September 7, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
215 
CyrRIPEDIDM Sander-superbiens. 
The first Cypripedium Sanderianum hybrid which has yet 
appeared was exhibited by Mr. Cookson at the Agricultural Hall 
on August 29th, under the above name, and received an award of 
merit. The other species employed was C. superbiens, and the 
credit of the cross belongs to Captain Vipan, the hybrid having 
been raised by Mr. Cookson from seed supplied by the former. It 
is a beautiful and distinct form, the flowers being of great size, and 
remarkable for the very long, drcoping petals, which are double 
the length of the lip. They are pale yellow in colour, heavily 
blotched with chocolate. The lip is brownish red, and the dorsal 
sepal, which is pointed, greenish white with chocolate lines. 
Fig. 31 represents this fine acquisition. Mr. Cookson has followed 
a distinguished lead in respect to nomenclature ; but such a name as 
Sander-superbiens is not euphonious, and forms a quaint mixture of 
English—or ought we to say German ?—and Latin, 
Aerides Sanderianum. 
Two of the largest-flowered and handsomest of all Aerides are 
this and its near ally, A. Lawrencise. “ Broadly speaking,” says 
Mr. W. Watson, in a recent issue of the “ Garden and Forest,” “ they 
are only varieties of the old garden favourite, A. odoratum, but 
their flowers are nearly as large again, and their leaves broader 
than the ordinary form of that plant.” At Kew, A. Sanderianum 
is represented by a plant a yard high, clothed with healthy foliage 
to the base, bearing two flower-scapes, each 18 inches long and 
clothed with twenty-five flowers, which are l^^inch in diameter, 
creamy white, tipped with amethyst, and deliciously fragrant. It 
is nearly ten years since Messrs. F. Sander & Co. introduced this 
plant in quantity from the Philippine Islands along with 
A. Lawrenciae, the first plant of which was purchased at an 
auction sale by Sir Trevor Lawrence for 235 guineas. It differs 
from A. Sanderiana in having pure white, instead of creamy white, 
flowers with amethyst tips, 
Odontoglossums, 
These have been in many cases heavily shaded during the past 
summer, but the material should be gradually dispensed with, the 
blinds being drawn down for a few hours only during bright sun¬ 
shine. As much light as possible ought now to be admitted, and 
where the shading is of a permanent nature lose no time in washing 
the greater portion of it off. It will not be safe to remove all at 
once, or injury may result if bright weather follows. Shading of 
this nature is not, however, advisable for Orchids. Considerably 
less atmospheric moisture will be needed, and also about the roots 
of the plant, but on no account allow the atmosphere of the house 
to become dry, or the soil at the roots of the plants. 
Press down the moss if it has grown above the base of the 
psendo-bulbs. Wash the pots in which the plants are growing, as 
well as those upon which they are elevated. Slugs can frequently 
be found when turning over the plants. Wash the glass and wood¬ 
work of the structure in which they are grown, and limewash the 
walls. Do not allow the temperature to fall below 50° at 6 a.m. 
Artificial heat only will be needed during cold nights for some 
weeks longer.— Specialist, 
PARAGRAPHS ABOUT THE PARKS. 
Whatever may be said, for cr against, about the London County 
Council, it is generally admitted that they have effected great improve¬ 
ments in the parks, gardens, and open spaces of the Metropolis. They 
have added fresh lungs to the system, strengthened others, and improved 
the condition of the huge patient in a manner very pleasant to behold. 
True, the drought has set at naught their efforts to clothe the commons 
and other public places with smooth greensward, but that detracts 
nothing from the credit due to honest and enlightened endeavour, and 
the authorities undoubtedly have at the head of this important depart¬ 
ment a most competent and zealous official in Mr. J. J. Sexby. 
Battersea Park, 
The south-west of London has had its fair share of the benefits 
which followed the fall of the old Board of Works. Wandsworth 
Common has been quite transformed. Fresh turf has been laid, new 
walks have been made, old furze cleared off and young established, 
lakes formed, and seats provided. Battersea Park has also been 
improved. It has been put under the charge of one of the most 
capable superintendents which any of the London parks have yet had 
in Mr. Coppin ; the staff has been increased, cricket pitches have been 
re-made, lawn tennis grounds provided, and the floral attractions of the 
place largely augmented. Battersea has reason to be proud of its park, 
and very likely it is. Let us hope that the efforts of the Council have 
not gone altogether unrewarded by gratitude and appreciation. This 
park always enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most attractive 
in London, and of late years its claims have grown stronger. It enjoys 
a unique position, on one side of it swarming a dense industrial popula¬ 
tion and on the other being the river. 
Visitors of a gardening turn who would like to have a good look 
round the park and see most of what is to be seen in the flower way, 
vould not err by entering at the south-west gate and following a 
ystematic round. Perhaps they will run over it with me in imagination 
Irst. Two beautiful borders stretch away right and left on entering, 
[’hey are 6 or 7 feet' broad, and as long as I can remember have been 
me of the brightest features of the park. Although they have had the 
vear and tear of an exceptionally trying season they are still looking 
veil, being bright with Dahlias, Sunflowers, herbaceous Phloxes and 
Vnemone japonic^ alba at the back, and in front of these wi ee 
^etunias. Stocks, Lilium speciosum, annual Phloxes, ' Aonal 
Pelargoniums, Sedum spectabile. Coleuses, Asters, Campanulas, age es, 
''o 11 irvr\o/ac rjo i 11 o Tri id a PpTi f'flf.pmons, and many other flowers. 
The drive on the left hand may be followed as far as the north-west 
entrance, when a turn to the right along a broad drive near the riverside 
will bring us to a group of coffin-shaped_ beds converging to a central 
circular one. Before coming to them a circle is observed planted with 
