2S2 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 12, 1894. 
- Artedia squamata. — Herr Max Leichtlin writes to an 
American journal:—‘‘This yfar Artedia squamata, a beautiful 
umbelliferous plant from Asia Minor, will be sent out. It resembles in 
shape Nigella damascena. The leaves are finely cut, and the creamy 
white flowers 2 inches across, which appear in great abundance, are 
sure to find admirers. The outer circle of florets are broad-shaped, 
and thus the flower seems to b: substantial and elegant too.” 
- Torquay District Gardeners’ Association.—T he second 
annual meeting of the above Society took place on Friday, April 6th, 
Mr. W. B. Smale taking the chair in the unavoidable absence of the 
President (Mr. W. Lavers). The Hon. Secretary (Mr. F. C. Smale) 
reported a balance in hand of £15, and a total membership of 120. It 
was intended to use a portion of the balance in the purchase of a large 
bookcase, as several valuable works of reference had been presented to 
the Society, including two vols. of Don’s “ Botany,” by Mr. W. Lavers, 
and twenty-five bound vols. of Journal of Horticulture, by Mr. W. 
Ainstie. Twelve papers of a high order of merit had been read during 
the past session, and the Association was in a successful and flourishing 
condition. Dr. Hamilton Ramsay was elected President for 1894-5, 
other officers and Committee being also appointed. 
- Edgeworthia chrysantha. —Writing to the “ Garden and 
Forest,” Mr. Watson of Kew says, “ This is a handsome winter-flowering 
shrub which does not appear to be known in horticulture, although 
introduced from China by Fortune fifty years ago. In the temperate 
house at Kew it is represented by a large bush 5 feet high, with 
numerous thick stems, branched above, and bearing in summer terminal 
clusters of broad lanceolate green leaves which fall off in the autumn, 
and are succeeded in February by terminal ball-like umbels of bright 
lemon-yellow Daphne-like fragrant flowers. These last several weeks, 
gradually changing colour to creamy white ; they are attractive to the 
eye throughout, and exhale a most alluring Violet-like odour. Planted 
out in a border of good soil this shrub has taken care of itself for many 
years, but it has never flowered so freely as this year. It may be 
propagated either by division or from cuttings.” 
DAFFODILS AND THE WEATHER. 
One hears murmurs of complaint this year from growers of these 
deservedly popul ir flowers, the complaint being that the bulbs are 
coming up badly, and the flowers are deficient in length of stalk. On 
the other hand, those exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society on the 27th ult. were particularly fine. I am glad to be 
able to report favourably in our own case, as the somewhat cool soil on 
which they are grown seems favourable to them during a dry time like 
the present, and Narcissi of all kinds are sending up strong foliage and 
good flowers in abundance. Although judged in the light of the leafage 
of the hedges, and opening of the fruit bloom, the season is not so early 
as that of 1893, yet the Daffodils are distinctly earlier. This is no doubt 
owing to the bulbs being thoroughly ripened last summer. The 
extremely warm sunshine of the last ten days or so has brought on all 
kinds at a great pace, and if it continues for another week we shall have 
everything out at once. At the present time good blooms of early kinds, 
such as Golden Spur, obvallaris, and Telamonius plenus, are to be found 
in abundance ; while much later varieties, such as Horsfieldi, Empress, 
Emperor, Maximus, Leedsi in variety, and incompaiabilis of sorts are 
opening fast. 
This rushing into bloom all at once is much to be regretted, as the 
flowering season is greatly curtailed thereby, and flowers opening in such 
hot weather never last long, I think those varieties of incomparabilis 
having orange stained cups show less red in a hot season, at any rate 
there is a marked absence of colour in such this year. Of Narcissi now 
in flower or showing bud the following are most worthy of notice ;— 
Golden Spur was the first to open, and it is quite the finest of the 
early yellow Daffodils, but is not so robust in constitution as it 
might be. The Tenby is, of course, a little gem, but is not seen at its 
best here, as the soil does not suit it. Countess of Annesley is a splendid 
early yellow, and with us it is a marvel of productiveness, the strong 
bulbs sending up three, four, five, and even six flowers each, and this 
after the bulbs have been divided as much as possible before planting. 
Princeps is now at its best, and is a very fine and graceful flower, but is 
not quite so free as one would wish. Sir Watkin seems very much at 
home with us, and is in full glory. I counted eight blooms on one bulb 
the other day, and this a bulb planted last autumn, not one which had 
been left undisturbed fora year or two. Leedsi, Duchesse de Brabant, 
poeticus ornatus, Burbidgei (type), Burbidgei Agnes Barr, and Stella may 
be quoted as very free blooming varieties. Madame De Graaff, the giant 
white Daffodil, is coming up very strongly, the best bulbs sending up 
three buds apiece. 
During this dry weather frequent stirrings with the Dutch hoe are 
very beneficial, as it admits warm air, and prevents the soil setting 
hard round the neck of bulb, which checks the full development of 
foliage and flower stalk. With a warm summer we may look forward to a 
crop of sound, well-ripened bulbs, equal to those of last season—better we 
can hardly hope for.—J. Duncan Pearson, Chilwell Nurseries, Notts. ‘ 
Masdevallia gargantua. 
This interesting Orchid was exhibited in splendid condition by 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking, at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 13th ult., when 
a first-class certificate was awarded for it. Masdevallia gargantua 
belongs to the Chimsera section, and is well represented in the 
accompanying illustration (fig. 46). The flower is stout in sub¬ 
stance, the sepals and petals pale yellow, the lip very broad and of 
a purplish brown colour. 
Dendrobium superbum Huttoni. 
The illustration (fig. 45) on page 275 depicts a bloom of Den¬ 
drobium superbum Huttoni, which was exhibited by Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., at the Drill Hall, James Street, S.W., on the 27th 
ult. The plant in question, for which a first-class certificate was 
awarded by the Orchid Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, bore a moderate number of flowers, and it appears to be 
an excellent form. The sepals and petals are white, as is the front 
portion of the lip, the throat being purplish crimson. 
Orchids at Chelsea. 
The effect of the past hot dry weather are plainly discernible 
in the Orchid houses of Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea. The 
blooms which were opening quickly developed, and as rapidly 
passed away. As a natural consequence flowers are not to be seen 
in very great abundance at the present time, but though they may 
lack somewhat in numbers, the high standard of excellence always 
seen here is fully maintained. The large house devoted mainly 
to Cattleyas contains some exceptionally handsome forms of 
C. Trianae, varying from blooms with a deep rich crimson lip to 
almost pure white. In the pleasant rockery were noticeable 
Vanda tricolor, the deliciously scented Cymbidium eburneum, a 
grand spike of a beautifully coloured form of Phaius Wallichi, and 
a charming piece of Dendrobium Dalhousianum. .Cypripediums 
are flowering sparsely just now, but a few of great merit are to be 
seen. Odontoglossums are in fine condition, though not great in 
numbers.—H. 
Orchids—Cultural Notes. 
The warm sunny days of the past three weeks have brought 
the flowers on rapidiy, and houses devoted to Orchids are now very 
gay. Where no structure or compartment is set apart for flowering 
plants, care is necessary to preserve the blossoms from injury by 
water, as frequent dampings have now to be resorted to to maintain 
a fairly humid atmosphere. The ventilators should be opened 
slightly as soon as possible in the morning when fine, the little 
heat left on the pipes after the fires are banked up will prevent any 
fall in the temperature, and a gradual rise with the sun is much 
more natural and advisable than waiting for a given degree before 
ventilating. 
Aerides odorata, A. Fieldingi, and others that were repotted or 
surface dressed last month will now be pushing roots and flower 
spikes, and a watch must be kept for woodlice, cockroaches, and 
other nocturnal insects which prey on the large fleshy roots to the 
serious detriment of the plants. Cattleyas Triange and Percivaliana, 
also Laelia superbiens, as they go out of bloom should be examined 
and cleaned, and may be repotted if this is necessary. The leads 
ought to be kept as far away from the rims of the pots as is 
convenient. This will keep the roots in the pots and obviate the 
necessity of repotting for a couple of years at least provided good 
lasting material is used. 
Cypripediums will now require increased supplies of water at 
the roots, but the foliage must not be syringed. If much moisture 
gathers in the axils of the leaves or on the young growths it will 
cause them to decay, and mischief may be done before this is 
noticed. 
Burlingtonias, lonopsis, Snphronitis, and other plants of small 
growth on blocks or in baskets need care at this season, and any 
little irregularities of compost put right before the new roots are 
far advanced. They must not be allowed to suffer from want of 
water at the roots, therefore examine them at least once daily. 
Dipping the plants is preferable to watering from a can or syringe 
for all plants that are suspended. 
Keep a sharp look out for green fly on the advancing spikes of 
Oncidiums and Odontoglossums. Diligently keep them under by 
passing a damp sponge ovfr the spikes and there will be no need 
