198 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 28, 1885. 
x C. Sedeni; many varieties of C. Ashburtoni®, among 
which that raised by Messrs. Veitch, and named C. A. 
expansum is by far the best. C. Petr®i, C. Parishii, 
C. Harrisianum, C. purpuratum, and many good 
examples of the lovely Spicerianum hybrid raised at 
Chelsea. C. Leeanum superbum too, are in bloom, as 
well as a plant of their C. caudatum hybrid, C. 
Schroder®, which by its lovely rose hue and sturdy 
habit, proves the good influence of that perpetual 
bloomer C. Sedeni, wherever it is used for hybridising 
purposes. The rare C. Lindleyanum from Guiana also 
is sending up a flower spike for the first time, and the 
many fine purple spotted forms of C. insigne mingled 
with the whole, make up a display which will be kept 
good throughout the whole of the winter by the many 
Cypripediums which are coming on, including the 
prettily-spotted C. Godefroy®. 
Vandas and Aerides. 
In these houses, in bloom, areV. insignis, V. ccerulea, V. 
Sanderiana, Aerides Lawrenc®, Saccolabium trellinum, 
Ionopsis paniculata, I. utricularioides, &c. ; and in the 
Vanda house, which is of a cool intermediate tem¬ 
perature, are a grand lot of all the best forms of V. 
suavis and V. tricolor, which this firm had the pleasure 
of introducing. With them, too, grows admirably the 
forms of Zygopetalum maxillare and Gautierii, which 
are often kept warmer and in a more moist house, 
where they invariably get spotted and unhealthy. 
Separate houses are devoted to 0. vexillarium and all 
the other sections of Orchids which are numerous 
enough to demand one, and suspended in many of them 
are the numerous resting plants of the spring-flowering 
Dendrobes, such as Wardianum, crassinode, &c., with 
stout growths of surprising length, even D. crystallinum 
in some instances being 3 ft. long. 
The New Cattleya House. 
This, which is one of Messrs. Veitch’s greatest 
acquisitions, contains some thousands of plants of 
all the varieties of Cattleya, Lselia purpurata, L. 
elegans, &c., in condition second to none in the 
county; and Mr. Canham, who has presided over the 
Orchid department for so many years, should be con¬ 
gratulated on the steady improvement and present per¬ 
fection of the very valuable stock in his care. Some 
idea may be formed of the show to be expected in this 
house when it is stated that nearly 800 flower-sheaths 
are up on one side stage alone. At present there are a 
good batch of L®lia autumnalis and L. anceps in bloom, 
and several plants of the new and lovely C. Bow- 
ringiana (autumnale), with its rosy mauve flowers much 
resembling those of a good Dendrobium lituiflorum 
Freemanii, even to the shape, tint, and size. Some 
who saw the plant exhibited at South Kensington said 
it was just an autumn form of C. Skinneri; but the 
plant is totally different in every respect. C. Bow- 
ringiana has a distinguishing feature unknown in any 
other Cattleya, and consisting of an enlarged flatfish 
bulb-like formation (something like a bulb of Ladiopsis 
Domingiensis), from which the tall upright pseudobulb 
proceeds, and this is more like Epidendrum cinna- 
barinum, or a long bulb of E. eiliare, than it is like C. 
Skinneri ; it has, moreover, glaucous leaves. It will 
certainly, by its own merits, push its own way. The 
new Cattleya house is 132 ft. long, 22 ft. wide, and 
14 ft. high. The centre stage has under it large 
provision for rain-water, and is rendered ornamental 
by rockery planted with Ferns. The private part of 
the Orchid establishment, under Mr. Seden’s care, is 
a mine of new and interesting things, both species 
and hybrids, among them being in bud the first hybrid 
Phalsenopsis and many other unheard-of things. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. 
In the plant department separate quarters are devoted 
to every class, and everything is alike done well. A 
house is devoted to Araucaria excelsa, and other rare 
Araucarias ; another to Imantophyllum ; several to 
the unapproachable stock of Amaryllis, one of which 
was illustrated by us at p. 457, vol. i. ; a large span- 
house is filled with proved good forms of Anthurium 
Scherzerianum ; several to a grand lot of Camellias and 
Azaleas, all well budded ; many to Heaths, Epacris, 
and general stove and greenhouse stock ; and a block 
of houses to the collection of Ferns, which Messrs. 
Veitch still keep up after many have relinquished 
them. Among the new Ferns the grand Cyathea 
divergens, and equally fine Davallia retusa, demand 
notice. The greenhouse stock is brightened by the 
flowers of Ericas, Daphnes, Linum trigynum, Lasiandra 
maerantha, Babbingtonia eamphorosma (a very pretty 
old plant), Browea latifolia, Epiphyllums, Solanums (in 
berry), Primulas, Cyclamen, &c. ; and the stove houses 
with Anthurium Andreanum, A. Rothschildianum, 
and fine foliage and flowering plants, too numerous to 
touch upon while great specialities have to be mentioned. 
Probably the greatest of these is the collection of 
pitcher plants, which have gained world-wide fame. 
Now, as always, the house is a grand sight with 
the handsome and variously shaped pitchers, of which 
there are at present over 2,000. Messrs. Veitch’s 
hybrid of Nepenthes sanguinea, N. Mastersiana, with 
its dark red pitchers, being one of the most prominent, 
as it certainly is one of the best. The new N. Rajah, 
with its wide open mouth (one has an expansion of 6 
ins.), and quaint orange and crimson mottling inside, is 
one of the most extraordinary ; and N. Northiana, a 
beauty only surpassed by the new N. cincta, which is 
supposed to be a natural hybrid between it and the 
Sarawak N. albo-marginata. N. cincta is a great beauty 
with large pitchers with greenhish white ground, mottled 
with crimson, the border of the mouth being handsomely 
striped ; N. Morgan® is the brightest of that section. 
N. Veitchii, always one of the finest, still improved by 
the new bronze-tinted importation, and N. bicalcarata, 
with its two spurs at the base of the lid, grand, and 
one of the finest and most distinct of new introductions. 
Among the old forms N. Rafflesiana still holds its 
place, and Messrs. Veitch & Son’s hybrids of it, N. 
Hookeriana, N. intermedia, and N. Chelsoni prove 
worthy to keep it company still. N. ampullacia, with 
its dense nest of strange pitchers close on the pot, is 
, very attractive, and the fine collection of Sarraeenias 
1 and Sundews, with which Messrs. Veitch supplement 
this department, is very curious and interesting. The 
fine pans of Cephalotus follicularis are simply charming. 
Greenhouse Rhododendrons. 
This is another class from which the Chelsea firm has 
evolved the loveliest and most useful things by cross¬ 
fertilisation. To visit them one need not pick a day or a 
season, for they are always in bloom. Among them we 
note R. Queen Victoria, a fine yellowish salmon ; R. 
Princess Frederica, brightbuff; R. Duchess of Edinburgh, 
orange-scarlet; R. Duchess of Connaught, rich glowing 
red ; R. Maiden’s Blush, pale pink ; R. Taylorii, pink 
wflth white tube ; Favorite, bright pink ; and many 
new seedling forms of great beauty. The last step with 
these plants has been to produce a new race with double 
flowers, which will answer a great demand for cut 
blooms as well as make the flowers more lasting (if that 
be possible) on the plant. This section is called R. 
balsamaeflorum, double rose ; R. balsameeflorum album, 
double white; and R. balsamaeflorum luteum, double 
yellow. The varieties are in flower now, and prove 
their beauty and worth. 
Florists Flowers. 
Winter-flowering Carnations are grown in quantity 
and well, the plants being sturdy and well budded. 
A good selection, as seen at Chelsea, is Sir Evelyn 
Wood, violet-crimson ; Valentia, fringed crimson ; 
Ruby, violet ; Empress, fine white; Pride of Pens- 
hurst, bright yellow ; Andalusia, yellow ; Sir George, 
scarlet ; Alex. Regnier, yellow ; Thomas Wallis, 
flaked scarlet and crimson; Mrs. Keen, deep maroon- 
crimson ; Worthington Smith, scarlet; Lady Macbeth, 
blush ; Mrs. Jolliffe, blush ; and Whipper-in, scarlet 
with dark stripe. 
flhe Bouvardia-house is as showy as that of the 
Carnations, all the varieties being well grown and 
flowered ; but perhaps the best are President Garfield, 
double pink; Alfred Neuner ; Dazzle, scarlet; elegans, 
scarlet; Priory Beauty, pink ; Maiden’s Blush, blush ; 
umbellata alba, white ; and Vreelandii, pure white. 
New Plants. 
Among the new flowering plants two are very 
conspicuous—Amasonia punicea, with long sprays 
of pale yellow flowers, profusely furnished with bright 
crimson bracts. This plant is a great acquisition, 
as it has been in flower from the first week in August 
until now, and is still as good as ever ; it is, moreover, 
easy to grow and propagate. The other is a new winter¬ 
flowering Begonia, named John Heal, in honour of the 
custodian of the Rhododendrons, Amaryllis, &c. It is 
the result of a cross between B. socotrana and a tuberous 
variety, and is a lovely thing with bright mauve-tinted 
carmine flowers, which last an extraordinary time. 
The stock of Vines at the Royal Exotic Nursery are 
very fine this year ; the Chrysanthemums gorgeous, and 
need it be said all other things in the usual perfect, 
clean, and orderly condition. 
Scottish Gardening. 
Garden Operations. —It is usual in some places 
to keep young plants of Borecole (Curled Kale), Brussels 
Sprouts, Savoys, and Cabbage in some secure place 
through the winter, ready for planting out in spring, 
to furnish a supply of large produce early in the 
autumn. Size and coarseness is certainly attained by 
this early preparation of hardy vegetables, but except 
in the case of Brussels Sprouts, which come in very 
large during September, and Cabbage to make up 
vacancies in spring, I can see but little gain from the 
practice indicated. Savoys, in the coldest of districts, 
can easily be had in September, and so can Curled 
Greens, when they are both sown early in March. There is 
much waste on Curled Kale raised so early, and cer¬ 
tainly, I never had any of such good quality as this 
season from seeds sown in March, the extra curl and 
the dwarfness of the stock is as near perfection as I 
have seen. To keep plants of the above kinds sound 
through the winter, they should be pricked out on a 
border free from damp and well exposed to the sunlight; 
small ridges thrown up are serviceable, as protection, 
when plants are carefully pricked out on them. 
Even with the protection of frames French Beans will 
be well past now, damp and cold soon brings them to an 
end, but where supplies are kept up it is not worth the 
trouble to use frames, &c., without heat. Brocoli, of 
coarse growth, may be laid down facing the north, and the 
soil laid over the stems close to the leaves. Autumn 
kinds, which are showing hearts, may be taken to empty 
pits, frames or sheds ; should a sudden and severe at¬ 
tack of frost set in much loss might be sustained. The 
same applies to late Cauliflowers. Autumn Giant and 
'Valeheren are plentiful at this season, and it is better 
to save the heads of small size than to lose them by 
frost. Chicory may be lifted and placed in a cellar, or 
anywhere so that it may have a little warmth to excite 
new growth after the plants have been trimmed ; dark¬ 
ness is necessary to blanch the growths. Dandelion, 
which is also excellent for salads, may be treated in the 
same way as Chicory, and takes the place of Endive 
and Lettuce if they become scarce. A quantity of full- 
grown Lettuce may be lifted and taken under protec¬ 
tion. They should be planted close together, and 
receive air during mild weather. The Lettuce plants 
on slopes, under handlights, &c., should be looked over 
frequently for slugs ; dustings of soot, fine ashes, and 
a little lime generally keeps them entirely under 
check. 
Mustard and Cress may be kept plentiful by sowing 
small boxes of each weekly in warmth, it should have 
air- freely before it is used to make the young growth 
crisp. Onions, all well harvested, should be kept dry 
and as cool as possible ; no amount of cold injures 
them, but damp ruins them. Parsley roots may he 
lifted from the main supply and put under protection, 
to give pickings during snowy and frosty weather. A 
frame and glass lights placed over a portion of the crop 
answers well, and the Parsley is easily found when 
wanted. Parsnips may be lifted in small quantities, to 
supply the demand. The roots keep better, are finer 
flavoured, and more tenderwhen they are wintered in the 
open ground. Radishes in frames or under hand-lights 
require much air, and to be kept free from damp. Those 
in the open ground, giving supplies, may be kept use- • 
ful for some time to come by protection with ashes or 
litter. Salsafy and Seorzonera may be treated the same 
as Parsnips ; lifting a quantity to give supplies during 
severe weather, should it come. 
Sea Kale may be started in dark warm places ; boxes 
filled and put in heat or covered with warm fermenting 
material may give moderate supplies. The old system 
of using pots covered with warm manure, leaves, &c. is 
still in favour and easily managed, but where one can 
spare a piece of ground to grow plenty of roots in, and 
then lift them to dark warm structures, is the most 
manageable method of raising plentiful supplies Scotch 
grown roots are seldom suited for very early forcing, 
but to give Sea Kale about the end of December they 
do well, a small portion after this season taken in 
bi-monthly, keeps up regular supplies. Spinach is of 
much value during winter, and is worthy of care and 
attention. On ordinary borders the produce becomes 
infested with decaying leaves and liable to decay. To 
have this of really good quality, it is worth while to 
place shallow frames over the plants and pick the crop 
carefully. At Clovenfords lately, we noticed in some 
