Deoember 15, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
517 
' Dendrobium formosum giganteum is shown in plate 308, 
a grand variety, which flowered last August in the Victoria and Para¬ 
dise Nurseries. The flowers are of great size, with very broad white 
sepals, petals, and lip, the last named having an irregular bright orange 
coloured blotch in the centre. It was first introduced by Messrs. Low 
and Co., Clapton, in 1856, from Rangoon, but has been frequently im¬ 
ported since in large quantities. The plants do not, however, seem to 
nourish long under cultivation. 
Gardening Appointments.— Mr. W. J. Novell for the past 
four and half years foreman at Grimston Park, Tadcaster, has been 
appointed gardener and bailiff to Mrs. Anson, Catton Hall, Burton-on- 
Trent. 
- At the ordinary meeting of the Royal Meteorological 
Society, to be held at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on Wed¬ 
nesday , the 21st inst., at 7 P.M., the following papers will be read :— 
Mean Temperature of the Air at Greenwich from September, 1811, to 
June, 1856,” by II. S. Eaton, M.A., F.R.Met.Soc.; “Report on the 
Phenological .Observations for 1887,” by the Rev. T. A. Preston, M.A. 
F.R.Met.Soc. ; “Earth Tremors and the Wind,” by Prof. John Milne, 
F.R.S., T.G.S. ; “Pressure and Temperature in Cyclones and Anti¬ 
cyclones,” by Prof. H. Allen Hazen. 
-- Samples of Odam’s Horticultural Manures have been 
sent to us, but as this is not the best time of year for testing their effect 
on crops, we must content ourselves by stating that they have been 
found in the highest degree satisfactory by several of the best gardeners 
in the kingdom, whose names are included in the list of testimonials 
before us. We have had proof of the value of the manures of the firm 
in field culture. 
' "' E are desired to state that a plant of Dendrobium nobile, 
at Llanway House, Goldalming, is bearing 264 flowers on thirty-three 
spikes, the specimen measuring 4 feet 6 inches in diameter. 
- Mr. T. Jackson, the Hon. Secretary of the Kingston and 
Surbiton Chrysanthemum Society, informs us the twelfth annual 
Exhibition is fixed for November 6th and 7th, 1888. 
- Royal Botanic Society, 1888.—The spring exhibitions of 
this Society are announced to be held on Wednesdays, March 21st, April 
18th ; Summer Exhibitions, Wednesdays, May 16th, June 20th ; Evening 
Fete (probable date), Wednesday, July 4th ; Promenades, every Wednes 
day in May, June, and July, excepting exhibition and fete days. 
- Mr. W. Spinks, Royal Nurseries, Harborne Road, Edgbaston 
Birmingham, sends us flowers of a new Chrysanthemum which he 
states was “raised two years ago from Etoile du Midi as a sport. Last 
year it proved very attractive and was much admired. 1 grew fifty 
plants this season. It retains its character in every respect as a good 
grower, free flower, and a great favourite with everyone. I purpose 
sending it out next spring (March 1st), giving it the name of ‘ Hans 
Niemand.’ ” The blooms are of medium size with spreading florets, 
reddish bronze in the centre and golden in the outer florets. It will 
evidently possess considerable decorative value. 
VINE BORDERS. 
Most gardeners are familiar with the turf system of raising 
young Vines. The advantage of plenty of fibrous roots in laying 
a foundation for the success of the Vines no one will deny. I 
have assisted in clearing out many old borders to plant young 
Vines, and not in one instance was there to be found any appear¬ 
ance of the Vines ever being fibrous-rooted. To keep the long 
fat roots from running away something must be done. Adding 
every year to the new-made border as the long roots shoot out I 
do not advocate. I have experimented in the opposite course— 
that is, cut the ends of the long roots for a considerable distance 
back every spring, and by giving them a good fresh made-up mix¬ 
ture, both for outside and inside borders, until it is finished there 
will be no want of fibrous roots where they should be. I expect 
to get some heavy guns levelled at me for attempting to touch a 
Vine root in its onward course ; but the Vines so treated here bear 
ample proof of the system advocated. The size of bunqhes and 
general finish are signs that they like the treatment. 
The great amount of soil which makes up Vine borders in many 
cases is only good for keeping moisture and helping the roots to 
find nourishment where they should not be. Some advocate the 
extension system of training ; others advise restriction, as well as 
given degrees of temperature for setting the fruit; but pinch to a 
joint for training, or fire to a degree for good setting, and your 
labour is in vain for fruit of the highest quality, unless the root- 
action is perfect. There is no objection to fibrous roots, whether 
they be near the Vine or far away ; but in many cases they extend 
across the border and multiply in gravel walks and other places, 
instead of first occupying the place allotted to them.—T. S. 
PiEONIA OFFICINALIS var. LOBATA. 
The above plant is by many considered distinct enough to merit 
specific rank, although Mr. Baker regards it merely as a variety of the 
Fig. 61.—Pseiiiui officinalis lobata. 
common Pasony. Be this as it may, the plant in question, both for 
grace and beauty, takes a first place even in this handsome genus, and 
all who cultivate beautiful flowers would do well in adding it to their 
collections. The type P. officinalis has long been considered the female 
Pteony of Dioscorides, so named of course without any consideration of 
the real distinctions. The leaves are doubly pinnate, with oblong 
leaflets distinctly veined underneath. It grows from 2 to 3 feet in 
height, forming a bushy plant. It is the commonest species in gardens 
and has given rise to several double flowered varieties, amongst which 
are Sabini, rosea, blanda, rubra, albicans, Ac., a few of which are very 
beautiful, and indeed all are worthy of attention. 
P. lobata is dwarfer than the type, differing mostly in being dwarfer 
in habit, and having narrower and more numerous leaf segments. The 
flowers are rich cerise salmon, a very unusual colour in a Pfeony. It 
flowers with the others in spring.—M. S. 
