August 21] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
l!2l 
white; the lip is the same colour, with distinct regular 
lines diagonally across it of a beautiful purple colour; 
the (lowers are of a medium size, and are produced on 
short racemes from the apex of the stems of the same 
year’s growth. The leaves are of a lovely sea-green 
colour, and are about four inches long. When the 
plant is in bloom, the light, elegant stem, beautiful 
leaves, and lovely white, modest-looking flowers, render 
it exceedingly attractive. 42s. 
P. bicolor (Two-coloured); Ceylon.—Sepals and petals 
deep maroon ; lip, white and rose. A handsome free- 
growing species, with large plaited foliage, and obscure 
pseudo-bulbs. 31s. (id. 
P. grandifolius (Large-leaved); China. — This is 
synonymous with the well-known Bletia Tankervillise, 
originally named, also, Limodorum Tankervflli®. Sepals 
and petals white outside, reddish-brown inside; lip pro¬ 
jecting, shaped like a sugar-shovel, white at its base, 
and beautifully tinged with deep rose towards the open 
part. Though common, it is a very line, desirable 
species. 7s. fid. 
P. macui.atus (Spotted-leaved) ; Nepaul. — Flowers 
large, and of a rich yellow colour. The dower-stein rises 
from the base of the year-old pseudo-bulbs. When the 
plant is strong and healthy the flower-stem will rise to 
the height of two feet, and produce ten or twelve fine 
flowers. Each pseudo-bulb has four or five leaves upon 
it; they are large, and spotted with white; hence its 
specific name. The pseudo-bulbs are large, oblong, and 
of a deep dark-green. It is altogether a very desirable 
! plant. 81s. fid. 
P. NivETJS (Snow-white); E. Indies.—Flowers pure 
white. This is, we opine, only a variety of P. albus, the 
only difference being that the lip of P. niveus is, like 
the rest of the dower, of a pure white, whereas, in the 
species, it is striped with purple. In every other part, 
stems, mode of flowering, shape of the dower, size and 
j colour of leaf, it is exactly the same pattern as P. albas. 
It is, however, rather more scarce. 52s. fid. 
P. Wallichii (Dr. Wallicli’s); Khoseea Hills.—Sepals 
and petals bronzy yellow outside, bright clear orange 
inside; the lip is also orange towards its base, and 
richly stained with pink at the extremity. They are 
produced on stout, tall stems, frequently from four to 
five feet high, bearing, at the extremity, a spike of ten 
1 or twelve dowers, opening in succession, and measuring, 
when fully expanded, five inches across. The leaves 
are truly noble, handsome objects, from three to four 
; feet long, and six inches wide at the broadest part; they 
first spring from the pseudo-bulb quite upright, then 
gradually and gracefully bend downwards. There are 
! three or four to each bulb of these fine leaves, and they 
; spread out so as to form a circle, from the midst of 
which appears the noble dower-stem rising majestically 
; above the tine foliage, giving the plant a grandeur of 
1 appearance really striking and attractive. At Ealing 
: Park, the villa residence of Mrs. Lawrence, we once saw 
| this species of Phaius in perfection. The pseudo-bulbs 
j had been divided, from time to time, and each division 
had made its shoot ; they were not separate, but allowed 
to form one plant, and were potted accordingly. At the 
time when we saw it thei-e were no less than eleven 
tiower-stems, each bearing four or five dowers expanded 
at once. These, together with the numerous noble palm¬ 
like leaves, rendered it one of the finest objects of the 
orchid tribe we ever witnessed. Culture of Phaius at the 
earliest opportunity. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
ME. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Dr. Frampton Dahlia. —This is another model of 
the right sort, approaching very closely to the perfection 
of the dower. It has all the good qualities of Princess 
Radzville, and none of the faults. As we have only 
seen the bloom sent to us, we ought not, if there were a 
possibility of doubt, to be positive as to its quality. It 
is perfectly round on the outline, forms two-thirds of a 
ball, symmetrical beyond any, has a beautiful centre, is 
very double, cups very prettily, is medium size as we saw 
it, and its very make speaks for its certainty. We are 
obliged to the raiser for giving us the first sight, but we 
bespeak first-class certificates for it everywhere. It was 
shown by the side of The King of Dahlias, and beats it, 
because it does not refiex, or rather, if it can be said to 
redex in the lower petals, it is trifling. Mr. Rawlings, 
of Mile End, is the raiser, and is proving it at New¬ 
ington. We expect to see it at all the shows in the 
metropolis. 
We have bad seven Dahlias from different persons, 
of which we need only take a general notice. A flower, 
which is not round in the outline, is not, in the present 
advanced state of the dahlia, to be tolerated. M.’s 
Yellow has the fault in a large degree, and the centre, 
though solid, is sunk too much ; it is not so good as 
Mrs. Seldon. J.’s Lilac is beaten altogether by Fearless, 
Admiral, Duke of Cambridge, and others ; it is of no use 
even proving it. K.’s White, so called, is very pure as 
we see it; but we are tired of adjudicating on whites. 
We are quite sure there is no dependence, without it is 
seen, on the plant. Every dahlia grower recollects 
Barmaid last year; it was shown a very good white. 
We have bloomed it this year, a very beautiful edged 
flower, and the scale, so conspicuous on the centre last 
year, was totally absent. If we had covered it from the 
light, perhaps it would have been white, but we never 
cover. But K.’s White is pink under the petals, and is 
not so good, even in the specimen, as a good Antagonist. 
8. N.’s seedling, 1851, Fancy, is not so good as many of 
the red-and-white varieties we have already. The others 
cannot be worth growing; we should dig them up to 
give others room. A seedling, with the petals purple 
inside and white at the back, received last, is curious; 
but no dahlia that shows the backs of the petals can be 
good for anything. The seedling in question may be 
grown as curious, because the great contrast between 
white and purple gives it a fanoy appearance. 
Box of Seedling Pansies from Bromley. —Of no use 
whatever. We wish the raisers would read the “Pro¬ 
perties of Flowers,” before they waste their money on 
carriage of things not even approaching to good. There 
is not a clear field of white or yellow among them; and 
we have repeatedly said, that if the eye runs into the 
border, a flower is useless. It will be a good thing when 
Societies decide that a stand with such a flower on it 
shall not win a prize. 
Phloxes ( W. P.). —We do not see anything new or 
particularly good among them. Mr. Salter sent out a 
dozen better last year. There is no novelty in the colour; 
of the habit we know only what W. P. tells us, nor do 
we know what he calls “ a fine habit.” 
Phlox Drummondii (R.). —Good colour and form; 
and if all that were worse than those sent were destroyed 
directly, or these kept by themselves, the seed will be 
good. 
Balsams. —Single blooms. Very good, but not so 
largo as we saw in a seed-shop window, some of which 
were three inches across, and double to the centre. The 
cream or straw-coloured variety was extensively sold out 
in the spring. 
Geranium, Beauty of Kent (Fancy).—A very beau¬ 
tiful colour, well adapted for bedding; bright crimson 
and white, well marked in the under petals, and of full 
fancy size. 
