February 6, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
365 
looking Pileas ; these are dwarf and grow most luxuri¬ 
antly, giving the Phaleenopsis beds of healthy vegetation 
some 18 ins. below them. 
One half of the basement of the house is occupied by 
a rain-water tank and the other is of moist gravel, an 
open wood-work trellis being laid to walk upon ; under 
these conditions the plants luxuriate, and at the present 
time literally fill the house with large sprays of lovely 
flowers and the grateful odour of them. Among the 
rarer kinds are some finely-flowered plants of P. San- 
deriana, one of them with finely formed deep pink 
flowers being a superb thing ; P. Stuartiana and P. S. 
nobilis, which is as good in form as P. amabilis and 
very brightly spotted ; P. casta, like an amabilis with 
Schilleriana tint ; P. amabilis Dayana and P. a. picta, 
both fine snow-white forms, with heavy crimson 
markings in the centre. Several good specimens of P. 
rosea and P. grandiflora aurea, too, are in bloom ; but 
the bulk of the display is made up of P. amabilis and 
P. Schilleriana, some of the varieties of the latter being 
grand in form and colours. 
Among the curious kinds may be noted one with a 
silvery leaf like P.' Sanderianum, but with clear white 
floweTS differing in no way from those of P. amabilis, 
and a curious form of P. amabilis with odd-looking 
milk-white flowers, marked in the centre with dull 
pink. 
In the general collection the Cattleya Trianm are 
rapidly coming on, some very fine ones, including C. T. 
Backhousiana being out ; a grand form of C. speciosum 
with flower very much resembling C. gigas is in bloom 
in the Cattleya house. The Lseliak are represented by 
some lovely forms of L. anceps, L. A. Dawsoni, L. A. 
Percivaliana, L. albida, L. A. Bella, L. A. Marianae, 
and many other good L. albidas, and L. harpophylla. 
The warm houses have Angraecum eburneum, A. 
sesquipedale, Cypripedium ealurum (a great beauty), 
C. Sedeni, C. politum, Houlettia odoratissima, C. 
Haynaldianum, and some showy plants of D. 
Wardianum, and grand masses of the favourite Ccelogyne 
cristata. 
The new Odontoglossum house is a well built and 
properly planned structure, which cannot fail to replace 
the old one with advantage. Many of its occupants 
are sending up bloom, and the cool house things 
generally are enlivened by well flowered masses of 
Odontoglossum pulchellum majus, 0. roseum, 0. Rossii 
majus, 0. Oerstedii (one with eighteen blooms), 0. 
hastilabium, Oncidium concolor, many Sophronitis 
grandiflora, &c. 
Orchids from Scotland.— Unlike Mr. Craw- 
shay who hears of things in Scotland, we have the 
good fortune occasionally to see them. From Cloven¬ 
fords we have this week received a glorious box of 
flowers, first and foremost among which was a spike of 
Lrelia superbiens bearing eighteen flowers, all about 
6 ins. across. As Mr. W. Thomson, junr. observes, 
when well grown, this is a grand Orchid. The deep 
rose colour of the sepals and petals, the much deeper 
shade of the lip, with its beautifully striated side lobes, 
and its orange-yellow crest, all combine to render it an 
extremely beautiful flower. Another fine thing is a 
spike of three flowers of a very superior variety of 
Cattleya labiata Percivaliana. Of this very variable 
Orchid, we have seen few finer forms than the one sent, 
which is distinguished by the glowing mauve and 
crimson of its white edged labellum, and the bright 
orange colouring in the throat, which is seen as well 
from the outside as within. A flower of Cattleya 
Skinneri alba is of the finest, broad petalled, pure white 
types. 
Pruning and Syringing Orchids.— A most 
interesting and instructive discussion arose after a 
luncheon given on the 27th inst. at the Liverpool 
Horticultural Company’s (John Cowan) Nursery, 
Garston. Mr. Swan, gardener to E. G. Wrightley, 
Esq., Howick House, Preston, who introduced the 
subject of pruning and syringing Orchids, stated that 
seeing so many successful and eminent Orchid growers 
present, it might prove an opportune time to ask for 
the opinions of those who had given these matters their 
deep consideration. Mr. Beddoes, who had charge of 
the magnificent collection formed by the late R. P. 
Percival, Esq., of Birkdale, Southport, for which the 
visitors had assembled to inspect, stated that his mode 
of procedure was to prune but not hard such species as 
Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, &c. Mr. Cooper, gardener to 
the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, Birmingham, who 
claimed to have been taught by the old school, advo¬ 
cated plenty of moisture for newly-imported plants of 
such kinds as Phakenopsis Saccolabiums, &c., but in 
no case by syringing or filling of troughs on the pipes 
to cause a vapour to rise, but to have plenty of 
pans filled with water, and so keep a gentle moisture 
pervading the whole atmosphere. Mr. Moss, gardener 
to — Holland, Esq., Mossley Hill, Liverpool, advised 
the free use of water, giving a thorough drenching 
every, day, which would be conducive to cleanliness, 
and would keep down thrip, red spider, &c., giving air 
through boxes so as to pass over the hot water pipes, 
which would dry up all excessive moisture. Mr. 
Bardney, of Norris Green, doubted the advantage of 
such a free use of moisture as to cause the ventilators 
to be kept open for the sole purpose of drying the 
atmosphere. Mr. Swan gave it as his experience and 
practice that some of the best collections had been 
grown without the use of the knife ; but in cases of 
shrivelled bulbs they ought to be cut out. He would 
not banish the syringe, but place it in the hands of 
a qualified man, for in some cases he considered it 
absolutely necessary. He also thought it was desirable 
to keep a cool night temperature, and endeavour to 
gain a knowledge of the individual requirements of 
each class. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
The Lewisham and District Floral 
Society. —January 27 tli .—The first annual general 
meeting of this society was held on the above date, at 
the Hither Green Hall, Lewisham, S. S. Bryant, Esq., 
in the chair. The report and balance sheet, which 
were read by Mr. Henry Drake, the hon. sec., con¬ 
gratulated the society upon the success that attended 
their Chrysanthemum exhibition in November last. 
The society’s rules and schedules of prizes for the 
exhibitions proposed to be held during the year were 
considered and unanimously adopted. With a view of 
adding to the interest of the forthcoming summer 
exhibition, it was decided to make Roses a special 
feature, and to offer nurserymen and gentlemen’s 
gardeners three prizes for the best twenty-four varieties 
of cut Roses, first prize £5. Further prizes for Roses 
are offered to gentlemen’s gardeners only, and also to 
amateurs. The hon. sec. read a list of special prizes 
for flowers, fruit, and vegetables which had been kindly 
offered by Messrs. Laing & Co. (Forest Hill), Mr. H. 
J. Jones (Hope Nursery, Lewisham), Mr. Parish 
(Brockley Road), and by various amateur members of 
the society. It was also proposed that at the Chrysan¬ 
themum exhibition in November next, the society offer, 
among various other open prizes, three prizes for the 
best twenty-four cut blooms of Japanese Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, first prize £5. It was unanimously resolved that 
the society should hold a general meeting on the third 
Wednesday in each month, at the Hither Green Hall, 
Lewisham. At these meetings members are invited to 
bring flowers or plants for discussion. The proceed¬ 
ings terminated with the usual votes of thanks to the 
chairman, committee, auditors, treasurer, and hon. sec. 
Huddersfield Paxton Society. — At a meeting 
of this gardeners’ society, held on Saturday last, the 
30th ult., in the large room at the Queen’s Hotel, a 
paper was read by Mr. W. Swan, of Preston (late of 
Fallowfield) on ‘ ‘ The native habitats and culture of 
Orchids,” and considering the stormy weather which 
prevailed there was a good attendance. Dr. Rhodes, 
the president of the society, was in the chair, and gave 
Mr. Swan a most cordial welcome on behalf of the 
members. Mr. Swan gave a good deal of information 
respecting the native habitats of the different species 
and varieties, the rainfall, different altitudes and 
average temperatures of the places in which they are 
found ; and drew a charming picture of the wealth and 
floral beauty of some of the tropical jungles. He next 
described the different kinds of houses in which Orchids 
should be grown, giving details as to height, length, 
breadth, and shape, and then discussed the question of 
composts, and how and when potting should be per¬ 
formed. These and other details appertaining to the 
general welfare and comfort of the plants in their arti¬ 
ficial homes, were freely treated upon, and a discussion 
followed ; but it was not carried on with any degree of 
vigour, Orchid culture, with one or two exceptions, 
being as yet only in its embryo state in the district. 
Alluding to the proposed Orchid society, Mr. Swan 
would not commit himself to any definite line of action, 
preferring to wait the course of events ; and as regards 
the question of syringing, he stated that he was an 
advocate for its use to a certain extent, but then only 
when he held the syringe himself, or when it was in 
equally cautious hands. A vote of thanks was accorded 
to Mr. Swan with acclamation, and in acknowledging 
it he remarked that he was pleased to see so large a 
company present, and hoped his hearers would try and 
take up the culture of this most curious and beautiful 
tribe of plants. Altogether it was an admirable meeting, 
and the society, with its zealous and hard-working 
' secretary, Mr. M. Chambers, is to be congratulated on 
the infusion of a little new blood among its essayists. 
Stirling Horticultural Association. — Jan. 
28 th .—The members of this association assembled in 
considerable numbers on the above date, at Dowdig’s 
Temperance Hotel, Stirling. It was their anniversary 
meeting, and, according to custom, they took tea 
together, and afterwards discussed various topics rela¬ 
ting to horticulture. Mr. M. Temple, Carron House 
(a new member), was requested to give an address, and 
in the course of his remarks he alluded to several points 
of interest connected with the progress and retrogres¬ 
sion of horticulture during the last quarter of a century. 
Nothing was advanced as being derogatory to the 
practitioners of the present day, but much sympathy 
was expressed for the men who were almost crushed 
out of their calling by the great reductions that were 
being made in gardening establishments, and the 
scanty allowance of means to maintain many gardens 
which at one time were among the leading places in 
the kingdom. England had suffered severely in this 
respect, Scotland was now following suit, and Stirling¬ 
shire was not exempt—numbers of the older places 
having been reduced to a nominal position, so far as 
gardening was concerned. Many of the gardens are 
let and others are tenantless. A high compliment was 
paid to many of the cultivators around Stirling, es¬ 
pecially as cultivators of Orchids, some of the finest 
private collections in the country being in that district. 
Horticultural writers of the present time were compli¬ 
mented as men who wrote from their own practical 
experience, and many of them had shown what they 
could do by placing examples of their work on exhibi¬ 
tion tables. Writers in times gone by often put 
voluminous matter before the public which was not 
from their own practical experience. 
Exhibiting had its share of comment, and while 
large collections of plants of smaller size now occupied 
the tables at the leading shows, large specimens of 
stove and greenhouse plants were scarce. Reference 
was made to certain growers of these whose names were 
once household words ; but few of the men who then 
distinguished themselves were now to the fore, and 
such plants as they cultivated are rarely seen. Among 
the specimens from the stove were huge Allamandas, 
Dipladenias, Stephanotis, Ixoras, &c., with perfect 
foliage and loaded with blossoms. Greenhouse plants 
too were reported as being equally fine, Pimelias, 
Aphelexis, Boronias, Lapagerias, Chorozemas, Azaleas, 
Heaths, and others, receiving honourable mention as 
being among the finest of plant specimens. 
Referring to the changes that had taken place in 
floriculture, Mr. Temple observed, that an improved 
taste had in many respects been the means of crowding 
out such things as the great breadth of Dahlias which 
were so common years ago in the north. Roses had 
improved much both in quality and cultivation, but 
many of the old favourites still held their own. The 
reintroduction of herbaceous plants and the exclusion 
of a large portion of tender kinds, which give more 
labour and a shorter duration of bloom, was considered 
wise, allowing the cultivator time and scope to attend 
to other matters of a more tangible nature. 
Cut flowers and plants for indoor decoration had for 
some years taken up much labour and expense, but 
from depression in trade and other misfortunes attend¬ 
ing agriculture, this had in many places been reduced. 
A comparison of the market men’s advantages over 
those of private growers in the production of flowers 
was made a strong point, reference being made to a 
once large establishment, which gave supplies in im¬ 
mense quantities, such as the speaker had seen in no 
private gardens. The means were simple but most 
efficient for the purpose, and no mixing of kinds (such 
as is too often the case compulsory by private growers) 
was tolerated; each class had quarters to themselves 
and were treated as they required to be. Gardenias, 
both as market plants and stock for cut blooms, were 
minutely described and said to be, by very little 
labour, kept entirely free from insects. Steam from 
the manure linings was a powerful agent in maintain¬ 
ing free growth and keeping insects in check. 
Vegetable growing came in for its legitimate share of 
comment, the speaker remarking that vegetable ex¬ 
hibiting was much improved within the last score of 
years, but the majority of kitchen gardens had suffered 
from a reduction of labour and means in general. The 
skill and energy of cultivators had not deteriorated. 
Fruits (both hardy and forced) had not made much 
progress ; Black Hamburgh and Muscat kinds of Grapes 
in first-rate condition, were not seen in the same pro¬ 
portion as they were twenty years ago, but the larger 
coarser keeping kinds were cultivated to a much greater 
extent than formerly. Amongst other branches of 
horticulture, landscape gardening had special comment. 
It was pointed out that this had been much neglected ; 
reference was made to the work of “ Capability Brown ” 
at Blenheim, Burghley, and elsewhere, and that of later 
date by the veteran Mr. Maruock, who received high 
commendation as one of the most distinguished of 
Scotch landscapegardeners. Severe criticisms weremade 
on the present practice of making serpentine sheets of 
water (such as was carefully avoided by the two great men 
referred to) and calling them lakes ; cutting up lawns 
and calling them flower gardens ; shutting out tracts 
of fine country, and the calling of mere heap of stones, 
rockeries. Mr. Temple received a very hearty vote of 
thanks at the conclusion of his address.— J. R. 
r 
