310 
■JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
f October 10, 1889. 
The Grange, Lamberhurst, and was, we understand, raised in the 
collection of Orchids at that establishment. It is a hybrid between 
Cattleya Schilleriana and C. Mossiae, and it is curious to note that 
though we have several hybrids in the production of which C. 
Mossise has been employed as one of the parents, that under notice, 
and another named C. Whitei, are the only ones generally known in 
which C. Schilleriana has been concerned. The famed and almost 
historical C. exoniensis was from C. Mossioe and Lselia purpurata. 
C. Manglesi was from C. Mossise and C. Loddigesi, both raised by 
Mr. Dominy. C. exoniensis has also been utilised by Mr. Seden as 
C. Fausta is from that with C. Loddigesi, while C. triophthalma 
comes from C. exoniensis and C. superba. 
C. Mossing is too well known to need description, but C. Schil¬ 
leriana is not so frequently seen, and it may be well to remind 
readers that it has the habit of C. Acklandine, the flowers being of 
a peculiarly rich dark hue that has been not inaptly described as 
“ a deep rosy mahogany colour.” The tint and markings vary, in 
some there is a tendency to a distribution of the colour in spots, 
and the lip is usually beautifully shaded or streaked with a pink 
margin. It is a Brazilian species flowering in the summer, when 
the flowers often last on the plant for a month. 
In the hybrid Cattleya Miss Harris (fig. 38) the chief charac¬ 
teristics of the last named species have been closely reproduced 
as regards the form of the flowers, but the colouring seems to have 
been mainly derived from C. Mossioe. The sepals and petals are of 
a soft clear light rosy crimson hue, the lip being an uncommonly 
deep shade of crimson. It will take its place amongst the best of 
the Cattleya hybrids, and appears to be of good habit and free 
growth.—L. C. 
HARDY PLANTS. 
Bedding Violas. —The summer of 1889 has been most favour¬ 
able to the free development and flowering of these useful bedding 
plants, consequently abundance of clean healthy cuttings were 
obtainable at the right moment, with the result that we have now 
plenty of healthy plants. It is perhaps not generally known that 
to get the best possible results from bedding Violas in early spring 
we must plant in the earliest days of autumn. For obvious reasons, 
however, the beds or borders destined to accommodate them are 
not at liberty much before the end of September in the majority 
of private gardens, and therefore it is impossible to give the Violas 
the requisite attention before the early days of October, and this of 
all months in the year, and particularly in those cases where masses 
of flower are required early in spring, is by far the best. It is 
just at this time when everything of a tender nature has been 
placed within doors, and the remnants of summer bedding plants 
cleared away, that attention must be directed to Tulips, Hyacinths, 
and the various other bulbous plants which make our gardens gay 
in spring time, and where such bulbous plants as these exist we 
have nothing which can equal the bright charming masses of flowers 
which Violas produce to adorn the surface of the beds, or in other 
words to serve as a carpet. Beds destined for the reception of 
Hyacinths and such bulbs will, of course, be well and properly 
prepared by digging, manuring, and so forth, and therefore speci¬ 
ally adapted for Violas, so there will be no need for comment in 
this direction. As regards planting, a little forethought will pre¬ 
vent the Hyacinths occurring immediately below the Violas. This 
may be easily regulated by planting at certain distances apart, or if 
the bulbs are planted with a blunt dibber the marks of the latter 
may remain on the surface till the Violas are planted, and thereby 
insure both being in their proper places. 
Another item which should receive attention at this time is that 
of matching the colours in these two groups— i.e., Hyacinths and 
Violas, avoiding two blues or violets or whites on the same bed, as 
such will mar the general effect in spring. Where, however, it is 
intended to employ Violas alone—and these are capable of produc¬ 
ing a wonderful array of colour in themselves, and at a very 
nominal cost—liberal treatment should be adopted. In cases 
where light sandy soils exist nothing can equal an abundant supply 
of. cow manure direct from the sheds, the moisture it then con¬ 
tains is very helpful in keeping such soils cool, and in such all 
Violas delight, but with soils of mere retentive nature light manure 
and leaf soil mixed will be more suitable, working in plenty of 
sharp grit or burnt ashes from the rubbish fire, all of which will 
assist in making the soil more readily worked, and the beds pre¬ 
pared no time should be lost in planting. A selection of good 
varieties are Countess of Hopetown, Jeffrayanum, Pilrig Park, 
Champion, all whites ; Bullion, the best gold ; Ardwell Gem, the 
best canary ; True Blue is excellent, very dwarf and free ; Archie 
Grant, a bold violet purple ; Mrs. Charles Turner, rich plum ; 
Duchess of Albany, white or mauve ; and Elegans, lavender. Any 
or all of these are very effective in masses, and to which we can 
only add the indispensable shades of purple crimson found in 
Cliveden Purple and Crimson Gem. 
IIepaticas. —These, if a full measure of success be coveted, 
should be divided and replanted at once. The generally adopted 
method is that of dividing and replanting in early spring as soon 
as flowering is completed. It is, however, not a safe plan, although 
it may be adopted with a fair amount of success provided a 
showery season follows the operation, and it is here that the risk 
is run, for too often in spring time when the operation should be 
carried out we are experiencing dry harsh winds not the least 
likely to be of service. At the same moment, as it were, the new 
foliage springs forth, and for these and other reasons these plants 
are much better divided and replanted in the early autumn months, 
as they root without any check from the weather, and are sure to 
develope good flowering crowns for another year, which latter does 
not always ensue when the operation is performed in spring. Where 
large old established clumps exist it is best to divide into several 
pieces and make a small group rather than to allow it to remain in 
one clump, a greater mass of flower would result twelve months 
hence by adopting this course. Hepaticas always make a great 
quantity of fibrous roots, which quickly impoverish the soil, so that 
in replanting a plentiful supply of manure should be given, also 
decayed leaf soil and a bushel or so of old mortar rubbish if obtain¬ 
able will also be welcomed by the plants. Deep digging, too, is of 
the utmost importance. A partially shaded and somewhat cool, 
though not sunless spot, suits them well, though I may remark that 
a quantity of H. augulosa is doing well without the slightest shade 
whatever. This is the most lovely of all, and generally retains its 
foliage throughout the year, which cannot be said of the forms of 
triloba when exposed to much sun ; particularly is this the case 
when under the influence of a smoky atmosphere. The Double 
Blue is the most fastidious, and seems to require a moister soil 
than any other variety.—J. H. E. 
WATERCRESS. 
I have no doubt that the fresh Cress and other green vegetables 
which are sold in the streets of our large cities have a considerable and 
very beneficial effect upon the physical condition of the people. Water¬ 
cress contains much chloride of sodium, iodide of sulphur also ; and if 
we are to believe all that is told us it is not only pleasant to the taste, 
but contains very valuable medicinal properties. When it began first to 
be eaten nobody can say, it was so very long ago. It is cultivated in 
great quantities in England now, and a few weeks ago I visited what 
may be called a Watercress farm. Passengers by the London and 
North-Western Railway from Euston to the north must often have 
noticed the clean, white-looking baskets filled with fresh green Cress, 
addressed to Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Birmingham, and many 
other places, and have perhaps wondered, as I did, where it all came 
from. Watercress is one of the things that bring my childhood back. 
It grew plentifully on the banks of a clear stream that ran musically 
through a lovely Kentish meadow at the back of the old home, and 
many a time have I watched while old companions gathered bunches of 
the succulent plant. It may have been this memory of early days, as 
much as the taste of riper years, which induced me to go and see the 
Watercress growing once again, this time in its cultivated state. 
“ Watercress, ma’am ? ” said a railway official. “ Why we send tons 
of it away beautifully fresh every evening. There is often a truckload 
of it coupled on to an express train for the north, and it arrives at the 
large markets at Liverpool and Manchester by the early morning in first 
rate condition, and all ready for sale. If you are interested you had 
better call at Berkhampstead as you go down, or Watford, or any of 
those places in Hertfordshire, for it is in that county that the best 
Watercress is grown on account of the fine springs that are there.” 
Berkhampstead has, indeed, an interest of its own. It was there that 
William the Norman received the submission of Stigand, the Arch¬ 
bishop of Canterbury ; and there that the Abbot of St. Albans stopped 
the progress of the Conqueror by felling the trees and blocking the 
road with them, and wresting from William an oath that he would 
govern the town according to the laws of Edward the Confessor. It is 
a quiet place now, and very quaint and interesting. The Watercress 
grows plentifully along the bottom of a valley, and looks beautifully 
green and clean. 
The bed is emptied and cleansed once or twice a year—“ washed as if 
it were a room,” we are told—and then refilled with the Cress, which 
is not sown, but is planted as Strawberry plants are. There is no earth, 
but a little sand and water, and great care is taken not to let any weeds 
go in with the Cress. There are planks thrown across the Cress meadows 
so that the men may be able to reach it without trampling the plants down, 
though in some places they were standing in water, and so getting in 
the harvest. They cut the Cress with a sharp knife, and put it in large 
tins, in which it is well washed and carefully looked over, after which 
it is packed in baskets and sent off. “ Do you grow it all the winter ? ” 
“ Oh, yes, all the year round ; but we have some warm springs which 
keep it all right during the frosty weather. Our Cress may always be 
bought, for we so manage the different crops that one follows another.” 
They complained in Berkhampstead that it is difficult to buy a bunch 
of Cress, for though it grew in the place it was not grown for the in- 
