February S4,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
157 
divide the stock of them into two portions, selecting the strongest and 
earliest to grow on without topping; the other portion may then be 
topped the last week in April for the latest sorts, so graduating the 
topping as to early or lateness of sorts as recommended in the other section. 
In conclusion, I may just remark that even “ Mr. Molyneux’s ” advice, 
letting alone mine, will not avail the cultivator a great way on the road 
if he does not study the peculiarities of the different types, and also 
bear in mind that any abnormal deviation from a given system of culti¬ 
vation will directly aifect the general results—as, for instance, alteration 
in the size of the pots ; using soil from different sources of supply ; the 
failure of the due supply of either organic or inorganic food ; the appli¬ 
cation of stimulating manure, liquid or solid, without a due appreciation 
of their strength and effects ; abnormal deviations of climatic influences, 
as very wet summers or very dry ones ; add to those the peculiarities of 
growth must be thoroughly understood by the cultivator before he can 
feel on firm ground as to any line of reasoning which may be brought to 
bear on cause and effect so as to be able to arrive at a sound judgment. 
Our Yorkshire Union of Horticulturists has, in this branch of Chrysan¬ 
themum culture, a field of investigation worthy of the efforts of every 
member, to reduce to order and routine the chaotic uncertainties which 
beset us on every side. Every branch society, through its members, 
could collate and tabulate facts from which valuable deductions could 
be made, with discussion limited to one phase of the subject at a time, 
of course with due regard to the bearings of one question on the others ; 
something on the principle which a great English thinker (Huxley) lays 
down when he wrote. “ That we must learn what is true in order to do 
what is right, and there is a path which leads to truth so surely, that 
anyone who will follow it must need reach the goal, whether his 
capacity be small or great, and there is one golden rule by which a man 
may always find this path and keep him from straying when he has 
found it. This golden rule is, Give assent to no proposition but those 
the truth of which is so clear that they cannot be doubted.” This 
golden rule is applicable to the cultivation of all plants, but perhaps 
more closely does it apply to this branch of the Chrysanthemum culture 
than to any other, because for its successful cultivation there is no other 
plant under the gardener’s care which demands from him the discrimi¬ 
nation of cause and effect in a greater degree. On the other hand, the 
reward for labour and time is such as to amply repay in results pro¬ 
portionate to the exercise of judgment. 
ALYSSUM WIERZBICKII. 
This plant belongs to a small genus of Crucifers, one species, A. 
saxatile, being familiar to gardeners. The present species is deserving 
the attention of everyone having even a small garden. It is an erect 
grower, attaining a height of about 2 feet, but commences flowering 
when a foot or 15 inches ; the additional height arising from the growth 
of the flower spike, which, it will be readily understood, materially 
lengthens the period of its beauty. The plant is an erect grower, pro¬ 
ducing oblong lanceolate rugose leaves, light green on both surfaces. 
The stem also is the same shade of green, rugose and hirsute. 'Flowers 
numerous and bright yellow, produced early in the spring. 
It should be sown in autumn for blooming in spring ; but we would 
not advise the plants to be kept longer than the third year, as they get 
woody and unsightly at the bottom, and do not produce such fine spikes 
of flower as the young seedlings. It may also be increased from cuttings 
if desired. These plants may be grown in almost any soil, but a cal¬ 
careous loam suits them best. 
GRAVEL ON PLANT STAGES. 
Plants during the time of their growth like a genial moisture at 
their roots. When planted out in the open borders it is supplied natur¬ 
ally, although stagnant moisture is ruinous to them ; therefore it be¬ 
comes necessary to drain outside borders where the soil is not naturally 
porous. So are flower pots carefully drained with crocks to prevent the 
soil in them becoming sour with the great quantity of water it is found 
necessary to use. These simple facts are well known. The smaller the 
quantity of water supplied to a plant the longer will the soil remain 
sweet. It is highly injurious to plants exposed to the full influence of 
the sun which have to be watered in the middle of the day, especially 
when the water used is very much cooler than the soil and roots in the 
pots. If plants arc placed on open stages over hot-water pipes moisture 
cannot long be retained about them ; but if slates or flat tiles are placed 
on the stages, then a layer of clean shingle spread over them to the 
depth of 1 inch or so, the drying heat produced by the hot-water pipes 
will be arrested, and a more lasting moisture can be had by occasionally 
damping the gravel on the stages. The gravel, too, gives a neat appear¬ 
ance to the house, and there will be no stains visible, as is the case when 
liquid manure is used on open stages. 
Of course, a wooden stage will not last as long covered with gravel 
as if left bare. Stone and slate stages are decidedly the best, but they 
require gravel or some similar material spread over them, or the 
drainage of the pots is impaired. Plants so treated will require less 
water : thus it will be a saving of labour, and healthier and better 
rooted plants will be the result. Shingle on stages is largely used I 
know, but it would be more satisfactory to cultivators if it were more 
generally used. The floors of plant houses would, I think, be better if 
left bare under the stages, and not tiled or cemented, except the path¬ 
ways. Conservatories too should have beds in them if possible, and 
not be all paved floors with stages.— G. Garner, Ambenvood Gardens, 
Hants. 
NEW PLANTS OF 1886. 
(Continued from, page 118.) 
Infl., Inflorescence.— L., Leaves.— FI., Flowers.— Fr., Fruit.—JET., Hardy. 
— H.H., Half-hardy.—(?., Greenhouse.— S., Stove.— Per., Perennial.— 
Shr., Shrub.— In., Inches.— [An., Line = One-twelfth of an inch.—- 
Ft., Foot or Feet.— Diam., Diameter.— Pet., Petals.— Sep., Sepals. 
N.B.—Unless specified, all Orchids may be considered to be stove epiphytes. 
Cypripedium Leeanum, var. superbum. (G. C. xxv., p. 1G8 ; Veitch 
Cat., p. 11 and 4, with fig.) A fine variety, with large and showy dorsal sep. 
marked with radiating row's of purple lines, green and shining at the base. 
Cypripedium orphanum. (G. C. xxvi., p. 166.) L. short and stiff, 
not marbled. Peduncle very tali. Dorsal sep. triangular, margin light 
purple, middle nerve purple, the rest green. Lower sep. very short, with 
ten green nerves. Pet. oblong, deflextd, flat, “ white, with a deep purple 
mid line, mostly olive green, spotted at the base.” Lip very broad, purple- 
brown in front, yellowish at the back, spotted with purple on the base. 
Garden hybrid. 
Cypripedium radissum. (G. C. xxiv., p. 424.) A hybrid between C. 
Lawrencianum and C. Spicerianum. L. light green, with dark green trans¬ 
verse markings. Dorsal sep. broad and acuminate, white with mauve- 
purple nerves, which are green at their base, and have a green tint between 
thsm. Lower sep. nearly as long as the lip, with light brown lines. Pet. 
slightly drooping, slightly undulate and ciliate, green with brown midline, 
and numerous brown spots on the upper margin, the front borders washed 
with brownish. Lip like that of C. Lawrencianum, brown in front, with a 
green border. Garden hybrid. 
Cypripedium Sandeuianum. ( G. C. xxv., p. 554, and xxvi., p. 370 ; R. 
p. 7, t. 3.) A very distinct and striking plant, in the way of C. caudatum 
and C. Stonei. Sep. yellowish-green, with purple-brown nerves. Pet. 
1-1J ft. long, linear, twisted, purple-brown fading into yellowish, spotted 
anti barred with purple-brown towards the bas°, where there are some 
retrorse purple bristles. Lip much like that of C. Stonei in shape, but of a 
irreeniah-bronze colour. Malay Archipelago. 
J Cypripedium Sedeni, var. candidulum. ( Veitch Cat., p. 11, and 4 with 
fig.) A hybrid between C. longifolium and C. Schlimii, var. albiflornm. 
Sep. and pet. ivory-white, the sep. with pale yellowish-green nerves, the 
pet. tinted with rose towards the tips. Lip pale ros>, the infolded lobes 
white dotted with crimson. Garden hybrid. 
Cypripedium selligerum, var. majus. (L ., pi. 22.) A variety with 
larger fl. A fine and handsome plant. 
