566 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Decam'er 24, 1885. 
from Limatodea rosea an! C. ve3tita rubro-oculata; and C. Sedeni, from 
C. Veitchi and C. vestita. 
Miscellaneous Hybrids .—Only two hybrid Cypripediums have been 
added to the list, and both are from Messrs. Veitch’s establishment. 
C. macropterum is from C. Lowi and C. superbiens, and is evidently quite 
intermediate in character. It is pretty, but cannot rank amongst the best 
of hybrid Lady’s Slippers. C. Sedeni candidibulum is a beautiful form 
obtained by crossing C. longifolium and C. Schlimi album. It has been 
not inappropriately termed a “ White Sedeni,” and with the exception of 
the pale rosy lip the flower is pure white. Since it partakes of the free- 
growing and profuse-flowering habit of C. Sedeni it will take a place 
amongst the most useful members of the genus. 
Dendrobium endocharis has been referred to before, but it deserves a 
further note, as it is unquestionably an Orchid that will find much favour 
with cultivators. It was raised from seed obtained by crossing D. japoni- 
cum and D. heterocarpum, and bears dense clusters of creamy white fragrant 
flowers, the lip being relieved by a blotch of crimson in the centre. In 
habit it resembles D. heterocarpum, and like that is a profuse flowerer. 
These easily grown Denbrobes are thoroughly useful plants, and the 
flowers of most of them are very durable, no mean recommendation in 
these days of large floral demands. 
One of the most remarkable and handsome Orchids of the year is Lmlia 
bella, for a plant of which Baron Schroder was awarded a certificate at 
one of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society. This superb hybrid 
is one of Messrs. Yeitch’s productions, having been raised from a cross 
between Cattleya labiata and Lsolia purpurata, and partakes of both 
parents’ characters in a remarkable manner. The flowers on the plants 
shown were over 7 inches in diameter across the petals, which, with the 
sepals, are pale rosy purple ; the lip is 4 inches long, over 2 broad, and 
unequalled in the intense richness of its crimson hue. It is a magnificent 
Orchid, and is considered one of the most valuable at present in cultiva¬ 
tion. 
An interesting addition has been made to the comparatively small 
number of Thunins in the hybrid T. Veitchiana, which has been shown 
and certificated both at Kensington and Regent’s Park this season. At 
the former exhibition it was shown by Messrs. Veitch and Mr. B. S. 
Williams, who had it under the name of T. Wrigleyana. As it is evident 
there has been some confusion in the naming, it will be well to give 
Mr. Williams’s explanation’of the matter. He says, “ This plant, which 
has for some time been known to us under the name of T. Wrigleyana, 
was, we believe, first raised and flowered by the late Mr. G. Toll of 
Manchester, who named it after E. G. Wrigley, Esq., and subsequently 
sold us the stock. Since then it has been exhibited by Messrs. Yeitch 
and Sons under the name of T. Veitchiana at the same time as exhibited 
by us under the name of T. Wrigleyana at the Royal Botanical Society’s 
Show in 1885.” Upon the label accompanying the plant shown by Messrs. 
Veitch it was stated that the seeds obtained from a cross between T. Mar- 
shalli and T. Bensoniae were sown in April, 1881. It appears that flowers 
were subsequently submitted to Reichenbach, who gave it the name now 
accepted. We have therefore reliable evidence indicating that the same 
cross was effected with precisely the same results in two widely separate 1 
gardens. Apart from this interesting matter it is unquestionably a 
charming Orchid, the sepals and petals being white, the lip veined with 
purplish lilac or mauve and tinged with yellow, and is both free in growth 
and flowering.—L. Castle. 
BERRY-PRODUCING PLANTS. 
Summer and autumn are truly enjoyable times in the garden 
and there seems to be no reason whatever why a ramble should 
be not only pleasurable, but highly interesting also during the 
dull months of winter. Jn many gardens we see trees and shrubs 
grouped with great care and forethought for the beautiful 
autumnal effects of their foliage, which at the best lasts only a 
few weeks, and the same idea carried out with berry-producing 
shrubs, and evergreen or ornamental-foliaged plants, would last 
the entire winter and help to bridge over a season that in the 
majority of gardens is anything but pleasant. Considerable 
taste would no doubt be required to make the venture prove an 
attraction, but the plants at command seem to be so varied and 
at the same time so suitable to each other, that little difficulty 
will be experienced on that score. The number of plants that 
produce berries or brightly coloured fruits in this country is 
considerable were they all collected together. Fifty years ago 
an o'd writer said that “ the hedgerows in winter are my gardens, 
loaded with the heps and haws, intertwined with the feathery 
tresses of the Traveller’s Joy, here and there fresh bits of Ivy 
peeping out.” What can be mure beautiful in the open air just 
now than the common Spindle Tree, Euonymus europasus ? Yet 
in 80 per cent of modern gardens it is a stranger. It is leafless 
truly, but the bare branches are covered with those curious bril¬ 
liant-coloured fruits that catch the eye at long distances, giving a 
most pleasing effect, which is heightened by dull surroundings. 
A group of such plants, or in clumps of half a dozen judiciously 
mixed in shrubberies lighten it wonderfully. The common wild 
Rose, which during summer is so handsome studded with its 
pretty pink flowers, is none the less so now, the large richly 
coloured fruits being very desirable whether in clumps or other¬ 
wise. Hippophae rhamnoides is also very useful at this season. 
Many of the varieties of Holly produce berries freely as we!l as 
the Hawthorns, a few of the American varieties being very hand¬ 
some ; Cotoneaster Simonsii, &c., many of which will occur to 
the reader, the above being merely an indication of the numbers 
that exist and fruit throughout mild winters. Among smaller 
plants may be mentioned Vaccinium macrocarpum, Gaultheria 
procumbens, Hemiphragma heterophylla, &c., unequalled for 
edging clumps and beds. Then there are many plants indoors 
that may be allowed to fruit for winter decoration; for instance, 
Passiflora cmrulea trained along the roof or in festoons from 
pillar to pillar, loaded with its pretty egg-shaped fruits, is a 
grand sight. It also does well in the open air, but flowers too 
late to mature fruit. Skimmia japonica and its varieties are old 
favourites often cultivated in pots for decorative plants for 
corridors, &c., Myrtus myrsinoides is also worth growing, and 
Microcachrys tetragona, a drooping Conifer-like plant, with 
branches like a Cassiope and smothered with small bright red 
Raspberry-like fruits.—M. 
SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS. 
If we knew beforehand what sort of weather we were to experience 
during the following summer we should be in a position to place out such 
plants as would be certain to give satisfaction, but as it happens we have to 
prepare as much as possible for any contingency. What we have to de¬ 
termine, then, is which are most suitable for all weathers, and to plant these 
principally in preference to those that may be classed as doubtful. In 
spite of numerous and noteworthy additions to our lists of summer 
bedding plants, Zonal Pelargoniums are still in the ascendant, and are 
likely to remain so I suppose as long as the fashion of summer bedding-out 
lasts. For my part I am heartily sick of “ scarlet Geraniums,” and I am 
not the only one by a good many who have had enough of them. We are 
under orders to rely principally upon them ; they must preponderate in 
every arrangement, and nearly every bed in fact, as many as five hundred 
plants frequently be worked into the majority of our largest beds. It is 
true they are the most effective, glaringly so unfortunately, more 
especially during a hot and dry season, but they look very miserable indeed 
during wet weather, especially in sheltered positions, where the flowers are 
more flimsy. However, my object in penning this paper is not the con¬ 
demnation of the bedding-out system, as that, I suppose, would be of no 
avail, but rather with the motive of pointing out which kinds of plants 
have proved the most generally useful here for some time past, though I 
could not resist having another grumble. 
The most useful scarlet Zonal Pelargonium for all weathers is 
Triomphe de Stella, an old sort belonging to the Nosegay section, and of 
which Mr. Taylor grew many thousands when at Longleat. It is one of 
the best “ tempered ” sorts in cultivation, striking freely, and quickly 
becoming established in the beds, no matter how roughly it may have 
been used. In hot weather it is literally a blaze of scarlet, and it quickly 
recovers from the damaging effects of rain. The old Indian Yellow is of 
somewhat similar neat-growing, profuse-flowering habit ; and this again 
is one of the best summer bedders. Master Christine is a good light pink, 
and Mrs. Turner is another rather vigorous-growing deep pink. Henry 
Jacoby is a great favourite with all who have it, no other variety pro¬ 
ducing finer trusses, and freely too, of colour rich crimson. Id our rather 
sheltered garden strange to say we could hardly distinguish it from 
C. Smith and General Outram, but in more exposed positions the trusses 
of Henry Jacoby are the larger of the two. West Brighton Gem is a 
failure, being of weakly constitution, but Fire Ball is a good scarlet, and 
will be grown in preference to Vesuvius. Of bronze Zonals I prefer 
Marshall McMahon, and Black Douglas is also very showy, and these are 
wonderfully effective in all weathers. The same may be said of the 
yellow-leaved Crystal Palace Gem ; while of the silver variegated sorts we 
prefer Flower of Spring, Mrs. Mappin, and Bijou, the latter for the 
centres of beds and for mixing with Violas. Robert Fish with greenish 
yellow leaves is useful for outside lines. Several sorts newer than the 
foregoing h tve been tried and found wanting. Numbers of them have 
better trusses of well-formed flowers, but after all are not so reliable as wo 
expect them to be. The double-flowering sorts are serviceable only for 
hot and rather dry positions. 
Verbenas are now seldom seen in quantity, but they are very brilliant 
when well grown. Purple King is stiil the best, while Crimson KiDg and 
Snowflake, also old sorts, are as reliable as any. It is useless to attempt 
their culture unless a start can be made with clean healthy cuttings, as 
these only make plants fit to put out. Seedling Verbenas are suitable for 
large mixed beds, and these will grow strongly without any extra prepara¬ 
tions, whereas those raised from cuttings require well-prepared and 
manured ground, as well as a summer mulching. Verbena venosa, pro¬ 
pagated either from seed, or better still by root cuttings, succeeds admirably 
in some gardens, and is most effective when mixed with either Veronica 
Andersonii variegata, Abutilons Tbompsoni, and Darwini tesselatum, 
white and yellow Marguerites, and Pelargonium Bijou, these being sur¬ 
rounded with a broad band of Iresine Herbstii, or Iresine Lindeni edged 
with Golden Pyrethrum, Robert Fish Pelargonium, or some dwarf silver- 
foliaged plant. Such a bed proves effective in all weathers, lasting well 
into the autumn. 
Marguerites ought to be generally popular, but have not made so 
much progress as was at one time thought probable. They are easily 
