29G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
AprU 19,1894. 
D, lituiflorum Freemanni and D. Wardianum, the first named 
apparently being the pollen parent. The sepals and petals are 
pale, suffused with rosy purple. The lip was noted as being 
rather large, and had a richly coloured maroon spot on the inner 
portion. _ 
Besides the foregoing there were many other choice Orchids 
shown at this meeting, a gem being Oypripedium Winifred 
Hollington. This is a splendid hjbrid, and beyond saying that, no 
further reference is needed here, inasmuch as a description, with 
an illustration, is published elsewhere in this issue. Messrs, Hugh 
l/ow & Co. exhibited a plant of Aeridts Hughi, named after the 
late Mr. Hugh Low, for which an award of merit was accorded. 
This Aorides is distinct in habit, but the flowers appeared to 
resemble those of A. maculosura. Amongst others Lycaste cruenta 
gigantea sent by A. H. Smee, Esq., and the somewhat rare Cypri- 
pedium Mastersianum shown by R. J. Measures, Esq, were con¬ 
spicuous, these being honoured with awards of merit.— Specialist. 
Dendrobium superbum. 
Amongst the various Dendrobiums at present in flower the 
Rbove variety, introduced from the Phillipine Islands many years 
ago, but now too seldom met with, figures conspicuously. Although 
•not so showy as D. Wardianum and many other of the lighter 
varieties, it is very effective when well grown, its fine large flowers, 
4 inches across, being pink tipped with rose, and the lip of a 
deep rich purple. A peculiarity is the strong fragrance of the 
flowers, reminding one of the odour of Turkey Rhubarb, but this 
forms no objection when the plants are grown in baskets, a position 
in which they delight. Crocks, charcoal, peat, and a surfacing of 
clean sphagnum moss formed the compose in which I used to grow 
this Dendrobium. The plants had plenty of heat and were well 
syringed twice daily when in active growth, reducing water 
•gradually as the pseudo-bulbs approached the ripening stage, only 
giving sufficient to prevent them shrivelling. At that period some 
growers remove their plants to a cooler house until the flowers 
can be detected on each side of the pseudo-bulbs, but perhaps the 
safest course to follow is to keep the plants well up to the glass, 
so that they may get all sunshine possible throughout the winter 
months, and then success is certain.—R. P. R. 
Oncidium stlendidum. 
This fine Orchid is worthy of its name, and is perhaps the best 
of the Oncidiums now blooming. The many-flowered, erect, 
branching spike resembles that of O. tigrinum, but the habit of the 
plant is quite dissimilar. It has nearly round, green, pseudo-bulbs, 
each bearing a single very thick leaf of the same colour as the 
bulbs, but becoming bronzed with age. It should be grown in the 
Oattleya house in a light sunny position, and like many of the 
Oncidiums from the western tropics it seems to enjoy a hot dry 
atmosphere at midday with copious supplies of water at the roots 
while growing. 
SCUTICARIA StEELI. 
This species is generally known as the Whip Orchid, and is 
•interesting on account of the peculiar terete leaves, which on 
plants in good condition frequently attain a length of from 
4 to 4| feet. The best growths I have seen were on blocks hanging 
on the end wall of a Dendrobium house immediately over a water 
tank. The flowers, which are not usually very frequently produced, 
are generally in pairs, each bloom being from 3 to 4 inches across, 
creamy white, with large browny spots on the sepals and petals, the 
lip handsomely striped with purple. 
Stanhoreas. 
These plants may be much better grown than they are in many 
places if a little of the careful treatment that is bestowed on more 
popular genera was accorded them, and no one who has seen well 
flowered specimens of S. eburnea or S. tigrina will deny that they 
are worthy of a little care. The flowers, though evanescent, are 
nevertheless very beautiful and fragrant, while their grotesque 
forms and beautiful texture never fail to excite admiration, 
Stanhopeas will not flower if frequently disturbed at the roots, 
but every year they should have a little of the surface compost 
removed and replaced with fresh sphagnum and charcoal, the early 
spring months being the best time to do this. 
Any plants that are unhealthy should be shaken out of the 
compost, well washed in tepid water, and all decayed roots cut 
away. They may then be replaced in either teak or copper wire 
baskets, using for compost fresh sphagnum, plenty of charcoal, and 
a little good Icam fibre. Large pieces of charcoal should be laid in 
the bottom of the basket, and placed as far apart as possible to 
allow the flower spikes to descend, then a layer of moss over these 
and around the sides of the baskets. The p’ants must be firmly 
set in position, as the young roots when formed are verv brittle. 
If the old roots are plentiful this is easily managed, but if not they 
must be tied securely to the sides until re-established. 
All the kinds mentioned helow will flourish if kept well up to the 
glass in a warm house in the summer, and they should be liberally 
watered both at the roots and on the foliage while growing. In 
the winter they may be removed to cooler and drier quarters. 
This will rest the plants, and also tend to keep insects in check. 
The species most generally grown are S. eburnea, S. Bucephalus, 
S. insignis, S. oculata, S. tigrina, and S. Wardi. All these, with 
the exception of the flrst named, have flowers of various shades of 
yellow more or less spotted and blotched with purple or crimson, 
while the flowers of S. eburnea are wholly of pure white.— 
IT. R. 
ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 
With the advance of civilisation and the rapid spread of 
artistic tastes among various classes of the community, changes in 
the general aspect of gardening must inevitably be taking place. 
With a widespread knowledge of the art of culture, production 
becomes more easy, and requirements are perhaps still more fully 
developed. The direction in which these requirements proceed 
seem, however, to take distinct and sometimes opposite courses in 
the various stages of horticultural history. 
With the rapid cheapening of glass and extended knowledge of 
horticultural building, plant and fruit culture under glass in private 
establishments advanced by leaps and bounds, with the result that 
plants and cut flowers are gradually introduced in largely increased 
numbers into dwelling rooms. The expense attending this phase 
of gardening in times of depression was soon acutely felt, and in 
order to keep up the requisite display on more economic terms 
herbaceous plants and hardy trees and shrubs were largely 
employed, the surplus fruit and vegetables being disposed of in the 
open market. Although this course entailed an immense amount 
of extra work upon the gardeners in charge of places conducted on 
these lines, many a man has been contented to plod on in this way 
rather than see the grand and historical homes of England—in 
which some gardeners have taken as keen an interest in beautifying 
as their noble owners—subjected to a system of dismemberment 
altogether incompatible with the history of their past greatness and 
continued prestige. In those instances in which gardens have been 
conducted on these lines during the last few years, it may be safely 
asserted that employers have derived a greater amount of pleasure 
and produce for a minimum outlay than they could possibly have 
obtained by any other means, while at the same time the enjoy¬ 
ment of the whole extent of their gardens has been preserved to 
them. Perhaps the only persons who have had cause to complain at 
the arrangement are the numerous small market growers, whose 
produce has deteriorated in value by having the markets glutted 
with the surplus from private gardens. Still it is difficult to 
devise a plan more fair and satisfactory to all parties concerned. 
Managed in this way many extensive establi-hments are well 
maintained at far less cost than was formerly the case. This is the 
more astonishing when we consider how greatly the work has 
increased in the ornamental department of gardening. Those who 
are not thoroughly conversant with the work have but a shadowy 
idea of the time taken up in attending to indoor decorations. 
With numerous cut flowers, and many plants in the various 
rooms of oor mansions or castles, the daily attention of gathering 
and arranging flowers, preparing, changiog, and clearing plants is 
no light task whenever the work is well done, as it must be to give 
either gardener or employer satisfaction. 
The demands in connection with dinner-table decorations are 
also becoming much more general, and although it is a pleasu'e to 
carry out this kind of work under some conditions, still it must be 
set down as an unproductive branch of gardening which, in con¬ 
sequence of the necessary time bestowed upon it, frtquei tly 
prevents a man displaving his cultural abilities, and leaves him 
nothing to show for the skill and ingenuity expended upon it, 
except the cherished remembrance of the satisfaction given and 
compliments received on the occasion. 
Happily there are still many gardening establishment^ which 
are eonducted cn liberal lines, where great impetus is piven to 
cultural excellence, so that one department is not allowed io suffer 
at the expense of the other, where the beauties of g( od cultural 
examples of plants and flowers are displayed princ paby in the 
conservatory or the gardens, ra'her than ruined by lengtl y sojourn 
in dwelling rooms. Were this course more generally adopted, many 
a struggling gardener would always have some creditable example 
of plant and flower culture to gladden the eyes of his employers, 
leave upon their minds a lasting impression of his ability, and at 
the same time secure high keeping throughout at a moderate 
expenditure. 
It is the great demand for cut flowers and plants for indoor 
