158 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 23, 1882 . 
and on Thursday last some 380 specimens were sold by auction at 
Mr. Stevens’s rooms, Covent Garden. Although so short a notice 
had been given, a large number of Orchid growers and admirers 
were attracted to the sale-rooms, and the prices for imported 
plants consequently ruled high, ranging from three to sixteen 
guineas each—very good prices for imported Orchids. It is said 
that every plant sold had been seen by the collector in flower, so 
there can be no doubt respecting the accuracy of the name. The 
plants were found growing on the sides of perpendicular rocks 
after a long and troublesome search. There will now be no 
scarcity of plants, and the high prices obtained for some speci¬ 
mens lately are not likely to be again reached. This will be 
welcome news for Orchid lovers who have desired to obtain speci¬ 
mens but have been debarred from doing so by reason of its scarcity 
and great value. It may be remembered that a few months ago 
a plant in a 5I-,size pot was sold for sixty guineas, and still more 
recently a somewhat larger specimen realised no less than one 
hundred guineas, given, too, by a firm of nurserymen who thus 
highly valued it in a commercial point of view. The speculation 
does not appear to be a very promising one. 
The woodcut given in this Journal, December 1st, 1881, is a 
faithful representation of this handsome and distinct Orchid, and 
the coloured plate in the “ Botanical Magazine,” April, 1880, ad¬ 
mirably pourtrays the chief characters, among which the fine 
white dorsal sepal is the most striking. It is said the first speci¬ 
mens sent to Mr. Spicer from India were received without any 
indications as to their habitat, and this is doubtless the reason the 
plant has continued scarce. 
Pkimrose Harbinger. — Among the hardy Primroses this 
appears to be one of the most distinct and pretty ; and it will 
unquestionably soon become a favourite with all who value the 
early spring-flowering plants. It is similar in habit to the com¬ 
mon Primrose, but the flowers are considerably larger and flatter, 
the limb being rounded in outline, about 2 inches in diameter, 
white with a well-defined central deep orange eye, which adds 
considerably to the attraction of the flowers. It is very flori- 
ferous, and succeeds well in pots. This plant was raised by Mr. 
Gilbert of Burghley, who holds the stock, and the certificate was 
awarded to him at Kensington last week, and not to Mr. Canned 
as was erroneously stated on page 139. 
Iresine FORMOSA. —This is quite distinct from the other two 
Iresines so generally grown in gardens—namely, I. Herbstii and 
I. Lindeni. In the form of the foliage and habit it approaches the 
latter most nearly, and is said to be a sport from that species, 
though it differs greatly from it in the colouring of the leaves. 
These are rather broader at the base than in I. Lindeni, being 
ovate with a tapering apex. The midrib and stems are crimson,-the 
lateral veins being light yellow, which colour also spreads into the 
body of the leaf, a green tint chiefly prevailing near the margins. 
It is very free in growth and easily propagated, and the raiser, 
Mr. Goldsmith of Hollanden, states that he finds it not only ex¬ 
tremely effective for bedding-out in the summer but also as a 
winter decorative plant in the stove, where in a light position it 
colours admirably. 
C'celogyne cristata Lemoneana. — Visitors to the leading 
metropolitan horticultural exhibitions during the past year doubt¬ 
less saw and admired this Orchid on several occasions; but as 
shown by Messrs. Yeitch & Sons at Kensington recently its quali¬ 
ties were admirably developed. It is easily distinguished from 
the typical form—not by any marked deviation in the form of 
the flowers, but by the delicate lemon colour which tinges the 
crest in the centre of the lip. In the species this is orange more 
or less deep in shade, and when seen together the species and the 
variety constitute admirable companions. To these should be 
added the pure white Coelogyne cristata alba, and the cultivator 
will possess a pretty trio. 
Pinguicula CAUDATA.— This still continues comparatively 
scarce in cultivation, though I understand that at least one firm 
is in possession of a stock which is being increased as rapidly as 
possible. To anyone who may be fortunate enough to have a 
plant a hint as to its propagation may be acceptable. An intelli¬ 
gent friend, who has had much experience in increasing plants, 
informs me that he has succeeded in obtaining plants by removing 
some of the lower leaves and inserting them in very dry sandy 
soil in a moderately warm but not too damp position, affording 
similar treatment to that accorded other plants increased in this 
way. This is a ready mode of increasing the stock, and will 
probably soon lead to the plant becoming better known. In the 
cool Orchid house, in company with Droseras, Darlingtonias, 
Drosophyllums, and Sarracenias, it thrives well and continues in 
flower for a remarkably long period. A good instance of this can 
be seen at Kew, where plants have been flowering the greater 
part of the past year, and one is still bearing flowers as brightly 
coloured as any produced at a more favourable season. The rich 
crimson hue is much admired by all who see the plant, and some 
have compared it very appropriately with Masdevallia Lindeni. 
The leaves have now developed into a broadly elliptical form, 
resembling other species of Butterwort, and quite different from 
their appearance when the plant was first exhibited. Well- 
drained pans with a compost of peat, sand, and sphagnum suits 
the plant, and the surface of the soil may be covered with living 
moss.—L. C. 
AURICULAS AND POLYANTHUSES FIFTY YEARS 
AGO. 
Looking over some old volumes in our literary institute library 
a few days since I saw Miller’s “ Horticultural Register,” and 
turning over its pages I found coloured figures of a new Auricula 
just then issued by Waterhouse of Sheffield — Conqueror of 
Europe, and shown for the first time in 1833. Further on I 
found an illustration of the gold-laced Poljanthus George IV., 
with an interesting list of the then best varieties, and the number 
of prizes won by each during 1833. Permit me a few reflections 
by way of retrospect, to which I have no doubt many of your older 
readers may be pleased to add. Looking at the culture then 
adopted I counted fifteen different ingredients considered as in¬ 
dispensable in the compost which it was necessary to mix in 
mystic proportions, which I need not here repeat, even as a 
curiosity. 
It is rather strange that Sheffield with its atmospheric short¬ 
comings was then, as now, remarkable for lovers of florist flowers 
and successful raisers of new varieties. It would appear Con¬ 
queror of Europe created then quite a sensation, which is not 
surprising, for Miller says, “ The flowers are nearly the size of a 
crown piece, and would not fail to take the first prize wherever 
exhibited.” As figured, the ground colour is a dark crimson 
velvet, but much feathered ; yet how few better grey-edged 
Auriculas have we to-day, after fifty years, while every other 
department of floriculture has advanced with strides ? If this is 
true of Auriculas, it seems even more so of gold-laced Polyan¬ 
thuses ; for in the list above referred to, the three with the 
greatest number of first prizes—viz., Pearson’s Alexander, Cox’s 
Prince Regent, and Buck’s George IV., are among the best exhi¬ 
bition flowers of to-day. Nor do they seem to multiply so as to 
become reasonably cheap. This seems curious, especially when 
we think of the formerly expensive and showy plants often im¬ 
ported from the tropics, such as Orchids that are now often sold 
for less than some of these Polyanthuses. What is the secret? 
Do they die out rapidly ? Can they be replaced from seed or 
quickly multiplied by division ? It seems not. As to seed-pro¬ 
pagation, I fancy in nineteen cases out of twenty, as seed is gene¬ 
rally collected from either Auriculas or Polyanthuses, or any of 
Primula family, it is simply gathered without ever having inquired 
if hybridisation from some inferior kind has not been effected. 
An Alpine Auricula, it is known, will spoil any number of edged 
kinds if near. Lovers of those fine flowers must naturally desire 
that they should have more attention.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
SILKWORMS AND SILKWORM-REARING.—7. 
In these times, when articles can be rapidly transmitted by 
means of the facilities steam gives, supposing silkworms were exten¬ 
sively reared in the British islands, their yield of cocoons could be 
sent for winding, without harm, to other countries where the deft 
fingers of the women have proved to be clever at this work. 
Moreover, the rate of wages would probably be considerably less 
than our winders might require ; yet we hardly like to think our 
women and girls are not as skilful as those of Italy and France, 
nor need the failures during last century in some partial experi¬ 
ments tend to discourage us. It is, however, a part of the business 
quite distinct from that of rearing, though it may be carried 
on within the same premises ; and in those countries where the 
silk industry is of importance, the cocoons are sometimes sent 
long distances to be wound. That work may be progressed with 
gradually, the rearing has to be done in its particular period of 
two months, which is followed by ten months of inactivity in 
this pursuit. It is amongst the possibilities of the future that 
science may discover a plan by which the worms can be forced 
out of their eggs so as to have two or even three broods during 
the summer, although the economic advantages might not he so 
considerable after all. There are warm climates in which a suc¬ 
cession of the caterpillars of B. Mori are now easily obtained, and 
these may be deemed promising for silkworm culture. Japan is 
an instance where B. Mori thrives, that country being also famous 
for its special silkworm, the Oak-feeding B. Yama Mai. 
