July 17, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
51 
a magnificent piece of plate which the rev. gentleman has this year taken 
as first prize for eighteen Teas or Noisettes at a competition at South 
Kensington. 
- On Wednesday Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, had an unusually 
beautiful display of hardy flowers at Kensinoton, one of the 
most effective selections of the season. Carnations, Japan Irises, Pent- 
stemons, Lilies, and numbers of other flowers were represented in the 
best condition. 
ROOT-BOUND CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
When I scanned the Journal of July 10th, and came to the note from 
Mr. Murphy on Chrysanthemums in 10-inch pots being root-bound at this 
early period, I could not help thinking how gardeners differ. There is 
very obviously a serious mistake somewhere in this case, and it is very 
apparent to me that these plants have been treated “not wisely but too 
well.” Our stock is yet in 4-inch pots ; too late in these I admit, but cir¬ 
cumstances have prevented us from getting them transferred into their 
flowering pots at an earlier date. As a rule, however, I do not repot them 
earlier than the end of June ; even now I should be inclined to back ours 
against those in lO-inch pots which are root-bound. The plants in ques¬ 
tion must have been kept growing too freely in spring, and in addition 
they have been treated to an open rich soil and not potted firmly. My 
experience with Chrysanthemums is this, that the cooler they are kept in 
spring fhe better; that the most suitable soil is that in which Wheat 
delights, the only manure required being some cow manure; that it is 
impossible to pot to(> firmly, and if once the roots begin growing a simple 
manure like guano is very beneficial. We only pot twice—once from the 
cutting pot into 4-inch pots, this in April, and again in the end of June 
into the flowering pots; and I am speaking from experience when I say 
that the conclusion Mr. Murphy arrives at has resulted from a system of 
treatment unsuited to Chrysanthemums and to many other decorative 
plants.—R. P. B. 
BURGHLEY PET MELON. 
_ Mr. Gilbert, of Burghley, sent me some seed of this variety fo 
trial, but, having m house, I handed a few seeds to a very able gardener) 
Mr. Pitcher, of Crix Park, Hatfield Peveril, who on the 9th took first 
prize with a fruit at the Chelmsford and Essex Show. After the Judges 
had done their duty I also tiiad it, and found it to be the most delicious 
and melting fruit I ever tasted. The skin was very thin, and the Melon 
most handsome in appearance, Mr. Pitcher stated that he considered it 
to be about the best Melon he ever grew, which is saying a great deal.— 
H. S. Easty. 
CATTLEYAS AT SOUTHPORT. 
So Urge has the number of cultivated Orchids in England 
become in recent years that many amateur growers have gradu¬ 
ally commenced to make specialities of particular genera, as the 
idea of form.ng a complete collection is now almost impracticable. 
At one time it was not a difficult matter to accommodate all the 
Orchids that had been brought from their native wilds to 
European gardens in a small house; now large houses are 
devoted to single genera, which even then are perhaps not half 
represented. There is thus what might be called a division of 
labour. One orchidist may have an especial liking for Masde- 
vallias, another for Odontoglossums, a third for Dendrobiums, 
and a fourth for Cattleyas, and while each may have a large 
general collection he will pay special attention to his particular 
favourites. This is a double advantage; it brings a larger 
number of species and varieties into cultivation than would 
otherwise be the case, and by closer attention to the require¬ 
ments of the plants which are most in favour the best modes of 
ensuring their success are observed, practised, and communicated 
to the Orchid-growing world generally. If, too, in addition to 
growing the plants to the best advantage the Orchid specialist 
turns his attention to hybridising, still more satisfactory results 
may be produced, and some valuable forms placed in the horti¬ 
culturist s hands. Of such work an example was furnished by 
Mr. Robert Warner of Chelmsford, who has materially assisted 
in swelling the ranks of hybrid Cypripediums, while he has also 
given an example of special culture in the magnificent Odonto¬ 
glossums, particulai'ly O. Alexandrie, which have been grown 
and flowered at Broomfield. Mr. Philbiick of Bickley, and Mr. 
Bockett of Stamford Hill, have proved ivhat can be done with 
Phalamopses. Mr. Peacock has also given much attention to 
Odontoglossums, while Mr. Lee of Leatherhead and Mr. E. P. 
Perciyal of Southport have rendered their names famous in the 
Orchid world for their grand collections of Cattleyas, Mr. Lee’s 
collection is familiar to all in the south of England, but South- 
poi t is a little out of the beaten track, and comparatively few 
find their way there unless called to the north on business or 
pleasure. “ Whenever you are in Manchester by all means go 
and see Mr. Percival’s Cattleyas,” was the advice given by an 
excellent judge of Orchid merit (Mr. Harry Williams), and after 
having one’s linterest still further aroused by the wonderful 
specimens which carried off the honours at the Whitsuntide 
Show, there seemed to be but one course open, and that was to 
Southport. 
Clevelands, Mr. Percival’s residence, is a short walk from the 
station, past the Winter Garden, within a few hundred yards of 
the sea, and quite unprotected in that direction. The west and 
south-west winds are very severe at several periods during the 
year, and notwithstanding that various hardy trees have been 
tried to break their force they have all in the most exposed 
portions succumbed to the salt-laden gales. Under such circum¬ 
stances it would scarcely be expected to find plants of any kind 
in unusually good condition, and it is therefore the more 
surprising to the visitor who enters the well-built light and 
spacious houses, and sees Orchids, the reputedly difficult plants 
for cultivators, growing with a vigour that could scarcely be 
surpassed in their native homes. It has been my good fortune 
to see the majority of the finest collections of Orchids in this 
country, but I have never seen so large a stock of Cattleyas 
in such perfect health and so remarkably strong. All the 
numerous occupants of the houses are well grown, but the 
Cattleyas are the feature. They are simply superb—the leaves 
broad, clean, and leather like in substance; the flowers of 
unusual size and rich in colour. 
The house devoted to the Cattleyas with a few other plants 
is span-roofed, with a centre and two side stages, 100 feet long 
and 20 wide, in four divisions, C. Trianae is largely represented, 
one division being almost filled with plants of that species in 
several varieties, and when these are in flower the display must 
be grand in the extreme. Eight hundred blooms open at one 
time, in all the variety and richness of colour of this fine Orchid, 
must present a sight that could scai’cely be rivalled in any 
private collection. The variable but beautiful C. Percival'ana is 
also grown in abundance, some of the best varieties that have 
yet been obtained, and the largest specimens in cultivation, one 
grand mass, 3 feet long by 2^ feet wide, being particularly note¬ 
worthy. The merit of this species is only just becoming known, 
as unfortunately the plants which first flowered were mostly of 
rather indifferent varieties; in its better forms it is, however, 
very handsome, the lip being marked with a peculiarly rich 
shade of crimson, quite distinct Horn anylother Cattleya. The 
white variety is also a charming Orchid, and an extremely pretty 
companion to the ordinary type. The old but lovely Cattleya 
Skinneri is another favourite at Clevelands, and w'ell does it 
merit the attention it receives, for the charming rosy-tinted 
flowers are produced in most liberal profusion and have a grand 
effect. The Veitch Memorial medal was awarded for a handsou « 
plant of this species at the Regent’s Park Show this summer, 
but had one of Mr. Percival’s specimens been there it w'ould 
have had a most formidable rival. It was not, however, quite 
forward enough for the London Show, and at the time of my 
visit was in its best condition, with 3G0 magnificent flowers, or 
over fifty growths, the plant exceeding 4 feet in diameter. Such 
a specimen in perfect health would amply merit any honorary 
award. The chaste white variety is similarly well grown, though 
of course it is represented by smaller plants. 
Cattleya Mossiae, as might be expected, constitutes an attrac¬ 
tion of great importance in the Cattleya house ; dozens of 
varieties are included of the most varied shades. It is surprising 
what a number of distinct forms of this Orchid there are. Many 
have been honoured with names, but in a collection like that 
at Southport it would be almost impossible, and certainly 
unnecessary, to name them. The sepals and petals differ con¬ 
siderably, ranging from the palest blush to bright rosy crimson, 
while the lip is similarly varied, especially in the veining, some 
being netted with the richest gold. The flowers, too, are of great 
size, some reaching a diameter of 9 inches, with four or five in a 
spike, and their condition generally indicates the most skilful 
cultui-e. The useful C. Mendeli and C. aurea are grown in 
similar numbers and with equal success, the latter in basketa 
having a most satisfactory appearance. 
One of the most magnificent of these aristocrats of the Orchid 
family is undoubtedly the superb C- gigas, and its best of forms 
Sanderiana. No other Cattleya can surpass or even equal these 
in size of flower and richness of colour, and when grown as they 
are at Clevelands their claims to high rank must be at once 
admitted. C. Sanderiana in particular, which is far superior to 
the ordinary forms of C. gigas, is a superb Orchid, and the 
specimen, of which an engraving is given in fig, 9, is probably 
the finest in cultivation. This plant was at the time of my visit 
placed in a little annexe to the large house, and its appearance 
was grand in the extreme. It had eighteen flowers, each 9 inches 
in diameter, the lip 3 inches across, and the colour was of the 
brightest rosy crimson colour imaginable, extending deep into 
