198 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 17, 1892. 
Mr. Timmis in 1886, and was then placed by Mr. Cromwell on a raft 
3 ft. 9 in. by 2 ft. 4 in., on which it still remains in a most flourishing 
condition. Since that time it has borne 260 spikes and close upon 
1000 flowers. For the first time Mr. Cromwell has flowered a 
very fine variety of the grand L. anceps Stella. It is indeed a 
superior form, and is so admitted by all who have seen it. This is 
fortunately a very large piece and is growing very strong. The 
spikes are 4 feet long and each carry four very large flowers. Mr. 
Cromwell does not think that this or any of the white forms will 
be difficult to flower when we know them sufficiently, and he is 
most certainly on the successful track at the present time.— 
B. P. B. 
Cypripedium Ciiambeelainianum. 
Messrs. Sander & Co, St. Albans, have during some years 
been very fortunate in procuring new Orchids of exceptionally 
distinct character, and one of their most recent acquisitions is the 
Cypripedium which has been named in honour of the Bight Hon. 
Joseph Chamberlain, who is well known in the horticultural world 
as an admirer of Orchids. The consignment of 500 plants sold 
some days ago in Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’s Auction Rooms, 
Cheapside, was received from the Eastern Tropics, but the exact 
locality has not yet been divulged. In habit C. Chamberlainianum 
is wonderfully distinct from all other species hitherto introduced 
from the Asiatic tropics, as the long scapes are densely set with 
flowers, as many as thirty having been borne on the dried spikes 
sent with the plants. The flowers have a peculiarly neat compact 
appearance, the dorsal sepal of a soft yellowish white, streaked 
with deep purple, and dotted with a similar tint at the base. The 
labellum is white or pale, dotted with rose, and the short straight 
twisted petals are spotted and tinged with crimson. This Cypri¬ 
pedium, besides having all the characters of a useful garden plant, 
will probably become the parent of a distinct race of hybrids. 
The plants sold were in good condition, and realised prices 
ranging from £10 downwards. 
Events of the Week. —The spring Shows are now commencing 
That at Manchester was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last. The 
Prescon and Fulwood Show opened yesterday, and continues to-day. 
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Committees meet on Tuesday next, 
March 22ad, when a good gathering is expected, as intimated in another 
paragraph. On Wednesday, March 23rd, the Royal Botanic Society’s first 
Show of the yeai will be held in the Regent’s Park Gardens, and on 
Saturday of the same week— i.c., March 2Gth, the Crystal Palace spring 
Show will be held. Sales of Orchids are advertised by Messrs. Protheroe 
and Morris for March 18th, March 22nd, and March 25th; sales of 
miscellaneous plants taking place on March 21st and 23rd. 
- The Weather in the South has greatly improved within 
the past few days ; the snow, which remained so long for the time of 
year, was rapidly dispersed by heavy show^ers, and bright sunny 
weather followed. With a continuance of this a speedy change will be 
effected in the appearance of gardens. 
- The next meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
in the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, Westminster, will be 
on Tuesday, March 22ad. Besides the Floral, Fruit, and Orchid 
Committees, the Narcissus Committee wdll also meet for the first time 
this year for the purpose of adjudicating on Narcissi and Daffodils, of 
which there will in all probability be a fine display, in addition to 
other spring bulbs. At three o’clock Mr. C. Ross will give a paper on 
the “ Cultivation of Melons.” 
- The Birmingham Gardeners’ Asscciation.—A t the last 
meeting Mr. H. Dunkin, gardener to the Earl of Warwick, Warwick 
Castle, read a paper on “ Modern Gardening,” reviewing the progress of 
horticulture for a long number of years, and of the advancement made 
in the culture of fruits and plants, and influence for good of our 
horticultural exhibitions. The great hardships and risks incurred by the 
collectors of new and rare plants were pointed out, and excellent advice 
was given to the younger gardeners to obtain as far as possible a know¬ 
ledge of geometry, chemistry, and botany. A hearty vote of thanks 
was accorded to Mr. Dunkin. 
- The National Chrysanthemum Society.—A ccording to a 
notification that reached us after the publication of our last issue, and 
consequently too late for us to make any announcement, the meeting 
of the members of this Society was held on Tuesday night. Not having 
any ticket or invitation to attend the meeting, the Secretary has 
been informed that any report that may be forwarded will be readily 
inserted. 
- Gardening Appointments. — Messrs. John Laing & Sons 
request us to announce the following appointments—Mr. J. Hughes, 
lately with H. F. M. Paravicini, Esq., Heathfield, Ascot, as head 
gardener to A. K. B. Knight, Esq., Downton Castle, Ludlow, Salop. 
Mr. W. Morgan, late foreman at Addington Manor, Winslow, as head 
gardener to A. Wolton, Esq., The Homestead, Croydon. 
- The Midland Counties’ Pansy Society. — The second 
annual Exhibition of this Society is fixed for June 9th in Birmingham, 
and the schedule of prizes has just been issued, and all classes of 
cultivators have been studied, even growers who have never yet won 
a prize. There are thirty-three classes and good prizes, and some classes 
are open to the United Kingdom. The Society gives a handsome gold 
medal as a first prize for twenty-four blooms of new varieties. Schedules 
can be obtained from the Hon. Sec., Mr. W. Dean, Dolphin Road, Spark- 
hill, Birmingham. 
- Horticultural Club. —The usual monthly dinner and con¬ 
versazione were held on Tuesday, March 8th, at the rooms. Hotel Windsor, 
Victoria Street, Westminster. The chair was occupied by Mr. Harry 
J. Veitch, Vice-Chairman of the Club, who was supported by the 
Rev. F. H. Gall, Rev. — Pratt, Messrs. A. J. Pearson, C. E. Pearson, 
Cousens, H. Williams, Harry Turner, W. H. Williams, W. Soper, 
C. T. Druery, Joseph Cheal, John Martin, George Bunyard, Arthur 
J. Veitch, W. Marshall, W. H. Fowler, &c. A paper was read by Mr. 
W. Soper, which ranged over a variety of subjects connected with 
horticulture, and which gave rise to a very interesting discussion, and 
a hope was expressed that at some future time Mr. Soper would speak 
on the subject of charity in its bearing on horticulture. Messrs. 
H. Williams, H. Selfe Leonard, John Martin, Arthur J. Veitch, Stuart 
Low, Valentine E. Low, George Gordon, and H. E. Milner, have been 
elected members. 
- Fertilising Tomatoes. — At the recent meeting of the 
Liverpool Horticultural Association, at which Mr. Stoney read his 
excellent paper on Tomatoes, Mr. R. W. Ker, Aigburth Nursery, in 
speaking of the different forms of fruit to be found on a Tomato 
plant, where some were of splendid shape, whilst others were cor¬ 
rugated and deformed, asked if it arose from imperfect fertilisation. 
He said he was not competent to speak from experience, but the 
thought had often crossed his mind, hence his reason for asking. In 
my notes of the meeting 1 purposely withheld this, thinking it might 
lead to an interesting discussion amongst the readers of the Journal 
on a most important subject. If by artificial fertilisation a greater 
number of handsome fruits could be obtained, there are many 
gardeners, I am sure, would be glad to try it. Would any of your 
readers who have experimented in this direction kindly state the 
results?—R. P. R. 
-Slugs and the Frost. —It is not often slugs are caught 
napping, and I heartily wish it were otherwise ; but does the fact of 
their surviving under a board half an inch thick during the keenest 
frost prove their excessive hardiness ? I think not, and must, therefore, 
beg to differ from “ W. T.” (page 164). If he had found them alive 
under a slate or tile there would have been some point in his argument, 
but wood being to a great extent non-conducting, enclosed the natural 
warmth of the ground for the benefit of the slugs. Whatever may be 
the case elsewhere, I am positive fewer slugs than usual are alive at the 
present time in the gardens under my charge, and the long spell of dry 
wintry weather will have also greatly assisted in keeping them from 
increasing in numbers. Ducks, notably the small wild ones, are 
certainly of great assistance in destroying slugs, and I have spent many 
a pleasant five minutes in watching their movements. They must, 
however, be watched closely for reasons other than enjoyment, as by the 
time they are half grown they like the taste of green food, and may 
soon spoil Lettuces, Asparagus, and anything else tender. They 
are also very fond of huddling together on beds of Pinks, Carnations, 
and such like, and their tracks are objectionable. Fresh broods should, 
therefore, be introduced every few days, the mother hen being duly 
confined to a coop, and those becomin dangerously large turned out 
of the garden.—I. 
