56 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 19, 1893. 
Snuttleworth & Co. of Fleet, Hants, showed Narcissi in pots, prominent 
amongst which were N. Countess of Annesley, Henry Irving, Ard Rigb, 
and obvallaris. The same firm also staged two pots of the charming Iris 
Bakeriana, and also a pot of Hyacinthus (Muscari) azureus. F. B, 
Roger Tillstone, Esq., Mousle Coombe Place, Brighton (gardener, Mr. 
Anderson), sent a group of Narcissus Telamonius plenus (common 
double Daffodil), which were excellent, when the earliness of the season 
is taken into consideration. 
Messrs. Veitch & Son, King’s Road, Chelsea, showed a box of 
Rhododendron javanico-jasminiflorum, hybrids in varieties, amongst 
which were some lovely shades of. colour. Begonia Winter Cem was 
also shown by the same firm, the flowers being of charming colour. In 
the same pan with the Begonias were a few plants of Primula flori- 
bunda. A vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. W. C. Leach, The Gardens, 
Albury Park, had a group of Chrysanthemums and Poinsettias, set off 
with foliage plants, which produced an excellent effect. A silver 
Banksian medal was recommended. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Swanley, Kent, sent a small group of Chinese Primulas, which had 
been splendidly grown, the flowers on the majority of plants being 
large and of excellent substance. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane 
Nurseries, Upper Edmonton, for a basket of Carnation Winter Cheer, 
the plants being of good habit and finely flowered. For a basket of 
Pteris Reginse the same exhibitor was again accorded a vote of thanks, 
an award of merit being given him for a grand plant of Pteris serrulata 
gigantea. (See below.) Mr. Jennings, gardener to Leopold de Roth¬ 
schild, Ascott, Leighton Buzzard, staged a magnificent group of Begonia 
Gloire de Sceaux, and a silver Banksian medal was recommended, also a 
first-class certificate awarded. (See below.) A group of Tree Carnations, 
Sir Hy. Calcroft, were also exhibited by Mr. Jennings. Mr. Godfrey, 
Hillingdon, Uxbridge, showed some flowers of Chinese Primulas which 
were very good, especially noticeable being a fine white and The Queen. 
Mr. Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhead, sent a box of very good Primula 
flowers of various colours, also several Chrysanthemums. (See awards) 
Orchid Committee. —Present : H. J. Veitch, Esq. (in the chair). 
Messrs. H. M. Pollett, Hugh Low, T. W. Bond, Henry Williams, E. Hill, 
.J. Jaques, Dr. Masters, Jas. Douglas, A. H. Smee, and F. Sander. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. had a group of Saccolabium bellinum, a 
quaint and pleasing little Orchid that is grown by few so extensively or 
well as by the Clapton firm. Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son contributed 
a mixed group of considerable beauty, Cypripediums showing up 
strongly in it. C. Ashburtonim expansum, C. nitens, C. Leeanum 
superbum, C. Pitcherianum, Williams’ variety, and several varieties of 
C. insigne were conspicuous amongst them. Cattleya Percivaliana, 
Odontoglossum Roezli were also noteworthy (silver Banksian medal). 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent Cypripedium Penelaus (first-class certifi¬ 
cate, see below) and Cypripedium x Godseffianum, the latter a hybrid 
between C. hirsutissimum and C. villosum Boxalli, is richly coloured, 
leaning decidedly to the former (pollen) parent in form, particularly in 
the petals. The Chelsea firm also sent Phalaenopsis x Vesta (P. rosea 
leucaspes X P. Aphrodite), Cypripedium x Lathamianum, Cypripedium 
X Creon, Zygocolax Veitchi (Colax jugosus (pollen) x Zygopetalum 
Mackayi var. crinitum, Cypripedium x Germinyanum (award of merit, 
see below). Calanthe x gigas (first-class certificate, see below), Cypri¬ 
pedium X Phmdra (award of merit, see below), Phaiocalant’ne Sedeniana 
albiflora (Phaius grandiflora x Calanthe vestita rubra oculata), Cypri¬ 
pedium X macrochilum, Epidendrum x Endresio-Wallisi, Cypripedium 
X Aeson, and C. X Orion. Altogether a collection of exceptional 
interest. From the Botanical Gardens, Glasnevin, came Bulbophyllum 
comosum, for which a botanical certificate was awarded. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co. sent a small group but of much interest. 
It included the beautiful St. Albans variety of Cypripedium nitens, 
Pleurothallus ornatus with small dark purple white-fringed flowers, 
Sarcopodium Godseffianum with its curious yellow, purple-spotted 
flowers and hinged lip, illustrated in the Journal for January 8th, 1891, 
Laelia anceps gemma, Cypripedium Hlnona (Hookerae x Veitchi), and 
Masdevallia Hincksiana. R. Young, Esq., sent the richly coloured form 
of Laelia anceps named plumosa. C. Ingram, Esq., contributed Cypri¬ 
pedium Lindleyanum superbum, and W. W, Mann, Esq., Ravenswood, 
Bexley (gardener, Mr. Simmond), sent a remarkable plant of Cycnoches 
pentadactylon (first-class certificate, see below). Messrs. W. L. 
Lewis & Co. received a botanical certificate for Cynorchis grandiflora. 
Certificates and Awards. 
Cypripedium x Phcsdra (J. Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid between 
C. Lindleyanum (pollen parent) and C. Sedeni candidulum. In form 
and colouring this hybrid follows the seed parent closely, but the lip may 
be a little darker. The petals are twisted, soft rose, with lighter central 
stripe (award of merit). 
Calanthe X gigas (J. Veitch k Sons).—A hybrid between C. Sander- 
iana gigantea and C. vestita grandiflora. It is of great vigour and beauty, 
having a bold spike containing numerous flowers. The sepals and petals 
are ivory white and the lip rich rose (first-class certificate). 
Cypripedium X Germinyanum (J. Veitch k Son).—This is a hybrid 
between C. hirsutissimum and C. villosum ; the former, being the pollen 
parent, is noteworthy for its narrow dorsal sepal and lip. The petals 
are those of C. hirsutissimum. The dorsal sepal is shining purple edged 
with green (award of merit). 
Cypripedium x Penelaus (J. Veitch k Sons).—A hybrid between 
C. caudatum Lindeni (pollen parent) and C. calurum. This is a note¬ 
worthy acquisition, being very remarkable for its large and massive lip 
which is of a bright greyish rose. The dorsal sepal is long, narrow, aud 
pointed, greenish yellow in hue. The petals are long, drooping and 
twisted, soft rosy pink, and impart a most graceful appearance to the 
flower. It is one of the finest hybrid Cypripediums seen for a long time 
(first-class certificate). 
Cycnoches pentadactylon (W. W. Mann, Esq.).—A very fine plant 
of a remarkable Orchid. There were three flowering pseudo-bulbs, 
the largest being nearly a foot long and more than an inch in 
diameter. It bore five drooping sprays wreathed in bloom. The flower 
has narrow sepals and petals, white barred with reddish chocolate ; the 
lip is narrow and clawed, the column curving upwards below it (first- 
class certificate). 
Chrysanthemum ]\frs. E, D, Adams (R. Owen).—A large Japanese, 
with long narrow florets, pink shading to white (award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum Neio Year's Gift (R. Owen).—An English seedling 
of the Japanese class, with large flattlsh creamy white flowers (award 
of merit). 
Begonia Gloire de Sceaux (L. do Rothschild, Esq.).—A grai:d 
decorative Begonia, having ample dark bronze-green foliage and large 
clusters of beautiful pink flowers. In growth it is upright but compact, 
and very vigorous. It is a sterling plant that Mr. Jennings has done 
well to show in such splendid condition (first-class certificate). 
Pteris serrulata gigantea (H. B. May).—A large spreading form of 
slender graceful habit of growth (award of merit). 
Apple, Blue Pear main (Mr. Barron).—An American variety of good 
form, distinct in colour, flesh tender and pleasantly flavoured (award 
of merit). 
NOTES FROM IRELAND. 
Straffan House, Co. Kildare, is a pleasant run of some fifteen 
miles to Straffan Station on the Great Southern and Western Railway. 
Kingsbridge terminus, Dublin, the starting point, is a noble structure, 
and, all things in keeping, one might fancy themselves at one of the big 
London termini, were it not for a superabundance of official shouting, 
whistling, and gesticulating, seemingly indispensable to the starting of 
an Irish train. W^e are now off, and passing the Company’s works at 
Inchicore, reminding one of Swindon on the'Great Western Railway, on 
through a flat country of marked agricultural character, rich looking 
and pleasant to the eye of the fox hunter, on the far left a low-lying 
chain of hills, continued from the Dublin mountains, a gradual toning 
down of the wild scenery of Wicklow and South Dublin to the plains of 
Kildare, flocks of green plover wing their way over the level lands on 
the right. Near Straffan Station, one of the last links in the chain 
of hills is Lyons, with its Fir-clad slopes, the residence of Lord 
Cloncurry. 
From the station we have a drive of twenty minutes on a gocd road 
between high Thorn hedges, under-carpeted with the greenest of moss ; 
on over the bridge spanning the Liffey, from which is a delightful peep 
of the mansion standing on the north bank of the river to which the 
lawn slopes. A placid looking river is the Liffey this autumn day, but 
apt to show its temper in a flood by swallowing up the lawn for a few 
hours, leaving as it recedes a deposit of mud and dfibris which is not 
wanted and carrying off the gravel from a boundary walk which is. A 
drive up the avenue to a side walk leading to Mr. Bedford’s house, the 
model of what a gardener’s house should be, covered with Clematis and 
Roses, conspicuous amongst which is Reve d’Or; a low stone wall partly 
enclosing the house is capped and pocketed with a variety of choice bits 
of alpines, each with its neatly written tiny zinc label, all the work of 
Mr. Bedford’s sons. A dark day in November is not the best time to 
trespass on one’s friends or see much outside; but all that is good or 
rare in herbaceous plants is here, as we scan the borders en route for 
the houses. Some special bits are favoured with a zinc collar, others 
crowned with a cap glass, while others like the Liffey defy all bounds. 
Some time since I was admiring Linaria pallida, and not having it of 
course begged a bit, and got it with a most emphatic caution that it was 
a curse, and would overrun the garden. Well, I will forgive it if it 
does. 
The plant houses are numerous and the collection of plants increasino' 
yearly by leaps and bounds, for the Hon. Mrs. Barton and her welL 
known chef des jardins are always on the alert for something new 
appearing. Amongst such a choice collecti.n any chance visit will see 
something special. This time it was a group of Vanda coerulea with 
noble spikes of a dozen flowers, while near are some bits of Cattleja 
labiata in flower, one a particularly fine form. But the Vandas are a 
feast in themselves; in fact, an act of Vanda-lism to leave them till well 
photographed on one’s mind. A fine batch of Calanthe vestita in its 
two forms was striking. But Orchids here are a special feature ; the 
cool section abundant and happy-looking, but the celebrated Straffan 
Disas I forgot to ask for, though doubtless my old friend has a frame full 
in some snug corner—for to do Straffan properly one must look well 
into the nooks. 
Ferns are numerous and fine, Adiantum palmatum in a basket 
arresting attention by its noble Farleyense-like pinna hung on pendant 
thread-like stems. But the cream in this class is a huge Drynaria 
diversifolia 6 feet across, also in a basket. Of this plant the late Dr. 
Moore of Glasnevin said he would travel round the world if they would 
give it to him when he came back ; but the worthy Doctor has gone a 
longer journey, whilst his favourite still flouiishes. Another giant 
