98 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 31, 1884. 
“it is onft of the enemies which assail the denizens of our rivers in all 
stages of their existence.’’ 
It is very interesting to know that microscopic fish are liable to be 
destroyed if hatched in an ordinary glass prune jar wherein has been 
placed bladder-bearing specimens of the Utricularia ; but are not such 
conditions factitious or fortuitous ? This is answered by the correspondent 
of the Field towards the end of his communication, where he states his 
intention to introduce the Utricularia “in a piece of shallow water where 
he has lately found a mass of roach spawn.’’ The fish, even in their very 
small stages of growth, do not appear to be victims to the vesicles to any 
appreciable extent. Nor need it be apprehended that when introduced into 
rivers where the young fish abound the presence of the plant will prove 
fatal to the fish, for when and where have specimens of U. vulgaris been 
discovered in flowing water having in their vesicles or bladders fish in any 
stages of their existence ?— Spes. 
GERANIUM TRAVERSII. 
In reading “ M. S.’s’’ interesting notes on “ Cranesbills,” I noticed 
that he had omitted to mention Geranium Traversii, a hardy species 
recently introduced from New Zealand. It is of prostrate habit, with 
greyish silvery leaves. The flowers are about the size of those of 
G. cinereum, perhaps a little larger, light rose in colour, prettily pencilled 
with bright purple, and are produced freely along the prostrate, leafy, 
much-branched stems. There is also another hardy Cranesbill which I 
venture to think deserves notice—viz., G. tuberosum, which should be 
grown in warm sandy loam. The flowers are large, but not so circular 
as most of the other hardy species, bright pink. Stems erect, 12 to 
15 inches high.—P. R. 
ORCHID NOTES. 
Care in the Treatment op Orchids. —Some years ago 
the Culture of Orchids was considered one of the mysteries of 
horticulture, and for a considerable period it appeared to be the 
object of those who had been the most successful with these 
plants to represent their practice in as complicated a manner as 
possible. In later years, however, there has been a great change, 
and people gradually discovered that Orchids were not so re¬ 
markably fastidious but that they would thrive under ordinary 
intelligent treatment, and that really they did not need so much 
care and skill as Heaths and other hardwooded plants which 
had been grown to perfection. Unfortunately this has led to 
another extreme, and the idea is getting abroad that Ox’chids 
will succeed with very little attention; in fact, that they are 
almost t JO simple in their requirements to necessitate the super¬ 
vision of an experienced grower, and may be safely left to the 
cai'e of the under gardener, or even of the apprentice. This is a 
deplorable mistake, and has already produced bad results in 
several large collections. A few days since I visited a garden 
where a year or two ago the Orchids were a credit to the estab¬ 
lishment, owing to their then receiving the personal supervision 
of the head gardener. Now they are relegated to the care of 
an assistant scarcely out of his teens, and the result is unsatis¬ 
factory in the extreme; indeed, unless a change is soon effected, 
the collection will be practically ruined. It is not the observance 
of an intricate system of culture that insures success, but at¬ 
tention to the simple details, such as the supply of moisture, the 
temperature, and general cleanliness. The teen eye of an expe¬ 
rienced overseer will quickly detect the slightest indication of 
bad health or the appearance of insects, and these first signs 
must receive prompt attention to prevent any serious injury. 
All who have been accustomed to growing Heaths know how 
quickly an experienced eye can detect indications of sickliness, 
when anyone unfamiliar with those pfiants would think they wore 
in perfect health. It is similar with Orchids, but as a rule the 
signs of illness are more readily discerned than in hardwooded 
plants. In any case it is equally unpleasant to a true plant-lover 
to see the objects under his care unhealthy, especially when these 
results can be so readily avoided. This note is intended as a 
l^int to any young gardener who is inclined to become somewhat 
careless in regard to his Orchids, for if he desires to keep his 
pilants in satisfactory condition he must watch them closely and 
see that there is no neglect in their treatment, or he may soon 
have reason to regret his want of thoughtfulness.—J. T. 
Oncidium Krameri. —This very strangely formed yet beau¬ 
tiful Orchid is rarely seen in first-rate condition, and it is seldom 
that so handsome a flower has come under our notice as one 
which a Lancashire correspondent sends us this week. It is 
really butterfly-like in form, with fine “ antennas ” and beautifully 
marked “ wiugs,” and poised as it is upon a slender stem, it has 
a most natural appearance. The bloom sent was finely coloured, 
the shades of yellow and brown being clear and rich in the 
extreme, and the flower generally of unusual size. 
Stanhopea eburnea. —The same correspondent sends sc 
flower of this fine species, which is less well known in gardens 
than the large-flowered and strongly marked S. tigrina and one 
or two others. As the name implies, the flower is ivory white, 
and in substance also it has some resemblance to ivory, the lip' 
being exactly like a | iece of that material carefully carved and 
highly polished. The most striking and pleasing character is, 
however, its powerful fragrance, which very strongly resembles 
the odour of Hyacinths. It is not a new introduction, as it has 
been in cultivation since 1828, when it was first imported to this- 
country from Brazil, and is still included in several of ,,the: 
nurserymen’s lists. 
BEGONIAS AT FOREST HILL. 
Rapid strides have of late years been made in the improvement of the 
Tuberous-rooted Begonias. No one would have dreamed a few years ago 
that this deservedly popular class of free-flowering plants would have 
attained to such a high standard of perfection as they now have. Cer¬ 
tainly no class of plants can lay greater claim to popular recognition than, 
these. Useful alike to the professional and amateur gar&ner, these 
popular plants include nearly every shade of colour, and thus are emi- 
Pig. 18.—Begonia Distinction. 
nently suited for the exhibition tent or the decoration of the greenhouse, 
conservatory, window, and dwelling-rooms. In consequence of this a. 
great demand is made for the finest varieties. No one has done more 
towards effecting a great improvement in this race of Begonias than. 
Messrs. Laing & Co. of Stanstead Nurseries, Forest Hill, S.E. This firm 
make their production and improvement a speciality, as they are grown 
by hundreds of thousands to supply the demand for them. Everyone 
interested in them ought by all means to pay a visit to Messrs. Laing and 
Co.’s Stanstead Nursery, where they will see one of the richest sights 
they ever beheld. A large and spacious show house is devoted to a col¬ 
lection of some thousands of the finest types grown in pots and in baskets. 
It is indeed a splendid sight to behold such a vast collection representing 
every shade of colour, which, mingled together, present a gorgeous mass 
of bloom, exciting the admiration of visitors. 
It is astonishing to what perfection Messrs. Laing & Co. have brought 
these plants as regards size of flower, habit, and variation of colour, and 
as proof of this the above firm have received from time to time a number 
of first-cla'^s certificates. Among the most striking varieties in flower in 
the Begonia house at the time of my visit were Canary Bird, a pretty 
dwarf-growing double of a canary colour; General Gordon, a fine carmine 
double ; T. Hewitt, large crimson double ; Dr. Duke, an immense brilliant 
scarlet; and Prince of Wales, a splendid large and deep scarlet double. 
The single varieties were still more striking, especially noticeable being 
Her Majesty, a pleasing novelty with delicate rose-pink flowers; Mrs. 
Weekes, white beautifully margined with lines of red; Distinction, a 
charming variety, lovely crimson with a white centre ; Stanstead Surprise, 
a superb crimson ; Torey Laing, another fine vaiiety, yellow suffused with 
crimson; Bridesmaid, an exquisite white, the finest of its class ; Golden 
Queen, a fine large chrome yellow; Mr. A. Forbes, a striking novelty, 
cairying fine vivid crimson flowers; Lady Chesterfield, one of the large- 
flowered section, with immense well-shaped flowers of a rich carmine 
