F 5 0 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jure 30, 1887. 
linn jet what I consider a vrrv important item, and wh’ch I know is very 
otten overlooked in planting Tulips—viz., never plant Tulips in the same 
bed, or rather in the very same soil, for two or three consecutive seasons, 
or if such might he desirable take at least 2 fei t of the old soil out of the 
bed and replace by fresh ground. If this is not done the Tulips will 
b’oom more poorly every year, and at last not bloom at all. I know that 
very often this has been the cause of great di appointment to buyers, who 
1 lame, although erroneously, the seedsman or the grower who has supplied 
them. 
At the conclusion of my present discussion I beg to express the hope to 
have given some satisfaction to the members of this Club, and if it should 
be considered agreeable and worth your attention, I may endeavour to con¬ 
tinue my discussion upon other flower roots of importance, esteemed among 
the floriculturists, which are so much grown in Holland, and particularly at 
Haarlem. 
HYBRID PHALiENOPSE?. 
Until quite recently very little progress had been made in arti¬ 
ficially hybridising the various species of Phahenopsis in Cultivation- 
Several supposed natural hybrids had, however, been described, and 
the characters of these forms were so clearly intermediate, that 
there were substantial reasons for expecting some good results from 
the experiments undertaken by several cultivators interested in the 
matter. The natural hybrids that have been described by botanical 
authorities are the following, with the parents :—P. Casta (Schiller- 
iana and amabilis) ; P. intermedia (rosea and amabilis) ; P. leu- 
corrhoda (Schilleriana and amabilis); P. Sanderiana (amabilis and 
Schilleriana) ; P. Yalentini (cornu-cervi and violacea, and P. Veitch- 
iana (rosea and Schilleriana). It is a remarkable fact that the 
accuracy of the conjecture with regard to one of these, P. inter¬ 
media, has been since proved, and there has also been a near 
approach to P. leucorrhoda. 
Speaking at the Orchid Conference in 1885, Mr. Harry J. Yeitch 
said—“ Crosses between species of Phalasnopsis have been effected 
by several operators, and capsules readily obtained. \Ve only know, 
however, of three instances besides our own where seedlings were 
raised ; the first by Dobbs, in 1868, in the collection of Sir John 
Greville Smith, at Ashton Court, near Bristol, but they were 
afterwards lost ; then Grey, gardener to the eminent orchidologist, 
Mr. Corning of Albany, New York, raised some seedlings, but they, 
too, were afterwards lost ; and, lastly, Mr. Hollington at Enfield, 
who has, I believe, one seedling still living. Our own experience 
with Phahenopsis dates from 1875 ; our first cross was between 
P. grandiflora and P. Schilleriana, but with that and with several 
s lcceeding crosses no results beyond the capsules were obtained. 
The first capsule to yield seedlings was gathered from P. grandi¬ 
flora X P. rosea ; a few of these are still living. Then we 
obtained a few from P. amabilis and P. rosea, which grew with 
more vigour than their elder brethren, and may not improbably 
flower within the next two years. Still later we obtained seedlings 
from P. Schilleriana X P. rosea, P. grandiflora X P. Ludde- 
manniana, and from two or three other crosses.” 
Since then three of the Chelsea hybrids have flowered, and the 
first was that already referred to —namely, P. intermedia. This 
flowered in March, 1886, the p'ant having been produced from seed 
sown in 1882, the result of a cross between P. amabilis and P. rosea, 
the experiment being undertaken to test the opinion as to P. inter¬ 
media being really a natural hybrid. This plant was mentioned in 
the paper already quoted. The reader remarked that, “ The plant 
had made three healthy leaves. It was well established in a small 
pot, which, to be more secure from danger, was placed upon an 
inverted pot that stood in a pan of water. One morning, to the 
great dismay of Seden, it was discovered that a slug had eaten two 
of the best leaves, and would, if not trapped, certainly devour the 
remainder. Anxious to save the treasure, the plant was watched 
incessantly for hours in the expectation that sooner or later the 
marauder would make his appearance. To induce him to do so the 
moss was constantly plunged in water. The repeated duckings had 
at length the desired effect, the culprit issued from his lurking 
place, and the plant was saved.” It can be readily imagined after 
this narrow escape how eagerly the flowers were watched as they 
expanded, and the success of the experiment was demonstrated. It 
was found to be a true P. intermedia, a good dark variety, the 
sepals and petals white, the latter tinged with crimson at the base, 
the centre and side lobes of the lip purplish crimson, with a few 
dots and a yellowish crest at the base ; the flowers about 2 inches 
in diameter, and the foliage the same as a well-grown P. intermedia. 
"When the plknt was exhibited at South Kensington on April 13th 
last year, it attracted much attention from the orchidists present,, 
and when placed before the Scientific Committee a botanical 
certificate was awarded for it. 
Another interesting hybrid Phalsenopis, which flowered for the 
first time at Chelsea eaily this year, has been named P. Rothschild- 
iana in honour of Lord Rothschild. It resulted from a cross 
between P. Schilleriana and P. amabilis, and presented in many 
points a curious resemblance to both parents. The leaves, though 
suggestive of P. amabilis in form, but have some of the dark 
spotting or marbling which renders the foliage of P. Schilleriana so 
handsome. The flowers have been aptly compared to those of P 
leucorrhoda in form, the sepals creamy yellow with purplish spots at 
the base ; the petals are round, somewhat tinted with yellow and 
spotted with purple, and orange in the centre. It will be noticed 
that the parentage was the same as that ascribed to P. leucorrhoda, 
but though the hybrid resembles it in several characters 't is 
distinct in colouring and some minor points. 
A third hybrid Phahenopsis raised at Chelsea is that represented 
in the illustration (fig. 88). This has been named Phalaenopsis 
Harriett® in honour of the daughter of the Hon. Erastus Corning, 
Albany, New York, and was obtained from a cross between P. 
grandiflora and P. violacea, the former being the seed parent, and 
the seed was sown in January, 1882, the first flowers being produced! 
in May this year. The leaves are plain green, much resembling F. 
grandiflora, while the flower is more like an enlarged P. violacea, 
and it might be not inappropriately termed P. violacea grandiflora. 
The flower is nearly 3 inches in diameter, the petals about three- 
quarter inch across, ovate, pale creamy white, stained with purple at 
the base, the sepals being similar in colour and size, but rather more 
acute in form. The lip has relatively large purplish-crimson wings-, 
and a prolonged acute centre of a purple hue. This neat and at¬ 
tractive hybrid has been added to Mr. Coming’s extensive collection 
of Orchids, which is now one of the richest in the United States, being 
especially famed for the Phakenopses and Cypripediums. Of the 
Phakenopses alone it is said that he has twenty-seven species and 
varieties, comprising some very rare forms. Cattleyas and Laeliaa 
are also largely represented, houses being devoted to them and 
several other large genera. Those who have seen the collection 
speak in the highest terms of the skill displayed by Mr. Grey in 
their cultivation, the plants all being in admirable health, and com. 
prising some very handsome specimens. 
With regard to other experimenters in hybridising, it might be 
added that in Mr. Smee’s garden at Wallington, Mr. Cummings has 
obtained seed pods from crosses between Phaluenopsis Luddemann- 
iana and P. amabilis, also between P. Manni and P. amabilis, but 
hitherto no seedlings have been raised, though there is a prospect of 
some being obtained shortly.—L. Castle. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 28th. 
Hardy flowers and Orchids shared the honours at this meeting as 
regards attractions, though the former were the more numerous, and pre¬ 
sented a greater variety of colours. Messrs. T. S. Ware, Paul & Son, Barr 
and Sod, and IC-lway & Son were large exhibitors of hardy flowers, the 
Orchids coming from amateurs, the handsome collection from Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., M.P., being foremost in all points. 
Fruit Committee.— Present: Harry J. Yeitch, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. John Lee, J. Fitt, J. Woodbridge, G. T. Miles, W. Warren, J. 
Burnett, G. Norman, Wm. Paul, J. Smith, T. J. Saltmarsh, T. B. Haywocd', 
Harrison Weir, P. Crowley, and R. D. Blackmore. 
The exhibits were few, but the Melons and Cucumbers in competition) 
for the special prizes increased this portion of the display, A cultural com¬ 
mendation was awarded to Mr. Clark, Twickenham, for some large hand¬ 
some fruits of Pauline Strawberry, capital in shape, colour, and flavour. 
Mr. J. Watkins, Pomona Farm, Withington, Hereford, sent twelve varieties 
of Apples remarkably well k*pt, the examples of Dumelow’s Seedling, 
Norfolk Beefing, Hambledon Deux Ans, and Rymer being uncommonly 
good. Mr. J. Goodacre, Elvaston Castle Gardens, Derby, exhibited a well 
set bunch of Lockington Hall Muscat Grape, which is said to he earlier than 
Muscat of Alexandria, which it closely resembled, also a la'ge compact 
bunch of Rockferry Hamburgh, described as fourteen days later than Black 
Hamburgh, keeping its colour better. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, showed a 
seedling Melon named Turner’s Green Flesh, of good size, and well netted. 
Mr. Woodgate, Warren House Gardens, Kingston-on-Thames, sent samples 
of a seedling Strawberry, bright in colour, of moderate size, but it was not 
considered distinct enough fora special award. 
The special prizes for Melons were adjudged as follows :—Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons’ prizes for a brace of M Ions. First, Mr. J. H. Goodacre, Elvastom 
Castle Gardens, with Hero of Lockioge. Second, Mr. C. J. Waite, Glen- 
hurst Gardens, Esher, with the same ; and third, Mr. Lockie, Oakley Court 
Gardens, with Imperial Green Flesh. There were six competitors, all show¬ 
ing good fruits. Messrs. J. Carter & Co.’s prizes for Blenheim Orange 
Melons brought several exhibilors with tine specimens, Mr. T. Lockie win¬ 
ning the first place, followed by Mr. H. W. Ward, gardener to the Earl < i 
Radnor, Longford Castle, and Mr. C. J. Waite. Tue prizes offered by the 
same firm for a braceVjf Carter’s Model Cucumbers were won by Mr. Lockie, 
Mr. Waite, and Mr. G. Collins, Wandsworth Common, in the ordtr named,, 
the first b.ing beautiful even fruits. Messrs. Webb & Sons contributed 
