152 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c February 22,1883. 
class votes of Beverley should go to White Beverley, bringing that 
variety up to tweDty-three second-class votes added to the eight 
first-class ditto—total thirty-one votes, displacing Mr. G. Glenny 
and Princess Beatrice.— Thos. Hobbs, Lower Easton, Bristol. 
That the election of incurved Chrysanthemums, as far as the 
first twenty-four varieties are concerned, is a decided success very 
few will dispute, and that, considering there is this number of 
distinct sorts of nearly equal merit, it was to be expected that 
there would be some little difference of opinion in selecting the 
best twelve. Yet the selection of any twelve does not discard 
many of the others from being of equal merit, though they have 
been placed with second honours. Slightly different tastes in 
arrangement of colours, &c., have no doubt had much to do with 
the result of the election, as, for instance, in respect to my own 
ideas. I am of opinion that white being the principal colour, there 
should be at least three whites in the first twelve. This opinion 
I find lost me a point. Then, again, we are at a loss to select the 
best bronze. Some, like myself, would prefer Bronze Jardin for 
its size and substance, others prefer Barbara for its fine build. So 
that, looking at these little differences in this light, there is a 
remarkable unanimous agreement among those who really know 
anything about incurved Chrysanthemums ; and no one knows 
more than those who have to cater for the growers what the 
value of such an election is, for many of the lists given from time 
to time by correspondents in the various gardening papers are 
anything but reliable. I cannot see why a florist should be obliged 
to keep two hundred incurved varieties when a hundred would 
suffice. 
Though the success of the first two selections is all that could 
be desired, I think many will agree with me that the remaining 
selections are far from being satisfactory. The fact is there are 
numbers of varieties scattered among a multitude of growers who 
think none like their own. They at once suppose the few they 
possess are the best to be had. The number of names given to 
make up the remaining twenty-four (and I understand that 
several of them have been put down for the first selection) is 
marvellous. We are told there are 156 sorts mentioned to make 
a selection of forty-eight. Many of these sorts are altogether 
forgotten or else never heard of; some are little larger than 
Pompons, others are purely reflexed varieties, as Hermione and 
Countess of Granville. 
However, we have a list of sixty-two names enumerated. In 
the first place we must look at the various synonyms, and see 
how materially these alter the list. For instance, Miss Mary 
Morgan has twelve votes, Pink Perfection has nine ; these have 
to be added together, and the one variety, for such they are, finds 
its proper place. White Beverley, and Beverley too—surely these 
should be added. Next we find Emily Dale with sixteen and 
Golden Queen with twenty. These may or may not be exactly 
identical, yet I venture to say most electors have treated them as 
alike, so that the one variety loses its position through being 
divided. Again, Mr. Howe and John Salter are certainly of 
equal substance and merit; in fact they are so much alike that 
they cannot be well placed in the same stand of twenty-four, yet 
look at their positions—John Salter, fifty-two votes ; Mr. Howe, 
fourteen. Angelina surely deserves a better position. I consider 
it a decided acquisition for its colour, whereas we could dispense 
with its parent, Lady Slade, for colour, and yet we find thirty-two 
points’ difference. I can only put these (what I would term 
irregularities) in the list, either from the varieties being divided 
by synonyms, or else, as in the case of Angelina, not sufficiently 
well known. 
There are a few varieties which well deserve a place of honour 
which seem to have been quite lost sight of, among which I 
would mention Album formusum, Luteum formosum, Rev. J. 
Dix, James Laing, and Hercules. They are mentioned among 
the sundries, but all have a place in forty-eight. 
In conclusion, I think we have to thank the Editors for their 
valued labours in bringing about such an election, which will no 
doubt induce criticism from others besides myself, which will all 
tend to the mutual benefit of the many lovers of these beautiful 
flowers.—N. Davis, Camberwell. 
Spring Flowers. —Our Hellebores are beautiful now; Daphne 
Mezereum is also showing its pretty flowers. That charming winter 
flowerer Erica carnea, often wrongly called Erica mediterranea, will 
soon be in full tuauty ; it makes a fine edging in the spring garden. 
Winter Aconites (Erantbis hyemalis) are now in bloom. Snowdrops 
are opening their flowers. Arabia albida is showing its beautiful 
white flowers. The double Daisies (Beilis perennis plena) are ad¬ 
vancing. Jasminum nudiflorum is always beautiful, and Forsythia 
viridissima is producing its yellow flowers. Myosotis dissitiflora 13 
blooming, and soon we shall have others to follow.—V erna. 
WATERING PLANTS. 
I have read with interest Mr. W. Taylor’s article on this sub¬ 
ject. Most gardeners will agree with him on many points ; but I 
expect many like myself will pause at one of his paragraphs, and 
that is where he says—“ Were I able to attend to a houseful 
of plants myself I would have the pots both glazed and without 
a hole for drainage.” I was very much surprised on reading it, 
as he is so particular about drainage for his Vines. I have often 
heard it mentioned that not one young gardener in a hundred 
knows how to water a plant; and I have never seen anyone so 
particular in watering plants as my father. I have often heard 
him say that when he waters a plant he liked to always see the 
water pass freely away through the drainage, and I expect he 
has grown as good Ericas and Lisianthus Russellianus as any man 
in the country. I mention these plants as they require careful 
watering to keep them in good health. Mr. Taylor also mentions 
“ that he has frequently with advantage corked the bottom of a 
pot after it had become full of roots.” Has he corked up the 
bottom of a pot from the first of a plant’s existence ? as after it 
had become full of roots it would not be likely to suffer so much; 
or if the pot was porous (and not glazed) it may evaporate 
through the pot. I have heard growers of delicate Heaths say 
that during the winter months they rubbed the sides of the pots 
to see if there was moisture in the soil. If the pot became damp 
it was a sign there was, if not it was dry ; but of course the pots 
used were very porous.— A. Young. 
CYPRIPEDIUMS. 
{Continuedfrom 'page 118.) 
Green-leaved Species. —Next in interest to C. Spicerianum, 
which has already been referred to, is C. Stoneanum, one of the 
most handsome in the whole genus, and is more frequently seen 
under the name C. Stonei; but the former termination is, I believe, 
the correct one, as the plant was named in honour of Mr. Stone, 
gardener to Mr. J. Day of Tottenham, who neither introduced nor 
raised it. The species is a native of Borneo, and was sent to 
England from Sarawak about thirty years ago, first passing into 
the hands of Messrs. H. Low & Co., and thence to Mr. J. Day, by 
whose gardener it, amongst many other Orchids, was exceedingly 
well cultivated. For some years it continued scarce, but fresh 
importations soon reduced the price, and plants of moderate size 
can now be purchased at most establishments for half a guinea, 
a comparatively small price for such a beautiful Orchid. It has 
narrow green leaves and spikes of two to four flowers, the sepals 
of which are white, the dorsal sepal being broad, somewhat heart- 
shaped, and streaked on the back with purple. The petals in the 
ordinary form are narrow, yellowish, with purple spots, and the 
lip, which is of good size and finely formed, is bright shining rosy 
purple veined with a darker shade. This, the original type, is, 
however, far surpassed by the magnificent variety platytamium, 
the broad-petaled form of C. Stoneanum, w'hich is perhaps the most 
handsome of the genus, as it is unquestionably the most valuable. 
It first flowered in Mr. J. Day’s collection sixteen years since, and 
was probably received with plants of the ordinary form, but when 
its flowers were produced it created quite a sensation amongst 
Orchid growers. It is chiefly distinguished from the species by 
its much broader petals, which are beautifully spotted with dark 
purple, the dorsal sepal being also finely streaked with purple. 
There are few plants of this variety in cultivation, and it will 
doubtlessly continue scarce for some time yet, though every effort 
will be made to increase so valuable a plant. When Mr. Day’s 
Orchids were sold in 1881 two specimens of this variety were 
included, one of which was purchased by Sir Trevor Lawrence 
for 140 guineas, and the other, I believe, by a London nurseryman 
for 20 guineas less. Neither of these were of great size, the last 
mentioned only having two shoots and seven leaves ; and yet the 
purchasers did not obtain these prizes without experiencing sharp 
competition, as the prices indicate, and that given for the first 
plant is said to be by far the highest sum that has ever been paid 
for a single Orchid. It has now enriched the Burford Lodge 
collection, and will always possess an historical interest, even 
when other plants of the same variety shall be readily obtainable 
for as many shillings as that cost pounds. 
Several other varieties of C. Stoneanum are seen in collections 
which greatly surpass the common form in size of flower and 
richness of colour, but none equals that described above. One of 
the largest specimens and the best variety that I have seen is that 
in Mrs. Torr’s collection at Garbrand Hall, Ewell, which has been 
