April 16, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
Massangeana, the latter being of exceptionally rich colour ; of 
M. Harryana. There were also some fine varieties, notably acanthifolia, 
which, with M. Lindeni splendens, was greatly admired. One of the 
gems of the group was, however, the little M. Armini with numerous 
bright bluish purple flowers ; M. triangularis, M. Shuttleworthi, and its 
variety xanthocorys were also included, the plants being almost hidden 
by their abundant flowers (silver Flora medal). 
From Cheam Park, Surrey, F. C. Jacomb, Esq., sent a group of the 
Orchids so well grown by the gardener, Mr. May. Unusually vigorous 
plants of Phalmnopsis, the graceful Dendrobium Devonianum, Odonto- 
glossum citrosmum, Oncidium coneolor, Cymbidium Lowianum, and 
Oattleyas were arranged with Ferns and a few other foliage plants to 
make a most pleasing group, well worthy of the silver Banksian medal 
awarded. Mr. William Wniteley also had a beautiful group of Orchids 
from Hillingdon, chiefly composed of Dendrobium nobile, Odonto- 
glossums, and Cattleyas, the varieties in every case being of great merit, 
and the plants being arranged with Ferns and Isolepis, the effect was 
good (silver Flora medal). M. S. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, 
Mr. Cullimore), also had a group of Cattleyas, Dendrobiuras, Gypripe- 
diums, and Vanda flowers, and F. A. Bevan, Esq., Ludgrove, New 
Barnet (gardener, Mr. B. Phillips), had a collection in which Dendro¬ 
bium thyrsiflorum was prominent. A silver Banksian medal was awarded 
for each group. 
A cultural commendation was adjudged to W. Bryant, Esq., Stoke 
Park, Slough (gardener, Mr. D. Kemp), for a very strong plant of Cypri- 
pedium bellatulum with six large flowers. A similar recognition was 
accorded to A. J. Playne, Esq., Longford, Minchinhampton, for a well 
grown plant of the green and black flowered Coelogyne pandurata 
bearing a raceme of twelve flowers, and an award of an equal character 
might havG been justly granted to Mr. Wythes, Syon Gardens, for an 
extremely strong plant of Cymbidium Lowianum having seven racemes, 
each 4 or 5 feet long. The interesting hybrid MiltoniaBleuana splendens 
was shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, raised in their estab¬ 
lishment from a cross between M. Roezli and M. vexillarium. The 
flower was similar in character to that described last year raised from the 
same parents in Paris, by M. Bleu, but they appeared to be somewhat larger. 
New and rare Orchids constituted a group from Messrs. Sander and 
Co., St. Albans, in which handsome Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, 
Maxillarias, the useful free Angraecum Sanderianum, and the remarkable 
Dendrobium Brymerianum figured largely. Of the novelties in addition 
to the golden Lycaste (certificated), the two following were especially 
noteworthy. Cattleya hybrida Behrensianum, from a cross between 
C. intermedia and C. superba, has elegantly formed flowers, the spreading 
.sepals and petals softly suffused with purplish lilac, the lateral lobes of 
the lips are slightly more deeply tinged, and the central lobe is an 
intensely rich crimson magenta, in fine contrast with the pure white 
throat. The other is Cattleya elegans Arnoldiana, a pleasing and 
distinct variety of a well known type, the sepals and petals a delicate 
blush, nearly white; the lower portion of the lip is white, the lateral 
lobes slightly recurved and soft crim.son, the central lobe of brilliant 
crimson shade, sharply defined (silver Banksian medal). 
Certificated Plants. 
ri •imrose James JVimmo (G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge).—A hand¬ 
some blue Primrose, with very large flowers of capital shape, and 
extremely free (award of merit). 
Begonia Triomphe de Nancy (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A distinct and 
graceful dwarf Begonia with large rounded peltate leaves, and multi¬ 
tudes of small rosy red flowers on drooping panicles (award of merit). 
Epidcndrum hyhridiim dellense (Baron Schroder). — A hybrid 
between E. xanthinum and E. rhizophorum, with bright orange flowers 
in a dense head at the apex of the stem (first-class certificate). 
Lycaste Mastersiana (Sander & Co.).—A new Lycaste, with medium¬ 
sized flowers ; the sepals yellow, the petals and lip of a rich golden hue, 
and a few darker spots (award of merit). 
Dendrobium Venus (Norman C. Cookson, Esq.).—A magnificent 
hybrid between D. nobile and D. Falconer! ; the flowers like a large 
D. nobile, but with somew'hat of less of the solidity of that parent, and 
more of the graceful pose of D. Falconer!. They are inches in 
diameter, the lip being If inch long, and IJ broad. The sepals and 
petals are broad, white tipped with crimson ; the lip having a deep bold 
maroon central blotch, a broad white band, and a crimson tip. The 
pseudo-bulbs are more slender than D. nobile, and partake of the 
character of D. Falconer!, but more erect and stronger (first-class 
certificate). 
Camellia Duchess (W. Paul & Son).—A variety of excellent shape, 
the petals very evenly imbricated, and the colour a bright rosy blush, a 
useful addition to those already in commerce. 
The Rush-Ndt. —Cyperus esculentus is a native of India, and also 
grows in Egypt. The rootstocks are composed of thin fibres, to the 
extremity of which are attached round or oblong bulbs, about the size of a 
filbert, browm without,and white within; farinaceous, ha vingacamphorous 
odour, a sweet,agreeable, rather saccharine taste,and mucilaginous. These 
bulbs, on analysis, afford starch, fixed oil, sugar, albumen, gum, salts of 
malic and tannic acid, and oxide of iron. The dry root contains one- 
sixth its weight of oil, of a beautiful golden colour, nut-like smell, and 
.^lightly camphorous taste. It deposits stearine by standing, and in 
general appearance resembles the other fixed oils. The roots are eaten, 
to a great extent, in Manilla. When boiled they are nutritious, and 
have the taste of Chestnut ; when roasted they have been used as a 
substitute for coffee.—E. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Earliest House. — Where such 
varieties as Early Albert, Early Leopold, and Early Louise are grown 
it is safe to plant the larger fruited varieties Alexander or Waterloo, 
and Early Rivers. The first three have small perfect flowers, but the 
two or three last named have large flowers ; the buds are liable to over¬ 
maturity or imperfect formation in embryo, and drop when the trees are 
subjected to early forcing for a number of years consecutively to a large 
extent during the resting period. The flowers also are liable to imperfect 
formation, the petals being thin, the stamens weak, with small anthers 
almost destitute of pollen, and the pistil is short, thin, and the stigma 
viscid ; the ovaries (for there is often two or more to a flower, with their 
separate pistillate organs) being ill developed, consequently fertilisation 
is impracticable. The set is often thin, and the fruit in Alexander or 
Waterloo is subject to enlargement at the suture, whilst Early Rivers 
splits at the stone. These defects are unquestionably a result of 
insufficient fertilisation ; for where the perfect flowers are fertilised with 
the pollen of other flowers the fruits are perfect. Then Alexander is a. 
fine early fruit, and of fair quality, whilst Early Rivers, ripening a 
little later, has much the appearance and the quality of the richest and 
most delicately flavoured of all Peaches—Noblesse. Early Beatrice 
singularly has a large flower, and sets freely, affording good fruit on a 
free growing stock. Hale’s Early also has a large flower, sets well, and 
is unquestionably the best early forcing Peach for those that can afford 
to wait three weeks longer than those can do who grow the very early 
varieties. The last wherever forced very early should be grown in a 
house by themselves. Hale's Early, which is much like Early York 
in the same conditions of soil and climate, is very prone to cast its buds-;, 
but when not early forced, say to ripen early in June, it is a fine fruit.. 
Dagmar and Crimson Galande have small flowers, which set well, the- 
fruits are very handsome, particularly Crimson Galande, and they ripen 
several days in advance of Royal George and Stirling Castle. The two 
last are the surest and best forcing of all Peaches. Time, however, is 
all-important in early forcing operations. To have the latter ripe in 
late May or early June the trees must be started not later than early 
December, and they have to flower at the worst season possible ; but 
Alexander, or any of the early varieties, started a month or six weeks 
later will ripen quite as early, and for general consumption be just ars 
acceptable, the difference is in the cost of production. The early 
varieties started in January ripen in time for the London season, ami 
cost less by one-third than the better qualities. 
Routine. —The stoning process being over with the earliest varieties , 
they may be given a temperature of 70° to 75° by artificial meanS) 
but it is not good practice to maintain that constantly, for when 
continued through the night it attenuates the wood; therefore allow the 
temperature to fall to 65°, or even 60° on cold nights, keeping through 
the day at 80° to 85° from sun heat, ventilating by the top at 75°, and 
opening the front at 80°, so as to insure a circulation. Admit a little 
air constantly. Close the house at 80° suflSciently early to allow of an 
advance to 85° or 90°, the trees being well syringed and good atmospheric 
moisture secured, which will insure the fruit swelling to a large size, 
but the fruit and foliage must become fairly dry before night, and clear 
rain water must be used, as spring water is liable to leave a stain irpoii 
the fruit. Remove the leaves over or in front of the fruit, and turn this 
up to the light by thin laths placed across the trellis, as it adds greatly 
to the appearance of the fruit when it is well and evenly coloured from 
the apex, besides improving the flavour. Syringing should cease when 
the fruit commences ripening, but a genial condition of the atmosphere 
must be maintained for the benefit ot the foliage by damping available 
surfaces twice a day and keeping the mulching thoroughly moist. H 
the early varieties and Hale’s Early, A Bee (a very fine fruit), with 
Royal George or Stirling Castle, are grown together, then the night 
temperature must not be more than 60° to 65° at night, and 70° to 75^° 
by day w-ith gleams of sun, and 5° to 10° advance on bright days until 
the stoning is completed in another fortnight or three weeks, to ripen 
Hale’s Early at the end of May or early in June, the house being- 
started early in December. The prolonged cold weather has retarded 
forcing considerably, and when the stoning is completed they will bear 
a considerable advance in temperature with safety. Pay particular 
attention to syringing the trees, using clear soft water twice a day, and 
see that every part of the foliage and old wood is thoroughly washed. 
This is important, because the fruit will not finish satisfactorily if the 
foliage is infested with insects. Keep the roots lightly mulched and 
supplied with weak tepid liquid manure. Regulate the flow of the sap 
by stopping all gross shoots before they have time to draw the supplies 
from the weakest parts of the trees. Allow leading shoots, particularly 
of young trees, to extend over uncovered parts of the trellis, and pinch 
out the points when the fruit begins to take the last swelling, at the 
same time turning aside any leaves that are likely to shade or otherwise 
interfere with the colouring or ripening. 
Second House.—T\\& trees in the structure startal early in January 
have the fruit in a forward state, the disbudding completed, and th(^ 
