290 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 27,188e. 
manure before giving water at the roots when the fruits are swelling, 
as well as liberal waterings of tepid liquid manure between the said 
dressings, avoiding wetting the soil immediately round the stems of the 
plants in doing so.—H. W. Ward. 
- Referring to Pea Yeitch’s Autocrat, “ W. I.” remarks : 
—“ We find this comparatively new variety very productive at the pre¬ 
sent time, and are of opinion it wild prove one of the best for the late 
crops. It attains a height of about 4 feet, is of branching habit, and 
yields abundance of handsome pods well filled with green and very 
tender Peas. Autocrat will be extensively cultivated long after many 
muc’n-lauded varieties are 1 things of the past,’ at least such is my 
impression.’’ 
- The same correspondent commends the Turnip-rooted Beet, 
Carter’s Crimson Ball, observing :—“ The ordinary Turnip-rooted 
Beet is much too coarse this season, a great per-centage of the roots 
being of no service for salads. Not so the new form under notice, and 
once more it has demonstrated its superiority. At least 90 per cent, of 
the roots are richly coloured, and all are tender and sweet when 
cooked.” 
- “ B.” writes : “At Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons, Aigburth Nur¬ 
series, Achimenes gloxinreflora was recently noticeable with its 
light faintly spotted flowers, but a variety of this form distinguished as 
aurea was a decided acquisition. The flower was much the same as the 
former, but more than double its size, with a blotch of rich orange in 
the throat. It is decidedly the finest form of Achimenes that I have yet 
seen. If it proves a good grower and profuse flowerer it will before 
long become a general favourite.” 
- “ In the same nursery The Crotons are magnificent, and it is 
questionable if they could be surpassed. The house is narrow, with no 
central stage, and only a narrow one on the sides. The side lights are at 
least 4 feet high, while the roof is very flat. Houses with a sharp pitch 
do not find favour in these nurseries ; in fact in all recent constructions 
they are reverting to the old-fashioned plan, as the houses are strikingly 
flat in the roof. Whatever might be urged in favour of houses with 
sharp-pitched roofs, the fact that plants do well in these flat-roofed 
housed cannot be overlooked. The former are certainly good for one 
thing if for nothing else, and that is to tax the ingenuity of those in 
charge, in order to bring plants within reasonable distance of the glass.” 
- Agapanthus umbellatus albus.—T he blue form of the 
good old Agapanthus is common, but is not nearly so valuable as the 
white variety. The latter was extensively shown at the late Bath Show 
by Messrs. R. Veitch & Son of Exeter, and many visitors were much 
struck with its value, and it ought to become popular, especially where 
pure white cut flowers are in demand. It is equally as easily grown as 
the old A. umbellatus, and the single flowers may be detached and 
effectively used in bottonholes, bouquets, wreaths, and crosses. As a 
rule good white flowers are not very plentiful late in August and early 
in September, and the white Agapanthus is a welcome addition to the 
list. 
- One of the best border plants this season is Bocconia 
CORDAta. Its bold foliage, deep green on the upper surface and ashy 
grey beneath, has developed thoroughly under the influence of much rain, 
while its stems have perfected fine spikes of bloom at a height of 7 feet 
in some instances. In no position has it shown to more advantage than 
in beds of Rhododendrons in open positions. If the largest spikes are 
considered too large for decoration when cut the side spikes are not ; 
indeed, we find them useful for mixing with other border flowers. The 
Bocconia increases by division of the roots ; in fact every piece of root 
2 or 3 inches long sends up'vigorous growths, which quickly assume large 
proportions if planted in any moderate soil.—B. W. 
-Coreopsis Drummondi.—W hat a beautiful annual this is 1 
I do not think it is nearly so much appreciated as it should be. Planted 
in beds or in clumps in mixed borders it has a very telling effect. I 
consider it by far the best variety of any of the Coreopses. Its bright 
golden yellow flowers when cut last in water for eight or ten days, and 
the profusion of flowers obtained from a small bed enables one to make 
the most of the space at command. We have used it on several 
occasions arranged with the red-tinged plumes on Rhus Cotinus for the 
dinner table, and on every occasion it has been greatly admired. Owing 
to the wet summer this year the plants have grown taller than usual, 
and the flowers have been exceptionally large and well coloured.— 
G. T. Silver. 
- In spite of the wet and cold summer Stenactis SPECIOSA 
has done remarkably well this year. With us it commenced flowering 
the second week in July, and has continued up to now. The flowers 
are useful for cutting, being light, and remain fresh some time. Light 
blue flowers are not too plentiful, therefore this Stenactis is all the 
more prized. A stock is easily obtained by dividing the old stool in the 
autumn ; every piece having a root will make a good plant, and flower 
the next season if it has the protection of a cold frame during the 
winter, planting from these during April. This is a good method if a 
large stock is required in a short time, otherwise dividing the roots into 
pieces 4 inches square, planting at once in the borders, answers very 
well.—S. P. 
•- “ E.” commends Lobelia cardinalis as a capital plant for a 
wet season. “ Here in a bed is a mass of about four dozen plants that 
have grown 4 feet high, and each bears a fine spike of bloom, which 
viewed from a distance even is most effective. Under a close inspection 
the brilliant cardinal-coloured flowers are always appreciated. The rich 
dark-coloured leaves add to its beauty, which is enhanced by a carpet of 
Antennaria tomentosa covering the ground, and making a capital con¬ 
trast with the Lobelias. In a season like the present it is well to make 
note of this plant doing such good service when other flowering plants 
have run to leaves. When a stock of plants is obtained of the true 
sort they are preferable to those obtained from seed, which vary so 
much in the foliage that uniformity of growth and colour is not nearly 
so good. Therefore we increase the stock by dividing such as are of the 
true type.” 
SCHOMBURGHKIAS. 
This genus of Orchids is a remarkable one. The plants have 
much the appearance of some giant species of Cattleya, but this 
particular species resembles the noble Laalia superbiens, and when 
not in flower it requires a well-practised eye to detect the difference. 
When in flower the veriest tyro in Orchid culture would perceive 
they were two distinct species. We have long, however, suspected 
that the Lidia is a sort of stepping-stone between the two genera, 
and might, without any far-fetched or deeply studied character, be 
transferred to the family now under notice. The flowers of the 
Lselia are produced on very long flower stems, and are arranged in 
a close panicle at the end, exactly in a similar way to those of 
S. crispa. 
S. crispa.— This has large pseudo-bulbs, with two or sometimes 
three long, rather thin, leaves on the summit. The flowers are 
produced on stems frequently 5 or 6 feet long, on a short panicle ; 
they are of a brownish yellow, much crisped or curled at the edges ; 
the lip is white, striped with pink, and edged with pale yellow. 
Each flower is large, measuring 2^ inches across. It has a slight 
perfume. 
S. marginata ; Surinam. The pseudo-bulbs of this species are 
shorter and thicker than the preceding. The flowers are of a deep 
orange, shaded with red ; the lip is pale lilac ; the whole flower is 
margined or bordered with brownish-red—hence its specific name. 
This is a truly fine plant. It is sold in the markets of the West 
India Islands under the name of the “ Spread Eagle,” from a 
fanciful miniature resemblance of the flower to that noble bird. 
The flowers are handsome, and produced on somewhat shorter 
stems than S. crispa. This plant is well deserving of cultivation 
in medium-sized or large collections. 
S. tibicinis ; Honduras. The pseudo-bulbs of this species are 
rather remarkable ; they are hollow when old, and blunt at the 
apex. The natives cut them off, and form them so as to be able 
to blow through them, and produce a noise like the horns of a cow 
when blown through; hence they call it the Cow-horn Orchis. This 
species has the longest flower stems, frequently from 8 to 9 feet; 
they are of a deep pink colour, spotted with white on the outside, 
and with rich brown-red inside. The lip is white in the centre, 
rose colour at the sides. It has a lobe in the middle of a fine 
bronzy-red colour. Like all the genus, the flower springs from 
the top of the last-formed pseudo-bulb, and generally flowers about 
the month of June. Equally handsome, and worthy of cultivation 
with the rest of the genus. 
S. undulata ; La Guayra.—This, very possibly, is but a variety 
of S. crispa. It is sometimes named S. violacea from the deep 
colour of the flowers. Sepals and petals of a light purple, waved 
