my intention in the present note to speak of one or two of the 
most distinct Cypripediums or Lady’s Slippers. 
Recalling the generic name for a moment, the writer is re¬ 
minded of the vast importance attaching thereto among Orchids 
generally, not only in respect to hardy species, but to tropical 
and subtropical alike. In the two last-named instances this 
genus holds a prominent position, and among the Lardy species 
it stands pre eminent. 
Cypeipedittm acauie (Stemless Lady’s Slipper).—Why a 
plant having a stem from G to 8 inches high should receive the 
specific signification of stemless 1 am at a loss to understand, 
since that is about the average height of many species from 
warmer regions. This, however, is of only minor importance when 
we come to consider its real qualities. It is at once one of the 
handsomest and hardiest of its genus, and readily distinguished 
from all other species by the deep fissure in the labellum. 
When well established the plant attains a height of 6 or 8 inches, 
the flowers being of purplish rose colour, nearly 2 inches in 
length. Its culture is simple. It may be planted in a sheltered 
nook on the rockery—that is, on the lower and damper portions, 
or fronting a Rhododendron bed, or in company with dwarfer 
American plants of a peat-loving nature. It may also be grown 
successfully in leaf soil and sard, and as a further proof of its 
willingness to submit to a variety of soils, it may be well grown 
in very sandy loam. As a pot plant it is charming, and with the 
protection of a cold frame or handlight its flowering period may 
be considerably lengthened, it comes from North America, 
where it is to be found in plenty, and as with a great majority 
of collected plants varies considerably in the colouring of the 
flowers. A well-drained position is at all times indispensable 
to its well-being. 
0. calceoeus (English Lady’s Slipper).—In this we have a 
true Britisher, equalling, and indeed surpassing, many a tropical 
species. In general excellence, at the same time, it is by far the 
alrgest and handsomest of our native Orchids. When well estab- 
