November 21, 1885. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
187 
trellis, and having got 3 ft. fixed, began to stage the 
plants, laying them down on the trellis and training 
them, taking care to intermix the colours ; we consider 
now that the early varieties, such as Elaine, should 
have been excluded, and that they might all have been 
placed somewhat closer together. It would be well for 
anyone attempting this plan to get the plants in and 
trained to their places a little before growth is finished, 
because we find that some of the kinds don’t show up 
cpiite so well as could be wished, having finished their 
growth when staged they have not come up to the 
light. This applies only to a small portion of them, 
however, nearly all stand up well above the foliage, 
and the general effect produced is very pleasing, the 
flowers stand out well by themselves, and on a trellis 
well covered with good foliage. I do not recommend 
the plan to those who have ample conservatory accom¬ 
modation, were the plants can be arranged and viewed 
from a distance, but were spiace is limited and there is 
no way of really showing the flowers to advantage, 
the adoption of this or some similar expedient 1 most 
cordially recommend. — TV. B. G. 
The Keiffer Pear.—We have much pleasure in 
sending you a sample fruit of the Keiffer Pear, now 
being introduced by us into this country. Of the size, 
flavour, &c., you can now judge, though hardly yet 
fully ripe ; of its enormous bearing properties, we have 
personal knowledge. For profitable purposes we con¬ 
sider this variety unique. — Viccars Collyer Co., 
Central Nurseries, Glcnfield, near Leicester. [The 
Keiffer Pear is well spoken of in American peri¬ 
odicals, and the specimen received shows it to be of 
good size, resembling the Brown Beurre in shape, and 
of a colour that will take in the market. Being un¬ 
ripe the texture was somewhat gritty, but it has a 
peculiar musky aroma that is very agreeable.— Ed.] 
Adiantum. Williamsii.—In the garden of FI. 
J. Simonds, Esq., Caversliam, Reading, there is a 
specimen of this grand fern which measures 6 ft. 
through. It is a first rate exhibition fern, as it stands 
well and is very attractive, the golden appearance of 
the young fronds beng very beautiful. It formed one 
of a group shown by Mr. Simonds’ gardener, Mr. 
Parham, at the Reading Show last week, which secured 
the leading honours in its class.— A. 0. 
French Beans.—I have been gathering Scarlet 
Runners of good average quality up to the 13th inst., the 
last fortnight, however, rather sparingly, in fact, only 
twoort^iree dishes per week. We obtained them from 
three lines, each about SO ft. long, and until the last 
of October we had an abundance and to spare. I 
think the cold strong winds we had, did them more 
damage than the September frost, but not so my 
neighbours, who, as far as I know, all lost theirs with 
frost at that time. I attribute my escape from the 
latter through the gardens here looking to the north¬ 
west, instead of the preferred aspect, and which has 
the advantage of laying from the sun instead of towards 
it on frosty mornings.— E. Bumper, Limerick. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
--A- 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Propagating Chrysanthemums. —Many of the Chry¬ 
santhemums will now be going out of flower, and most 
of the sorts will be throwing up strong shoots from the 
base, which will make good cuttings. If these are 
taken off and rooted in a cold frame, it will save any 
further trouble in keeping the old plants. Although 
early in March would be soon enough for propagating, 
provided good cuttings could then be obtained, yet, it 
is better to secure the first shoots that are produced 
after the plants have done flowering, and these should 
be taken before they get too long, We like to avoid 
all artificial heat, as cuttings struck in a cold frame 
will start away quite early enough, and the slightest 
warmth is sure to induce weak and succulent growth. 
Plants that have not thrown up young shoots, sufficient 
for stock, should be removed to a cold pit after they 
have done flowering, and have been cut down. 
Cinerarias. —The most desirable period to have these 
in flower, is in time to succeed the Chrysanthemums, 
and unless they are now pretty forward they will require 
a little extra encouragement to bring them on. 
If they can be brought up close to the glass, they will 
bear a good brisk temperature, but careful attention 
must be paid to the watering, they must on no account 
be allowed to become too dry, and should have liquid 
manure say twice a week ; they are also benefited by 
the frequent use of the syringe in favourable weather. 
Marguerites.— To flower these well through the 
dull months, they must have a light airy position, and 
only sufficient warmth to keep out the frost. To avoid 
the plants starting too much into growth, they should 
be watered very sparingly, and no manure should lie 
used. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Peas, Beans, &c. —This will be a good time to sow 
Peas and Beans for the earliest crop ; they ought to be 
sown in drills 3 ins. deep, and 4 ft. asunder, in a warm 
situation, but where there is accommodation for raising 
them in heat about the end of December, the latter is 
certainly preferable. The following varieties of early 
Peas and Beans for this later sowing may be depended 
upon. Beans: Seville Longpod. Peas : Early Sunrise, 
Sutton’s Ringleader, and William I., all excellent 
early varieties. Breadths of Cauliflowers which are 
yielding a plentiful supply, should be looked over at 
short intervals, and have all the full sized heads 
cut and spread out on a shelf in a cool dry shed, and 
those which are not yet fully grown, should have a 
couple of leaves bent over them as a protection from 
frost. 
Globe Artichokes should have any old stems and 
bad leaves that are still adhering to the plants cut away. 
Then give a good surface-dressing of short dung (about 
3 ins. thick, which can be dug into the ground next 
spring), and upon this put a good mulching of long litter, 
the latter to be wrapped closely round the crowns of the 
individual plants, as a protection from frost. Manure 
should be wheeled on to vacant pieces of ground when 
the weather is dry and the ground firm, and when in 
this condition let digging or trenching be proceeded 
with. 
Improving Soil. —If the condition of the soil is not 
favourable to the growth of some kinds of vegetables, 
something should be done with a view to improving 
it. If it is too stiff much may be done, if the garden is 
properly drained by the liberal use of leaf mould and 
chalk, which should be well incorporated with it, and 
the land in that case ridged up roughly during the 
winter, so as to fully expose it to the influence of frost. 
On the other hand, if the soil is too light recourse should 
be had to the use of clay, roadside parings, and such¬ 
like materials, which will produce a mechanical change 
in its quality and thereby render it more suitable to 
the growth of most crops. See that a good supply of 
Fern or other protecting material is at hand, with 
which to protect rows of Celery, &c., from frost when 
necessary. 
Forcing Department. —Asparagus just coming 
through the soil should have sufficient air admitted, to 
prevent the shoots from making a weakly growth. 
Roots of Mint and Tarragon should now be put into 
heat, and as the French Beans attain to their proper 
size, pick them and place them in a cool dry room with 
their ends in water, until sufficient for a dish 
have been gathered. Make a sowing of Tomatos 
in 3-inch pots for early work, i.c. far use in April and 
May next, putting two or three seeds in each pot, to be 
thinned out to one plant afterwards ; place them on a 
shelf near the glass in a forcing house, to prevent them 
from making a weakly growth. Attend also to the thin¬ 
ning and arranging of the shoots of established plants. 
Look over Tomatos which have been gathered and 
placed on the staging in vineries to ripen, and pick out 
those that show signs of decay. Sow Mustard and Cress 
in boxes at short intervals, so as to keep up a constant 
supply.— H. IV. Ward, Ljongford Castle. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growing- at the Queen’s Road 
Nursery, Cheltenham. —This nursery is situated 
close to the Midland Railway Station, but the majority 
of people passing to and fro can have no idea of the 
wealth it contains, not only of Orchids, but of stove 
and greenhouse plants. Horticulturists, however, know 
how famous Mr. James Cypher is for his exhibition 
plants, and latterly he has gone in more largely than 
ever for Orchids, having just erected two well built 
and well arranged houses, one for Cattleyas and Lielias, 
the other for cool Orchids. The first house we entered 
on November 5th, was a span-roofed East Indian house 
filled with healthy well-grown plants. The first to 
strike one, was a splendid plant of zErides Rohanianum, 
bearing a spike of forty-five beautifully spotted flowers ; 
further on was to be seen a still more striking thing in 
zErides Lawrencue, a strong plant with eleven pairs of 
leaves, bearing a spike of twenty-four flowers—the 
most lovely zErides imaginable, and which no one 
could fail to admire. Air. Cypher has been very fortu¬ 
nate in getting this true to name, which is not the 
case with some buyers of it. Another plant flowered 
here in the summer, but this is considered a better 
variety even than that. Another rare zErides, said to 
be very beautiful, is A. Leonis. 
Vanda Sanderiana is represented by several good 
specimens, two of which were showing flower, one with 
ten buds upon a spike, and the other with six. V. 
cceruleseer.s, difficult to grow or keep in health long 
together, was to be seen thriving in baskets and on 
cylinders suspended from the roof. Of V. suavis there 
are some plants well feathered to the pot, including 
Rollisson’s variety, with fourteen pairs of leaves. There 
were in flower in this house in addition to the zErides 
above named, Phalsenopsis violacea, Denclrobium super- 
biens, with twelve flowers; D. formosum, very strong; 
D, bigibbum, with ten spikes on a plant; D. Dearii, 
Cypripedium biflorum, C. Lawrencianum, C. Spieeria- 
num, several very strong plants, one bearing twelve 
flowers ; and C. Parishii, with a spike of six flowers. 
Of Cypripediums not in flower, I noticed good plants of 
C. grande, C. eaudatum roseum, C. lievigatum, C. 
liursutissimum, now scarce, and C. Lowii. There 
were also large plants, semi-established, of Lcelia anceps 
alba, and Cattleya super.ba, growing on a block, had 
thirteen bulbs with leaves. Odontoglossum Roezli was 
unusually strong and healthy. I was surprised when 
1 saw several healthy plants of Oncidium Lanceanum, 
one with a dozen leaves and not a spot or blemish upon 
them. 
We entered another house used for retarding and 
resting Orchids ; this contained a recent importation 
of Lielia purpurata, the picture of health, with leaves 
as green as Leeks, and such bulbs ! ; also Dendrobium 
bigibbum, with bulbs 2 ft. long, plants just ready for 
potting. Amongst established plants in this house, 
were fine specimens of Anguloa eburnea, A. Ruckerii, 
and A. Clowesii, a large specimen ; a fine batch of 
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum standing on a shelf, one 
having at least a hundred bulbs in its pot. There were 
also dozens of Barkerias ranging close up to the back 
wall, some showing flower, and some new varieties 
expected amongst them; Oncidum Marshallianum, 
good plants ; 0. crispum, and 0. varicosum had made 
up wonderful bulbs, grown quite cool. A few other 
good things worthy of note, were Odontoglossum 
Madrense, Chysis Limminghii, Mormodes luxatum 
eburneum, with twelve breaks, and a large and vigorous 
specimen of Cypripedium villosum in a 21-inch pan; 
this plant had been grown in a cold pit or frame all 
through the summer. 
The Dendrobium house is a rather lofty span-roofed 
structure, and I venture to sajq that with its dirt floor, 
it has produced some of the best grown Dendrobes in 
this country. I have not forgotten when I first saw it 
eight years ago filled with such marvellous plants of 
D. Wardiannm, D. crassinode, D. Devonianum, and 
others. These sorts are now represented by fewer 
plants of each, as all Air. Cypher’s well-grown specimens 
meet -with a ready sale ; and while alluding to this 
subject, I must say, that it is astonishing to see and 
compare the native growths with the home-made ones. 
IX crystallinum growing in 3-inch pans, the original 
bulbs of which were 11 ins. long, have produced some 
2 ft. 6 ins. in length ; D. luteolum, old bulbs 1 ft., new 
ones 2 ft. ; a new growth of D. fimbriatum oculatum 
measured 5 ft. 6 in. ; D. dixanthum growing on a 
block, had twelve young growths not yet finished, 
which will make a grand specimen next year ; D. leu- 
colophotum, somewhat similar in appearance to a white 
D. bigibbum, was showing flower and thriving well ; 
D. Jamesianum was also to be seen in quantity. On 
the stage were Thunia Alarsliallii with growths 4 ft. to 
6 ft. high, and Cymbidium giganteum, a large plant 
showing flower. 
Another house we entered, which is used for propa¬ 
gating, contained some of the rarer Dendrobiums sus¬ 
pended from the roof and remarkably well grown. D. 
Fytchianum has bulbs 18 ins. long ; and D. taurinum 
an Orchid not often seen at all, much less with new 
