398 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 3, 1892. 
- Technical Education in Horticulture. —We are desired 
to state that Mr. A. M. C. Jongkindt Coninck,late of the Nurseries, 
Dedemsvaart, Netherlands, is commencing a technical school at Bussum, 
near Amsterdam, which was opened on November 1st, for the 
thorough training of young gentlemen in horticulture in all its branches. 
Mr. Coninck, who is not unknown in England, bears a very high 
character ; he is, we are authoritatively informed, well adapted for 
such work, for which he has already achieved a reputation. 
- Planting Trees at Ropner Park.—A pleasant function 
took place recently at the Ropner Park, Stockton. It was in connection 
with the planting of the first trees in the park. The cutting of the 
first sod was gracefully performed last year by Mrs. Ropner, whose 
husband (Major Ropner) is the munificent donor of the Park to the old 
Teeside borough. The first tree was planted by Mrs. Hind, wife of 
Alderman Hind, J.P., the Chairman of the Park Committee, and the 
lady was the recipier t on the occasion of a pretty silver spade, the gift 
of Mr. James Watt, J.P., principal of the celebrated firm of Messrs. 
Little & Ballantine of Carlisle, nurserymen, and contractors for the 
planting of the park. 
- New Zonal Pelargoniums. —Messrs. Cannell’s set of Zonals 
for 1893 will be found an exceptionally strong one, and lovers of these 
beautiful flowers should secure it in its entirety. It is composed of 
four raised at Swanley and several raised by Mr. Miller. The former 
are A. F. Woolton, a lovely light salmon with enormous pip, fine truss, 
and an excellent grower; Madame Melba, a most beautiful variety in 
the way of Lady Brooke, but a decided improvement on that charming 
sort, white, with the centre flushed delicate pink. It has a large round 
pip and a truss of great size. It forms a splendid floral prototype for 
the beautiful and gifted singer whose name it bears. Mascagni, named 
after the now famous composer, is a soft mottled salmon with a central 
ring of brilliant vermilion. It has a good habit, and is a fine grower. 
W. P. Wright is a powerful addition to the scarlets. It has a very 
large round pip, with broad overlapping petals, and is a dwarf sturdy 
grower. The others are all beautiful. Lord Tennyson is deep salmon ; 
Picotee, mottled salmon with deeper picotee-like edge ; and Double 
Guinea, light orange, are the three doubles. Three beautiful singles 
are the Rev. W. Bartram, brilliant scarlet ; Blue Peter, purplish 
magenta, the nearest approach to blue yet secured ; and Lady Dufferin, 
mottled salmon. The 1892 novelties are also lovely varieties. White 
Lady, snow white ; Marquis of Dufferin, purplish magenta ; Amphion, 
pink ; Lord Iddesleigh, bright scarlet ; and Inverness, salmon, are all 
conspicuous for round, smooth pips, and large trusses. Of the doubles, 
Colossus, a lustrous carmine-red seedling from F. V. Raspail; Sir 
Hamilton, purplish pink ; Lady Lena, salmon, with light markings ; 
and Miller’s Gem, purplish magenta, and conspicuous for its light stems, 
are all acquisitions. In the superb collection of Zonals now in glorious 
bloom at Swanley the varieties named are conspicuously beautiful, while 
they are strengthened by the two varieties honoured by the R.H.S a 
fortnight ago—Madame Bondeville and Improved Raspail. 
- Vegetable Novelties. —What are more dainty, says a ladies’ 
contemporary, than well made croquettes of Potatoes fried until a 
pretty golden colour 1 If given even cold mutton for dinner, with 
Potato croquettes and a good salad, followed, perhaps, by a tasty dish 
of fresh Beans which have been simmered in a little butter seasoned with 
salt and pepper, and garnished with crisply fried sippets, one would not 
feel so inclined to grumble as when a cold joint is placed on the table 
with boiled Potatoes, the latter, perhaps, badly boiled, and French Beans 
dressed in the same way. A Vegetable Marrow, boiled, filled, when cold, 
with, say, a stuffing composed of scraps of cold meat or poultry well 
seasoned and mixed with bread-crumbs, or a thick, well-flavoured gravy, 
then rolled in flour, egg, and bread-crumbs, and fried a pretty golden 
colour, will make a dish which few people, if any, will not appreciate. 
Also it will use up scraps of meat which would probably be insufficient 
to make a dish of alone, as well as helping to free the bread-pan of stale 
pieces of bread, which, even in the best regulated of households, are apt 
to accumulate. The remains of a Cauliflower, if divided into small neat 
pieces, seasoned with a little minced parsley, salt, and pepper, then 
dipped into a light batter and fried, make an excellent dish, as does also 
the same vegetable simmered, or, more rightly speaking, braised, in a 
little stock. Of course all vegetables used should be freshly gathered. 
Cauliflowers and Cabbages will become fermented if kept long after they 
are cut, and thus an easily digested vegetable becomes just the reverse. 
Cabbage, in its various kinds and qualities, is grown as generally as 
Potatoes and Onions in all gardens, and as regularly boiled in our 
kitchens. The idea of rubbing it through a sieve, as Spinach should be 
done, adding a little butter or even a small quantity of pork or beef 
dripping, a little grated cheese, salt and pepper, and beating all 
together, then serving it garnished with sippets and hard-boiled eggs 
divided into quarters, is never thought of. Little rolls of bacon daintily 
arranged round the Cabbage will make a dish more nutritious and’ 
certainly more appetising for lunch than many which are served, and 
the trouble and expense in preparing it are certainly not very heavy. 
Small cabbages blanched, the centres removed, and in the place a little 
minced meat, seasoned nicely, inserted, are excellent, if braised and 
served on squares of fried bread. 
PiLUMNA NOBILIS. 
Amongst the whole family of Orchidaceous p T ants fragrance in 
the flowers is more the exception than the rule, but with the above 
species there cannot be any misgivings as regards that matter, in¬ 
asmuch as it is one of the strongest scented flowers in cultivation. 
The smaller P. fragrans is better known, but the one under notice 
is much the best. Out of three plants two of them are now in full 
bloom, and the other will follow quickly. Whether this must be 
regarded as the normal seasoD of flowering I cannot say, as in other 
years with me they have bloomed in February and March ; but 
this no doubt is the true season, the plants being very vigorous. 
Up to within the last two years I grew them in the Cattleya 
house, but they would not thrive at all well, the pseudo-bulbs 
getting gradually smaller. As a last rtsou'ce the plants were 
placed in the cool house with the Odontoglossums when they com¬ 
menced to improve at once, and which is evidently the proper 
position for them. 
This is also an Orchid that does not like being unduly dis¬ 
turbed at the roots, and it thrives best in a well-drained pot. The 
material for growing it in should be good lumpy peat with fresh 
sphagnum, and firm potting is essential. During the growing 
season it requires a moderate amount of water, but after the pseudo- 
bulbs have formed the supply must be lessened, though not be 
kept wholly dry. It is upwards of four years since our plants 
were repotted, and as the compost is still sweet and the plants in a. 
satisfactory condition, I shall not disturb them. The pure white 
and waxy looking flowers have a chaste and glistening appearance, 
with the exception of a yellow eye, which, however, enhances its, 
effect.—A. Young. 
Sopiironites grandiflora. 
The plump growth of this pretty little winter-flowering Orchid 
will soon reveal its charming brilliant scarlet flowers, and assist 
with its dainty bits of colouring in enlivening the structure in 
which it is growing. I fancy the plants are often grown too cool, at 
least during the winter months, many growers thinking the cool 
house the best position for them the whole year round. During 
the summer months the cool house is undoubtedly the "best position 
for them, the Cattleya house at this period being too warm and 
sunny. During the autumn and winter, however, the temperature 
of the Cattleya or intermediate home suits them the best. At 
least, I place our plants in the Cattleya house early in October and 
allow them to remain until April, when they are removed to the 
cool house. Under this treatment they do not degenerate. I have 
a number of plants, and some of the little specimens will produce 
a dozen flowers. The flowers also develop better in the Cattleya 
house and are a better colour. They are best cultivated in little 
pans and suspended near the glass. A plentiful supply of water is 
needed right throughout the growing season, and as the young 
growths develop with a flower it will be some time yet before the 
leaves become matured. After this takes place they must be kept 
fairly moist, over-dryness being fatal to their well-doing. They 
also require to be fixed firmly in the pans.—A. Young. 
Papiiinia grandis. 
Although the proper name of this plant is Lycaste grandis, no 
doubt the name Paphinia will be the one used by horticulturists 
for a long time to come. The plant is a native of Brazil, and 
requires a stove temperature for its cultivation. The plants are 
small, but the flowers are large and fragrant. The pseudo-bulbs 
