June 3, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
443 
habit, and the flowers exceed 2 inches in diameter. They are of a very 
deep carmine, almost vermilion colour, exceedingly bright, the centre 
being white surrounded by a ring of violet. The plant is a native of the 
South Sea Islands, where it was discovered by Lieutenant Hawker. 
-Avery handsome specimen of Odontoglossum vexillarium 
is now flowering in the Orchid house at Great Gearies, Ilford. It is a 
Iona fide single specimen grown from one rootstock, and bears forty- 
seven racemes, the total number of flowers being 289. This with several 
others has been grown on from small pieces in the past ten years, the 
plants being placed in the Cattleya house during winter and the cool 
house in summer, especial care being exercised to prevent their becoming 
dry at the roots. 
- As will be seen from an advertisement in another column 
Mr. Charles Herrin, who has been gardener at Chalfont Park, 
Gerrards Cross, for ten years, desires another situation. Mr. Herrin is 
well known as an exhibitor at Chrysanthemum and other shows, and has 
repeatedly proved his skill as a cultivator in close competitions with fruit 
and other productions. 
- Three new Seedling Phyllocactuses have recently flowered 
at Cromwell House, Croydon, all being most beautiful and distinct. They 
have been named respectively Mrs. Charles Major, Miss Dorothy Major, 
and Miss Mabel Major. The former is very large, of a brilliant rosy pink 
colour, with white filaments ; the second pale rose, the inner petals rich 
purplish carmine, the filaments deep crimson ; and the third bright scarlet 
outer petals, the inner petals of the same hue as that last referred to, the 
filaments bright rose. All are large and of fine form, and they make a 
desirable addition to the excellent collection of Cacti in Mr. Major’s 
garden. 
- The Indian Rhododendrons in the same garden have been 
gorgeous ; the plants—or rather trees—are growing in huge tubs, some 
under glass, others out of doors. A specimen of the lemon-scented 
Countess of Dalhousie has produced upwards of 1000 blooms, and another 
of the sweet-scented white variety, Princess Alice, bears nearly as many. 
-A correspondent, “ W.” writes:— “Rivina humiliS forms a 
most attractive standard for a warm conservatory; when thus grown the 
loDg spikes with their load of scarlet berries droop gracefully over the other 
plants amongst which they are placed, and have a very pretty effect.” 
- The first part of a magnificent new serial work on Orchids, 
entitled “ Reichenbachia,” is just to hand. It is by Mr. F. Sander, 
with “ the assistance of scientific authorities,” and is to be issued monthly 
with four coloured plates, either chromo-lithographs or hand-coloured. 
The present number is dedicated to the Queen, and contains plates of 
Odontoglossum crispum, Cattleya labiata Percivaliana, Cypripedium 
Sanderianum, and Odontoglossum Rossi, each 15£ inches wide by 21 inches 
deep, and admirably drawn and coloured. Except the Cypripedium, 
which is drawn by Mr. W. H. Fitch, they are all the productions of Mr. 
H. G. Moon, and the Odontoglossum Rossi is one of the most truthful 
yet aitistic plates we have seen. A botanical description in Latin, 
accompanied by analytical drawings of the structure, is furnished by 
Professor Reichenbach with each plate, and some general remarks on 
history and culture are added in English, French, and German, which 
will greatly increase its value. It is published by F. Sander & Co., 
St. Albans. 
- Mr. N. Davis, The Chrysanthemum Nurseries, Lilford Road, 
Camberwell, London, S.E., sends us the following :—“ It has been 
suggested that the time has arrived when the valued services that 
Mr. William Holmes has rendered to the National Chrysanthemum 
Society in his capacity of Hon. Secretary, should be acknowledged 
by presenting him with a testimonial worthy of the Society, and a 
Committee has been formed to carry out this object. They feel that 
the success of the Society is in a great measure due to the unwearied 
efforts of Mr. Holmes, and to the disinterested zeal at all times 
evinced by him on its behalf. They therefore feel justified in inviting 
all members, as well as others interested directly or indirectly, in the 
work of the Society, to allow their names to be put down as sub¬ 
scribers to the fund.” 
- A correspondent sends us a photograph of Phalainopsis 
Schilleriana which he says is “the finest plant in the country—at 
any rate the best I have seen. It belongs to Stephenson Clarke, Esq., 
Croydon Lodge, [.Croydon. It has itwo strong growths with thiiteen 
splendid leaves, some measuring 12 to 15 inches long, and from 41 to 
54 inches wide, all being perfect and of great substance. This year it 
bore four strong flower spikes, 34 to 4.J feet long, the whole carrying 180 
flowers of the finest colour and form. The plant has been growing for 
some years in the roof of an ordinary plant stove, and I am of opinion 
with Mr. Carr, the gardener, that it has greatly benefited by the evapora¬ 
tion of ammonia from the waterings applied to Eucbaris, Crotons, 
Dracaenas, See. I have often noticed Phalaenopses doing much better in a 
house with such plants than in one exclusively devoted to them.” 
- It is said that the Banana Trade, which has proved a splendid 
source of income to cultivators in Jamaica and Honduras, is about to be 
greatly extended. Demerara intends to send us large consignments by 
vessels especially fitted for the carriage of fruit; and in addition to 
Bananas we are to have Mangoes, Pine Apples, and other tropical fruit. 
A ready sale may be confidently predicted if only prices are moderate. 
- Mr. Abbey refers as follows to Gilbert’s Vict'Dria Broccoli : 
—“ Heads of this Broccoli, cut on the 2Gth May, were large, very firm, 
close, and heavy. This is the most tender and best-flavoured Broccoli I 
have tasted, the flavour not being at all strong, but particularly Cauli¬ 
flower-like and pleasant. It must prove a great acquisition.” 
- Liverpool International Exhibition. —In addition to 
their fine display inside the Exhibition buildings, Messrs. Webb & Sons 
have successfully laid down numerous extensive lawns in the grounds 
outside, with their prize Grass seeds, and their splendid appearance—even 
at this early stage of growth, and after the recent unfavourable weather— 
was referred to by the Liverpool Daily Post of May 26th in the following 
terms :—“ The most important attractions outside are to be found on tbe 
plateau, for the damp weather, though disadvantageous in other ways, is 
at least bringing the lawns to that point of verdure which they should 
assume in order to set off to the best advantage the beautiful flowers and 
shrubs which have been planted in various designs by emulative gardeners, 
and the beautiful rockeries, which are a triumph in themselves. The 
plots sown by Messrs. Webb of Stourbridge are doing their part nobly 
towards the object named, and fairly disproving the theory that green 
lawns can be more quickly formed out of sods than well-conditioned 
grass seeds. In this instance, at all events, the very opposite is the case, 
the grass looking beautifully fresh and green, while many portions of the 
ground which had a start of them by being carefully turfed among the 
first operations on the plateau are looking bare and brown.” At the Bath 
and West of England Show, Bristol, Messrs. Webb & Sons also have an 
extensive display of flowers, Gloxinias and Begonias being very fine. 
- Mr. G. Bolas sends us from Hopton flowers of TrolliUS 
Fortuni, which for richness of colour he remarks far outvies its com¬ 
panions T. europseus and T. americanus, and has, moreover, to him a 
remarkable Apricot scent. The rich Apricot colour is very apparent, 
but the perfume appears to have departed from the flowers in transit. 
They are highly attractive. 
- Mr. Bolas also sends flowers of Diplacus glutinosus and 
rosea, and observes— 11 1 have a plant of each in 15-inch pots, measuring 
4 feet from rim of pot, and 3 feet high, giving me an abundance of flowers 
for cutting. They last over a week perfectly fresh in water. Two glasses 
now filled with these flowers, with a few of the blue Marguerite, the old 
Agathsea ccelestis, and sprays of the noble Spiraea Aruncus, form a most 
delicate and pleasant combination. These old Diplacuses would form 
splendid exhibition plants for spring shows, flowering from the rim of the 
pot. The plants in question have not been potted for over two years, are 
turned out of doors all summer till frost sets in, and flower, more or less 
the whole time if allowed.” 
- A monographic list of Anthuriums, by M. E. Bergman, 
gardener at Ferrieres, France, has j ust been issued in the form of a 
pamphlet of fourteen pages. The notes originally appeared in the Journal 
of the “Socibtb Nationale d’Horticulture,” February, 1886, and has been 
reprinted from that work. The species are arranged alphabetically, 125 
being enumerated with many varieties. Full descriptions are given of 
some of the leading species, with the native country, date of introduction, 
authorities for the names, and other particulars. Others are dismissed in 
a few words, and of some the native countries only are given. It would 
have improved the value of the list considerably if brief descriptions had 
been given of all. Sixteen varieties of Anthurium Schertzerianum are. 
named. A few slight errors in nomenclature are noticeable, but the list 
will be found a useful one by many persons. 
