892 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 14, 189T. 
Paul, B. Wynne, G. Gordon, G. Nicholson, W. Goldring, C. T. Druery, 
F. Boss, E. Mawley, and the Rev. H. H, D'Ombrain. 
Amateurs’ exhibits were more numerous at this meeting than they 
have been this season, and the encouragement afforded is evidently 
bringing good results. A group of Roses from Mr. Perry, gardener to 
J. C. Tasker, Esq., Middleton Hall, Brentwood, comprised a number of 
dwarf plants extremely well grown, bearing abundant tine blooms and 
good clean foliage, and the silver-gilt Flora medal awarded was an 
appropriate recognition of their merits, for rarely do amateurs show such 
creditable examples of Roses in pots. The Rhododendrons from Sir 
J. T. D. Llewelyn, Bart., Penllergare, Swansea, have already been 
incidentally noted, but it may be added that some dozens of trusses 
were shown of seedlings from crosses between Thomsoni, Auckland!, 
Broughtoni, catawbiense, Edgeworthi, glaucum, campylocarpum, arbo- 
reum, and other species, representing many beautiful shades of colour, 
the flowers, too, of great size in dense heads. A silver Banksian medal 
was awarded. 
Mr. J. Curtis, gardener to P. F. Still, Esq., Lismore, Woodside, 
Wimbledon Park, exhibited two baskets of Auriculas and a group of 
Hippeastrums (bronze medal). J. Bateman, Esq., Worthing, sent a 
flower stem of Chamasrops Fortunei (vote of thanks). W. E. Gum- 
bleton. Esq., Belgrove, Queenstown, Ireland, had some admirable 
paintings of Daffodils, Snowdrops, and Chionodoxas (vote of thanks) ; 
and Mr. G. Couzins, Feltham, sent for name a basket of the double 
Cardamine pratensis. From Mr. Coppin of Battersea Park came a plant 
of Puya Whytei, with a flower stem 7 feet high, bearing at its summit 
large bright green flowers (vote of thanks) ; and Mr. G. Chadwick, 
Hanger Hill House, Baling, showed plants of the graceful Arthropodium 
cirratum with narrow green recurving leaves and light panicles of small 
white flowers. 
Apart from novelties certificated the chief trade exhibits were a group 
of Daffodils, Tulips, and hardy flowers from Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent 
Garden (silver Banksian medal) ; a collection of fine Polyanthuses and 
Primroses from Mr. G. Phippen, Reading (bronze medal) ; a group of 
Spir^a multiflora arguta, with small white flowers on slender leafless 
branches, from Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross (vote of thanks); 
a new decorative Pelargonium, named A. F. Barron, from Messrs. 
Hewitt & Co., Birmingham, and three new Cannas from M. Victor 
Lemoine, Nancy. 
Messrs. Barr & Son’s prizes for Daffodils were won by the Rev. G. P. 
Haydon, Hatfield Vicarage, Doncaster, and H. J. Adams, Esq., Roseneath, 
Enfield, both exhibiting large collections of fresh well-developed flowers. 
From Kew came a group of Narcissus Bernardi, flowers most varied and 
graceful. 
Orchid Committee. —Present : Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair, 
Baron Schroder, Dr. M. T. Masters, and Messrs. H. M. Pollett, H. Bal- 
lantine, C. Pilcher, F. Sander, B. Hill, J. O’Brien, and Lewis Castle. 
Cattleya citrina is not too often seen in good condition, and some 
cultivators do not succeed with it at all. This certainly does not, how¬ 
ever, apply to Sir Charles Strickland, with whom it thrives admirably. 
Nine plants w^ere shown from this garden, all upon blocks, the fragrant 
yellow flowers abundant and the growth strong (cultural commendation). 
Another Orchid that is difficult to grow is Lmlia majalis, but Mr. W. H. 
Young, gardener to F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen, .showed a 
vigorous plant growing in a basket, four of the handsome flowers 
expanded and two buds showing (cultural commendation). A similar 
recognition was awarded to Mr. W. Murray, The Gardens, Oakwood, 
Wylam-on-Tyne, for an exceedingly strong plant of Cypripedium 
Rothschildianum, bearing three grand flowers, which awakened the 
admiration of the Committee. Mr. B. Phillips, gardener to F. A. Bevan, 
Esq., Ludgrove, New Barnet, sent flowers of Odontoglossums, Cypri- 
pediums, and Sobralia macrantha delicata, a soft-tinted variety (vote of 
thanks). Mr. Johnson, gardener to T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, White- 
field, Manchester, had a variety of Cypripedium Lawrencianum named 
expansum, with broad dorsal sepals and dark veins, also Cattleya 
Mendeli coeleste, a fine variety. R. B. White, Esq, Ardarroch, 
Garelochead, Dumbartonshire, sent a collection of fine Cattleya fiowers 
(vote of thanks) ; and Mr. H. T. Chapman, gardener to G. le Dux, Esq , 
Langdon House, East Moseley, contributed several Odontoglossums, 
including one of the best varieties of 0. nebulosum we have seen. It 
was shown as punctatum, but was consideretl identical with excellens 
previously certificated. Some Masdevallias were also shown (vote of 
thanks). Messrs. Sander & Co., St. Albans, had a peculiar green 
flowered Cypripedium named viridiflorum ; Mr. Standing, The Gardens, 
Patching, Worthing, sent a Dendrobium densiflorum with twenty 
racemes ; and Messrs. Seeger & Tropp, East Dulwich, had a small group 
of Orchids, comprising Laelias, Oncidiums, Cypripediums, and Odonto¬ 
glossums. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Sweet Briar Lady Penzance (Lord Penzance, Bashing Park, 
Godaiming ; gardener, Mr. Baskett).—A charming single variety, with 
metallic rosy bronze flowers, yellow at the base of the petals. The 
flowers are about 2 inches across, and the foliage is fragrant. A note 
accompanied the plant to this effect:—“ The specimen is a graft or bud 
on the Manetti of a seedling from the common Sweet Briar, crossed with 
the pollen of the Austrian Copper Briar in 1886. The seedling came 
up in the spring of 1887, and flowered for the first time in 1889, but 
had only one flower. It is now a vigorous plant 4 feet high, the wood 
a sort of purple colour like that of the pollen parent ” (award of merit). 
Lilae Leon Simon (Paul & Son, Chestnut).—Flowers very double, 
in dense clusters, of a pale clear lilac tint (award of merit). 
Pteris cretica orispata (J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea).—An excellent 
Fern of compact habit, but free and strong, the pinnate fronds with 
their clear silvery centre having a most distinct appearance owing to 
the evenly undulated and deeply serrated margins, a valuable decorative 
Fern (first-class certificate). 
Anthurium iurfordiense (Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.).—A 
magnificent variety raised at Burford Lodge, having rich crimson 
shining spathes, 7 inches in diameter, nearly circular, with a long white 
spadix (first-class certificate). 
Anthurium Lainyl (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A fine contrast to the 
preceding ; the spathes broad and larger, and white, with a fine cordate 
leaf IS inches long and 1,5 inches broad (first-class certificate). 
Myneotis Bexley Gem (W. Marshall, Esq., Bexley).—An extremely 
dwarf Furget-me-not, only 2 or 3 inches high, with large bright b’ue 
flowers (award of merit). 
New Orchids. — These are described in the Orchid column, on 
page 384. 
PLATYCERIUMS. 
The Platyceriums or Stag’s Horn Ferns form one of the most dis¬ 
tinct and interesting groups that are found in all the vast Fern tribe, 
and are certainly worthy of more extended recognition than they have 
thus far received. Of course, it is well understood that they are not 
likely to become just the plants for everyone’s local trade, but at the 
same time there are some of them that will stand considerable exposure 
without much injury, and they are all admirable for greenhouse deco¬ 
ration, providing the conditions are such as would be favourable for 
Fern growth. The members of this genus are epiphytal in habit, and 
for this reason are most happy when grown either on a section of a 
Tree Fern stem or block of wmod or in a basket, though this treatment 
is not absolutely essential for all, as seme of the species can also be 
satisfactorily grown in pots. But in either case the potting material 
must be of an open, easily drained character, the best soil being rough 
fibrous peat, or peat and sphagnum, and as such soil soon dries out 
frequent waterings will be found necessary. In order to keep the foliage 
in good condition it is best to keep the water off the leaves as much as 
possible, especially in the winter, as at the latter season these may soon 
be discoloured. 
The propagation of the Platyceriums is not a very rapid process, and 
depends on two methods—viz., either by means of seeds or spores, or by 
the production of young plants or suckers from the roots, the latter 
practice being common to most of the species, and the young plants so 
proluced being readily separated from the parent plant after they have 
made one or twm fronds. If spoi’es are resorted to they should be sown 
as soon as possible after they are gathered, using a coarse compost of 
peat and sand on which to sow them, and keeping them moderately 
close until they show signs of germination, after which they need rather 
careful watching in order to prevent them from damping off. The 
spores of these plants are somewhat slow in germinating at best, and 
it seems a rather uncertain operation too ; but the only safe plan is to 
give them a fair chance, and not to empty out the seed pots in disgust 
within six months after sowing. 
The first species in cultivation and doubtless the most widely known 
is P. alc'corne, the common Stag’s Horn Fern, which was introduced 
from Australia about the beginning of the present century. In common 
with the other members of the genus this plant has fronds of two very 
different types, the barren ones being more or less flat and shield-like, 
while the fertile leaves are upright in habit and deeply cut into such 
long, narrow' lobes as to clearly indicate the reasons for its ordinary- 
name, the ends of these lobes drooping over in a very graceful manner. 
This is probably the most hardy member of the genus, and can be readily 
grow'ii in a night temperature of 50°. 
A considerable improvement on the above as a specimen plant w'as 
sent out some years ago in the form know'n as P. alcicorne major, this 
being of much stronger growth and more upright than the type. The 
fronds of this variety are of thick leathery texture, and very dark green 
in colour, giving the plant a very attractive appearance and making it 
also one of the best exhibition Ferns in cultivation. 
Probably the most noted species is P. grande. The barren fronds- 
are very large and almost erect, and are deeply cut into spreading 
divisions, while the fertile ones are throw'n out at almost a right angle- 
to the first, being from 3 to G feet in length in a large plant, and are 
deeply divided into long pendent segments. The spores of P. grande 
are produced in a large irregular patch at the base of the segments- 
noted above, and in general appearance bear some resemblance to a 
patch of brown fungus on the under side of the frond. I have never 
seen this species produce any young plants from the roots, but have 
raised it from spores, though expn’iencing some little difficulty with the- 
young plants when they w'ere first potted off, from their susceptibility to 
“ damping ” at that stage. 
Another remarkably handsome species is P. Willincki, a warm house 
plant from Java, introduced some fifteen years ago. This is of smaller 
growth than the preceding, the barren fronds being erect, rounded at 
the base, and cut into lobes. These fronds are somewhat ephemeral in 
character, or rather in substance, and seem soon to have fulfilled their 
office, as they turn brown and dry in a short time after they are 
developed, whereas the fertile ones will endure for a year or more. The 
latter are produced in threes, attaining a length of 3 feet or more, are 
drooping in habit, and several times forked into perhaps the most 
perfect representation of a stag’s horn that is to be found in the 
vegetable kingdom, while the colour is greyish white, this being caused 
by the fronds being closely covered with whitish scales. 
