December 22 , 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
many persons would have been glad to see a really representative exhi¬ 
bition in Richmond, and there would have been no difficulty in making 
a great success. It is therefore unfortunate that this rather strange 
delay should have occurred.** ( 
, nr^ HE Sub]ect ^ or discussion at the last meeting of the members 
of the Wakefield Paxton Society held at Councillor Lupton’s, the 
aw o el, was “ The Apple,” and it was introduced by Mr. J. G 
rown gardener to Mr. J. B. Charlesworth, J.P., of Hatfeild Hali 
Councillor Milnes presided, and Mr. H. Oxley was in the vice-chair. 
ere was a good attendance of the members. A capital collection of 
dessert and baking Apples was exhibited, and Mr. George Perkin, of 
lork Street, exhibited a specimen of the “ Winter - Moth,” which com¬ 
mits great ravages amongst Apple trees. Mr. Brown, who is one of the 
oldest members of the Society and a Kentish man, has devoted con¬ 
siderable attention to the growth of Apples for many years past, and he 
read a capital paper on the subject. He pointed out the varieties of 
pp es which he had found from experience can be most successfully 
grown in this part of the country, and he advocated the growth of 
pples on an extensive scale by farmers and market gardeners. A long 
and interesting discussion took place on the subject, in which several of 
t e speakers complained that the smoke nuisance considerably interferes 
with the fruit growing in this locality. Mr. W. Pye, the postmaster 
in very complimentary terms, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Brown 
for his paper, and the motion was seconded by Mr. G. Gill, of Eastmoor 
and supported by Mr. T. Garnett. 
DECEMBER NOTES AT UPPER HOLLOWAY. 
the rn^u e t mber , ) f0 5 S y hich , so s ever ely try the skill of cultivators in 
- district, and which play such havoc with flowers of 
TWr u ,, kmd8 ’ See “ *° lose much of their poisonous influence at 
semmnee M 0,V n y « P w b n bly 0wing to its elevated position, and in con- 
sequence Mr. B. S. Williams is enabled to provide quite a surprising dis- 
f ° r , thc ‘ imc , of year. Within the present month and 
° 1 , da ^ e nearl y 700 spikes and single flowers have expanded, and 
and r™w redS m r° re to , c ° me amongst Laelias, Vandas, Cattleyas, 
and Gypnpediums. In each of the numerous houses devoted to Orchids 
c.!,pt; gr ° Up Jr P lants in fl ower, besides the usual stock of sturdy healthy 
specimens that reserve their attractions until a later period. There is 
nrnV D w Ua / nu “ b f of Vanda s in flower for this time of year, and it is 
probabiy due to the exceptionaily hot season having induced an early 
nrS- Peri< 2 1, Y ha i t f Ver tbG caus? > the y Iook extremely well, and are 
hne highly coloured flowers. The plants of all genera 
m gh ° Ut h ooAections are distinguished by their healthy appearance, 
the leaves of the Cattleyas, for instance, being as firm and as well 
n!!! I l“( aS t C0U ( be wished, scores of sheaths being now produced. 
I his satisfactory condition is mainly due to two items in their culture : 
first, they are never weakened by excessive heat or undue shading, and 
second, they are kept thoroughly clean. Practical growers will fully 
appreciate the importance of these two matters, and the latter especially, 
tor, however correct the treatment may be in other respects, if plants 
f"5 e 1 edW \ th 1 , nse , cfcs ffley cannot thrive. As an exterminator of 
msects of all kinds Mr. Williams now relies exclusively upon the 
Ihanatophore, which is employed in all the houses, including those 
contaming Orchids m flower, or the most delicate Ferns, without the' 
slightest injury to anything except the insects. Using the larger size 
with strong tobacco juice, it is found to be more economical and 
e ectual than fumigating with tobacco or tobacco paper, and the great 
advantage is that it can be employed where Orchids are in flower, a 
time at which they are especially liable to become infested with 
insects. 
. Gypnpediums are very numerously represented amongst the Orchids 
in flower, and a choice collection is now included of all the most beau- 
titul and valuable hybrids hitherto obtained. Mr. Harry Williams has 
made these an especial study, and has undertaken several interesting 
experiments in hybridising that may be expected to bring some good 
results. In several cases pods of seed are ripening that have been ob- 
tamed by crosses between widely separated species, and if a combination 
ot tbeir characters has been effected something of a very unusual kind 
must be looked for. Of the varieties in flower the following are note¬ 
worthy . G. Sanderianum, C. microchilum, C. oenanthum and its variety 
superbum, C. Dauthieri, C. porphyreum, C. Ashburtonim and its variety 
expansum with a very broad dorsal sepal, C. Sallieri, the large and 
yellowish form of the C. insigne type ; C. Fitcheanum, a novelty of the 
G. Hookeri type, but quite distinct; the magnificent C. Morganim has 
three superb flowers ; C. chloroneurum is very distinct, with the dorsal 
sepal quite a bright green ; C. cardinale, free and useful; C. calurum, 
G. meira, G. Leeanum, C. calophyllum, and C. superbiens, the last named 
flowering out of its usual season. 
The other houses contain plants in flower of Cypripedium Harrisi- 
anum, a very dark variety with five large polished flowers ; the useful 
and free C. Spicerianum, C. insigne Maulei, still the best of the type, a 
good plant with eleven flowers ; C. biflorum, a neat and pretty flower, 
the dorsal sepal crimson tinted with a white margin ; C. venustum, C. 
Crossianum, C. Sedeni, and another of the insigne family, C. punctatum- 
vioiaceum, which in some is preferred to Maulei, and is largely grown 
tor a winter supply of flowers. Although there is such a strong pre- 
y u f . ° family likeness in the Cypripediums, the species are also very 
distinct from each other, and perhaps more readily recognised than most 
o her members of large genera. They are also nearly all easily grown, 
and comprise so many suitable for winter flowering that their rapidly 
extending popularity is readily understood. 
~ , e miscellaneous Orchids in the warm houses include the following 
—Gala-nthes Veitchi and vestita, with several varieties of the latter, and 
the valued C. Turneri is also expanding. The graceful arching spikesof 
these plants arranged with other Orchids and Ferns have a graceful 
cflect, and their value for grouping cannot be too highly estimated. 
’ aaclas tricolor, insignis, suavis, and the Glen variety of V. tricolor are 
in flower, the last named a light form with a crimson lip and bright 
spots. A pilant of Catasetum Bungerothi in a 48-sized pot has two spikes 
of seven large wax-like flowers each, the broad concave lip being very 
prominent. Ibis fine Catasetum was figured in this Journal last De- 
cember, and the plant has since become well known, as it is one of the 
best of the species from a horticultural point of view, flowering frequently 
and growing strongly.. A particularly large specimen of Cymbidium 
eburneum has twenty-six spikes showing, and will present a fine appear¬ 
ance later in the season ; C. Lowianum is also showing flower spikes 
rreeiy. Miltonia Morelliana, Callender’s variety, is an unusually dark 
form, and has been in flower for nearly three months. A bsautiful dark 
variety of Phalmnopsis Sanderiana with crimson tinted flowers is 
notable. 
Dendrobiums superbiens and Goldieanum are nearly always in flower 
near the Vanda Hookeri corner of a small stove, and there also is Dendro- 
bium bigibbum with its variety album, which produces its flowers white 
m their early stages, becoming tinted as they grow older. In the same 
house is a small plant of Pleurothallis lamphrophylla, a species rarely 
seen, and the genus altogether is seldom represented in gardens, though 
such as this would well deserve attention. It has upright spikes of 
small yellowish semi-transparent flowers, and possessing a peculiarly 
agreeable though slight spicy fragrance. Some of these small flowered 
Orchids are undeservedly neglected in private collections, and this 
rieurothallis reminded us of the graceful Liparis pendula, so well repre¬ 
sented in the collection at Waddon House, Croydon. Quite a forest of 
spikes of Laslia anceps are expanding their bright flowers, and will afford 
a rich Christmas display. Trichopilia tortilis, Cattleya Chocoensis alba 
are flowering. Of the pretty little purple and white Leptotes bicolor 
there is a dozen plants with the flowers opening. Masdevallia 
tovarensis, Pilumna nobilis, Lycaste Skinneri alba, Trichosma suavis, 
Sophronitis grandiflora, Cattleya Percivaliana, Epidendrum ciliare, 
Cattleya Loddigesi, Brassia Lawrenciana, Zygopetalum Clayi, Odonto- 
glossum Insleayi leopardinum, and Oncidium janeirense are only a few 
amongst many good plants. 
In the cool houses are hundreds of fine Odontoglossums advancing 
into flower, including some charming varieties of 0. crispum, O. con- 
strictum, with its larger and better form 0. Sanderianum, are attractive, 
the distinct and elegant 0. ramossissimum having a place in the same 
house. The flowers are somewhat like a small cirrhosum about 2| inches 
across, the sepals and petals narrow, much undulated and curled, white, 
with pale violet spots on the lower half and base of the lip, which has a 
white crest in the centre. The, panicle had four branches of seventeen 
flowers. O. Ehrenbergi is like a miniature 0. Rossi. not very showy, but 
neat. Oncidium Forbesi, O. albo-violaceum, the exquisite Restrepia 
antennifera, and several other Orchids are also flowering in this depart¬ 
ment, which includes a large stock of select Masdevallias. 
The other houses are stored with extensive collections of stove and 
greenhouse flowering plants and Ferns, the latter looking particularly 
well for such a dull period as the present. Pitcher Plants, Crotons, and 
Dracfenas are well represented in their respective departments, besides 
Heaths, hardwooded plants, Cyclamens, and Primulas. All are well 
grown, and this alone would satisfy such a practical and experienced 
cultivator as the genial proprietor, Mr. B. S. Williams. 
NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The demand for novelties amongst Chrysanthemums has been 
great in recent years, and the supply has increased proportionately, 
the scores of so-called new varieties annually sent out by continental 
firms rendering Committees, such as those of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural and the National Chrysanthemum Societies, obvious necessities. 
If no checks were imposed on the distribution of these very 
abundant novelties, it is to be feared that many growers would soon 
become disgusted with purchasing inferior varieties, or those that 
are merely syonymous with older forms. Some of the French 
catalogues are interesting studies, and the profuse manner with 
which adjectives are employed shows that describing plants for sale 
is quite an art, in which British nurserymen cannot pretend to 
equal their continental neighbours. A description that in a French 
list occupies 2 inches of small type we find compressed in an 
English specialist’s catalogue to a single line or less. Some amateurs 
have tried procuring the novelties direct from the foreign raisers, 
but how hazardous such an investment may be has been amply 
proved this season. For example, out of 100 varieties purchased 
for trial by such firms as Messrs. Davis & Jones, Messrs. Cannell 
