January 28, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
75 
bulbs, and before the majority of the herbaceous perennials and bedding 
plants are in bloom. For filling this void the autumn-sown Californian 
annuals are unrivalled ; and, indeed, a succession of sowings would pro¬ 
duce throughout the season an effect but little inferior to that obtained by 
the employment of any other plants. 
One of these is Collinsia multicolor. It is quite as robust in its habit 
as the well-known C. bicolor, growing from 12 to 18 inches or more high ; 
and its flowers are among the largest and handsomest of the genus, 
though their colour is less intense than in one or two older species. The 
foliage is larger and more coarsely toothed than in C. bicolor ; but it is 
chiefly by the purplish tint of its floral leaves or bracts, which add much 
to the heauty of the plant, that it is distinguished from most, if not all, 
other species. The bracts beneath the lowest whorl of blossoms are 
cordate, bluntly toothed, and pointed ; the middle ones are much narrower, 
and without teeth ; the upper ones quite abortive. The flowers are on 
rather long pedicels, which, as well as the calyx, are almost free from 
glands. The segments of the calyx are very narrow, shorter than the 
corolla, and three-ribbed. The lower lip of the corolla is lilac, but the 
pouch-like cavity of the middle lobe is crimson, though externally this 
tint is hardly visible. The upper lip of the flower is also lilac, but with a 
large quadrangular white spot in the centre, speckled with bright rosy 
purple. We retain the name under which this plant was first published, 
but it is only right to observe that it is now regarded as but a form of 
C. bicolor. 
The cultivation of Collinsia multicolor is of the easiest description. It 
is only necessary to sow the seed thinly, in patches, in the open border 
where the plants are to bloom ; and this may be done any time between 
the beginning of March and the end of April. As the seeds are com¬ 
paratively small they must not be too thickly covered with earth, especially 
if of a heavy adhesive nature. In soils of this character it is a good plan 
to cover the seed with a little pulverised sandy loam. 
Besides C. bicolor already referred to, there are several very pretty 
species well deserving cultivation, the most important being C. verna, 
C. grandiflora and its recently introduced variety violacta, C. heterophylla, 
C. corymhosa, C. bartsiaefolia and its variety alba, and C. tinctoria. 
C. verna is a very attractive early-flowering species, with the lower lip 
of the corolla of a sky blue, the upper lip being white. It would doubt¬ 
less be more extensively grown but for the short-lived vitality of the seeds, 
which renders it necessary they should be sown in autumn soon after being 
gathered. From this defect C. grandiflora and its charming variety 
violacea are free, though the strongest plants are to be obtained by 
autumnal sowing, as well as the earliest blooms. The variety violacea 
especially deserves recommendation, the col >ur of the lower lip being 
much deeper than in verna, and the resulting contrast with the white 
upper lip more effective. C. heterophylla resembles C. bicolor, but its 
flowers are of a darker and perhaps less pleasing tint. C. corymbosa is 
very distinct as a species, with flowers in a capitate cluster and having an 
abbreviated upper lip, but is less showy and effective than those already 
named. Nor is C. bartsiaefolia worthy of more than a passing notice, its 
rolours being somewhat dull; but its white variety is deserving of more 
attention than it receives, its colour being pure, and its habit so dwarf 
that it would be found useful as an edging to taller annuals, though it is, 
like the rest of the species, comparatively short-lived. C. tinctoria, so 
named from the numerous glandular hairs which clothe the calyx com¬ 
municating a yellow stain to the fingers when touched, is not yet, we 
believe, in cultivation.—W. T. 
NOTES AT MAIDENHEAD. 
When recently visiting Mr. R. Owen’s nursery at Maidenhead I was 
much pleased with the white reflexed Chrysanthemum Boule de Neige. 
Mr. Owen had quantities of very useful flowers yet to cut of this, and he 
considers it the best late white variety yet introduced. Other varieties are 
still flowering, amongst which may be noticed Ethel, Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
besides many seedlings of promise. In another house I noticed a variety 
called Cloth of Gold, seemingly a cross between C. frutescens and C. carina- 
tum. It is by far the brightest of this section and flowers freely. Ivy¬ 
leaved Pelargoniums receive much attention, the most noticeable being a 
very promising salmon-flowered variety with white marking ; floribunda ; 
Souvenir de Charles Turner, a variety of great excellence which will 
become popular ; and a seedling double with flowers 2i inches across, one 
of the brightest yet raised. In another house seedliog Show Pelar¬ 
goniums are very vigorous, and something good is expected from them. 
Zonals also are grown in great numbers, with Primulas of a choice strain ; 
the colours are numerous, some very rich ; also excellent whites of the 
Magnifiea strain. One very noticeable was a deep yellow-centred variety 
with white edging, somewhat like a Primrose. 
There was a number of useful plants of the old Eupatorium odoratum 
in 6-inch pots admirably adapted for any purpose. A distinct fimbriated 
strain of Cyclamens is likely to become very useful when a little more 
improved. Abutilons are cultivated in large numbers, both seedlings and 
named varieties of the former ; one was flowering of a very deep rich 
velvety crimson tint apparently of good habit. In a lean-to house were 
some healthy Roses in pots, and others planted out trained to the back 
wall seemed quite at home. A large collection of Begonias has received 
Mr. Owen’s attention for some years past, and many fine seedlings are 
included.—J. P. 
LYCASTE LANIPES AT OAKHOLME, SHEFFIELD. 
This Lycaste, which appears to be not very generally grown in col¬ 
lections of Orchids, is now in especially good condition in the beautiful 
collection belonging to T. Wilson, Esq., Oakholme. It is a favourite with 
Mr. Hannah, the able gardener, as well as with his employer, and he has 
for several years past flowered it very finely. At the present time, how¬ 
ever, it is better than ever before. He has two varieties, the flowers 
of one being much purer white, larger, and more waxy-looking 
than is the other. On this variety we counted thirteen flowers 
from one growth, each flower being about 5 inches across. The 
flowers are thrown up from the base of the pseudo-bulb on footstalks 
about 6 inches in length, and form a dense mass of inflorescence a foot or 
more across and of a very striking character. On a plant of the inferior 
variety there are twenty-three flowers produced from two growths. The 
foliage is very fine, being about 2 feet in length, very dark green, stout 
and massive, the pseudo-bulbs being from 5 to 6 inches in depth. 
Mr. Hannah grows this plant in the East India house with Phalae- 
nopsis, Vandas, &c., the year round excepting during the time it is in 
flower. He gives it a very liberal supply of water during the growing 
season ; and in the autumn, after growth is completed, he gradually 
diminishes the supply, thus inducing rest without taking the plant into a 
cooler temperature. He gives it as his opinion that this plant, in common 
with a many varieties of Orchids, dislikes any disturbance at its roots. 
His plants have not been repotted during the last five years, and have 
each year increased in strength and in the number of flowers produced. 
In the flower house at Oakholme there are now several Orchids in 
flower, and the general effect is very beautiful. Numerous plants of 
Calanthe Veitcki with exceptionally large and strong flower spikes form 
a fine background interspersed with a number of well grown Poinsettias. 
There are also Dendrobium Ainsworthi (a plant of this in a 7-inch pot 
carrying sixty flowers on three flowering growths') ; Dendrobium nobile, 
heterocarpum, and D. phillipinense (a plant of this Orchid has not been out of 
flower for five months) ; Odontoglossum crispum, six varieties ; Odonto- 
glossum blandum, very fine plants ; 0. cordatum, Oncidium varicosum, 
Lycaste Skinneri, Ltelias autumnalis and ancep-, large and strong plants ; 
Cymbidium Hookerianum, and Sophronitis grandiflora. The latter are 
annually very fine, and have an especial aversion to frequent repottings. 
In the East India house is a very fine collection of Phaltenopsis, many 
of them very large specimens, and all of them in the most robust health 
and vigour. Seldom are they seen so fine. The main points observed in 
their culture here are at all times a liberal amount of heat combined with 
a moist atmosphere and freedom from draughts. In this house a fine plant 
of the singular and very attractive Angrseoum sesquipedale is carrying 
five of its large flowers on two flower spikes; the spur or tail to each 
flower is about 12 inches long. The plant has fourteen leaves, and is 
apparently without a blemish. Phaltenopsis Sanderiana is flowering 
freely, and is similar in general character to P. amabilis, but the flowers 
are slightly smaller, and have a very pretty shading of light pink appear¬ 
ing as if laid on the white ground colour. The small Odontoglossum 
house has a perfect forest of flower spikes in different stages of develop¬ 
ment. On a small table having an area of 12 feet by 5 feet we counted 
over seventy strong spikes. One plant on another table we noticed had 
seven spikes averaging fourteen flowers to each. Nowhere do we see 
Odontoglossums growing more strongly than at Oakholme. 
