52 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ .January 10, 1890. 
Lislia anceps with ten white flowers (vote of thanks). T. Slatter, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. R. Johnson), Stand Hall, Whitfield, Manchester, had a 
plant of Vanda Amesiana alba with several spikes of white flowers 
(vote of thanks). Mr. P. Blair, Trentham Gardens, showed Cattleya 
TrianEB albescens with seven flowers nearly white with blush tinted lips 
(vote of thanks). Cypripedium Calypso from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
were awarded a vote of thanks. It is the result of a cross between C. 
Spicerianum and C. villosum Boxalli, but it is much like C. Spicerianum. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
BendroMum Juno (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A hybrid between D. 
Wardianum and D. moniliforme, the growth resembling the former. The 
flower is of excellent shape, the sepals and petals broad, white, deeply 
tinged with crimson, the lip rounded, havinga maroon centre, a yellowish 
tinge, a white zone, and a purplish marginal band. (First-class certi¬ 
ficate). 
Bendrolium Luna (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A hybrid between D. 
Ainsworthi and D. Findleyanum, the pseudo-bulbs and growth 
resembling the latter parent. The flowers are about 2^ inches across 
the lip, nearly eircular, but somewhat oval, creamy white, yellow at the 
base, with a few purple veins in the centre. The sepals and petals are 
creamy white, faintly tipped with purple, the petals slightly broader 
than the sepals. The flowers were borne on short recemes of three or four 
each. It appears to be a free-growing and free-flowering Dendrobium, 
and it is likely to become a useful Orchid. (First-class certificate). 
BendroMum Macfarlanei (J. Veitch & Sons).—A species from New 
Guinea, remarkably distinct, and a valuable addition to the list of culti¬ 
vated Dendrobiums. The sepals are acute, tapering, rather more than 
an inch long, white ; the petals are rhomboidal in form. If inch long, 
1 inch broad at the widest portion, and also white. The lip has an 
obovate central lobe, white ; the basal wings white, with a few deep 
purple veins. The growth is somewhat fusiform, after the style of 
I), thyrsiflorum, and the plant shown had two flowers. (First-class 
certificate). 
BendroMum noMle, Burford variety (Sir T. Lawrence, Bart., M.P.). 
—A peculiar and interesting variety of the Cooksoni type, but the rich 
crimson colouring of the lip is extended to the lower part of the two 
-basal sepals, instead of in the petals, as with Cooksoni. 
BendroMum xantliocentrum (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A hybrid, 
evidently partaking of the Dendrobium Findleyanum character in 
growth and flowers. The sepals and petals are spreading, white, tipped 
with purple ; the lip flat, open, orange in the centre, with bands of white 
and pale purple. Free and good. 
Primula Eymford Pink (H. Cannell & Sons).—A pretty variety, the 
flowers large, of good substance, and a delicate pink colour. (Award 
of merit). 
Primula Eynsford Red (H. Cannell & Sons).—Rich crimson flowers, 
freely produced in stout trusses. (Award of merit). 
Primula Her Majesty (H. Cannell & Sons).—Flowers of great size 
and substance, pure white, with a deep yellow eye. Fern-leaved. 
(Award of merit). 
Pteris serrulata gloriosa (II. B. May).—A graceful variety of a well- 
known useful Fern, a capital addition to the list of Ferns for decorative 
purposes. (Award of merit). 
PRIMULA OBCONICA. 
In establishments where large demands are made for plants 
suitable for house and conservatory furnishing, the value of the 
Primula under notice cannot well be overlooked, as it provides a 
decided change from the more generally cultivated Chinese varieties 
in the various purposes to which flowers and plants are applied. It 
certainly lacks the bright colours and bold flowers that chaiacterise 
the most popular strains of P. sinensis, but this failing is coun¬ 
teracted to some extent by their free and continuous flowering. 
So far as I have been able to learn they have not been subjected to 
the hybridiser’s attention as affecting variety of colour, although 
from a packet of seeds now plants may be secured of varying 
■character both as to habit and shade of colour, but the latter only 
assumes a lilac of a more or less degree of intensity. For small 
vases they are capitally suited, as from their dense growth the soil 
is completely hidden, and the pots partially so from the recurving 
nature of the leafstalks. 
Unfortunately for the plant its reputation is somewhat at stake, 
for it has been found by some persons of delicate skin to cause 
irritation after a slight touch with the hand, and is consequently 
greeted with much the same terror as that associated with the 
handling of a Nettle, by some ladies to whom these unfavourable 
symptoms have been related. However, this will concern the 
smaller amateur grower more than gardeners, and to either such 
objections can be ill afforded. For gas-lighted rooms it is in¬ 
valuable, as it will withstand such unfavourable conditions better 
than the majority of flowering plants. Most people are cognisant 
of the injury done to plants by gas, and blooming plants in par¬ 
ticular, for a season’s growth is expended iu a few hours when 
submitted to an atmosphere highly charged with gas. P. sinensis 
withstands the impure air to o commendable degree, but it cannot 
be said, I think, to have the same resenting quality possessed by 
P. obconica. From these remarks it will be understood to be an 
excellent plant for town growers in particular, and to cultivators in 
general. Treatment accoi'ded to P. sinensis is found suitable for 
the other in almost every detail.—W. S. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
The Secretary, in sending us the following balance-sheet, as audited 
on Monday evening last, remarks, he “ does not think there is much 
cause for complaint.” Nor do we, but on the contrary think there is 
much reason for gratification that the Institution is so well supported, 
and that it is doing increasing good to those who have toiled long in 
gardens and need assistance in the eventide of life. 
STATEMENT OF THE RECEIPTS AND RATMENTS OP THE G.4RDENERS’ ROYAL 
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR THE TEAR ENDING DECEMBER, 3IST, 1839. 
Dll. 
To Balance, 16&S .. 
To Annual Snb.scriptlous 
To Donations at ani in consequence of Annual Dinner 
To Collecting Carets ,. .. .. .. .. 
To Advertisements .. .. ., 
To Dividends on Stock .. .. .. .. 
To Interest on Deposit .. 
To Legacy—viz., 
Proceeds of Legacy of the late J. Rylands, Esq. 
& s. d. 
1328 
0 
0 
ar.i 
5 
10 
yui 
y 
y 
4773 
15 
7 
03 
1 
0 
603 
12 
6 
73 
14 
7 
Stock injai per cent. Consols, £23,000. 
CR. 
By Pensions and Gratuities .. .. .. 
By Secretary’s Salary and Honorarium 
B/Rent of Ollices .. .. .. .. .. 
By Stationery 
By Book of Cheques 
By Printing .. .. .. .. .. .. 
By Expenses of Annual Dinner .. 
By Marion & Co for Frames 
By Postages and Sundry Petty Expenses .. 
By Amonnt placed on Deposit 
By Purchase of £1900 2i per cent. Consols .. 
By Balances—viz., 
With Treasurer at Banker’s 
With Secretary ,, 
£ s. d. £ s. d 
047 14 4 
4830 10 
680 
7 
1 
527 
1 
9 
6044 5 
£8691 19 
9 
£ 
S. 
d. 
£ B. 
d. 
2348 13 
4 
186 
5 
0 
75 
0 
0 
25 
6 
8 
3 
6 
8 
155 
0 
0 
153 16 10 
4 
1 
4 
140 
y 
1 
743 5 
3091 13 H 
1010 
0 
0 
1846 14 
0 
2846 14 
5938 12 H 
720 
2 
3 
24 
4 
7 
753 0 10 
£0301 19 9 
Audited January 13th, 1890, 
.louN Lee, 
J. T. MBSTON, 
J. WILLARD. 
A further addition of pensioners will be elected on the date of the 
present issue of this Journal. 
WESTLEY HALL GARDENS. 
The weather is not favourable for visiting gardens just now, neverthe¬ 
less to escape from the smoke of the metropolis for a few whiffs of bracing 
air outweighs any losses of natural beauty, scenery, &c., one would 
expect from a visit to the country in the summer. The owners of 
the above gardens, R. Burrell, Esq., and Mrs. Burrell, take great in¬ 
terest in horticulture, sparing no expense necessary to produce fruit, 
flowers and vegetables equal to any. A happy man then must be the 
gardener, Mr. Bishop, who has had charge of these gardens four years, 
and they do him great credit. The garden is some distance from the 
house, and lies on the crest of a south hili, and the shrubberies are 
enhanced in beauty in summer by containing many flowering speci¬ 
mens. The houses are well arranged. The Peach range, in which the 
parasitical fungi have been eradicated, covers the whole length of the 
inside south wall of the kitchen garden, the back wall being covered 
with well trained trees, and the front being filled with standards in 
ll-inch pots. These succeed exceptionally well, and last year were 
much admired by all who saw them. 
Two small stoves running at right angles to the Peach range are 
filled with specimen Crotons, Draemnas, &c. I noticed a good plant of 
Scuticaria Steeli, which flowered twice last summer, and is now again 
showing bloom. Two larger houses parallel to the small stoves com¬ 
prised a greenhouse and stove, the former filled with the fiowering 
plants, including a fine strain of Primulas, the latter being filled with 
fine Adiantums, some reaching 7 feet in diameter, Davallia Mooreana 
being extremely fine, together with Crotons, Dracaenas, and a few 
Orchids. There is also a range of vineries, and flower houses, but 
they contain nothing of exceptional merit at this period of the year 
to call for mention ; the Vines however, have been greatly improved. 
The object of penning this was to give my ideas about the fungi, but 
when good examples of culture are seen they cannot be overlooked. For 
instance. Potatoes in pots are grown well and are much appreciated. 
Celery and Peas are more in demand than other vegetables ; the former 
is extra good, and the secret of success is a good dressing of blood and 
fish manure obtained from the Westley Manure Works, which is applied 
at the earthing up and in the trench at planting time. 
An outside south wall was covered with Peach trees which have been. 
