February 27, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
405 
healthy condition as they are now, a pretty batch in 
cylinders, being the picture of health and promising to 
flower with great profusion. We should mention too, 
as a matter of interest to those who have not very hot 
houses, that the plants are in the warm Cattleya house 
where the temperature does not exceed from 60° to 65°. 
In the same house too, we noted a fine batch of 
Odontoglossum vexillarium, the clean thrifty character 
of which betokened the fact, that what suited the 
Phakenopsis in this instance suited them too. 
One of the most interesting plants in flower now, is 
Phajus maculatus, an Orchid not nearly so much 
appreciated as its merits deserve. It is a plant easily 
recognised when not in flower, by its large ovate- 
lanceolate dark green leaves which are spotted with 
yellow ; and its flowers are borne on a tall scape, their 
colour being yellow, with the edge of the cylindrical 
lip recldisli brown. A distinct form of Oncidium 
crispum, has the sepals and petals olive-green instead 
of brown, with a forked one behind the lip. The 
Calanthes are still very showy, amongst them being C. 
Turnerii and C. Regnierii, so pleasing is the pretty lose 
shade in the labellums ; C. nivalis, a pure white form 
with no trace of colour in it, and which like above 
always flowers late ; C. Sanderiana, new and not yet 
plentiful, and very pretty, the sepals and petals being 
rose coloured, and the lips bright rosy crimson. Of 
the fine L®lia anceps Dawsoni, we noted a nice piece 
with three strong leads ; and of the new Cattleya 
Lawreneiana, Mr. Williams will shortly be the fortunate 
possessor of some thirty or forty spikes. Leelia harpo- 
phylla with its rich scarlet self-coloured flowers was a 
very conspicuous object ; as also was a very fine vai'iety 
of Dendrobium Findleyanum. D. Ainsworthii, one of 
the most free blooming Orchids in existence, Mr. 
Williams is rapidly increasing the stock of, and has 
already a nice lot of plants ; and among the many ex¬ 
amples of D. nobile, is one named rubra, which is very 
richly coloured in the way of nobilus but not so large. 
One of the original pieces of Cypripedium Lowii proves 
its superiority over some of the later imported plants. 
The hybrid C. selligerum is also in bloom, and fully 
maintaining its reputation as a good thing. Another 
fine hybrid, one of Mr. Warner’s seedlings and named 
C. Williamsianum, is to be sent out from Holloway 
this season. The dorsal sepal is large, white with a 
very dark brown central bar, and well marked green 
nerves; the petals ciliate on both margins, with 
numerous black dots in rows near the base, the chief 
nerves green, and a brown line along the upper side. 
VI KID ANGELA. 
In the Odontoglossum house, there will soon be a 
splendid display of Alexandras, some 300 or more spikes 
being already well advanced. At the present moment 
perhaps the most attractive object is the prettily 
sjiotted 0. blandum, a fine variety which has been 
singled out for illustration in the March number of 
the Orchid Album. 
In large specimen Camellias and Indian Azaleas Mr. 
Williams has always been rich. The former are still 
carrying an immense number of blooms, and the latter 
are in rare condition and will doubtless render a good 
account of themselves at forthcoming exhibitions. A 
special feature is being made here of the new race of 
warm greenhouse Rhododendrons, which have a great 
future before them, so continuous is their blooming 
habit. The cooler section are also by no means neglected, 
if we may judge by the large, handsome, trained speci¬ 
mens of Countess of Haddington, Macnabiana, Gibsoni, 
and fragrantissima, which are such conspicuous objects 
in the Azalea house. 
The extensive collection of Amaryllis will soon be 
worth a special visit. The plants are well on the move, 
and stout spikes are springing up in all directions. Of 
the new ones to be sent out this season, Comte de 
Germiny and Harry Williams, the latter is now in 
bloom, a fine bold flower, deep crimson, with greenish 
yellow centre and light markings near the margin. 
Mr. Williams has also what we have not seen for some 
time, several fine plants of the evergreen Amaryllis 
blanda, which we believe formerly belonged to the late 
Mr. Samuel Wolley, of Cheshunt, with whom it was 
a great favourite. In the adjoining house to the 
Amaryllis Mr. Williams has gathered together an ex¬ 
cellent collection of Imantophyllums, including several 
continental novelties. Several of the specimens are of 
great size and throwing up flower stems of wondrous 
proportions. 
We have not space to do more than allude to the fine 
house of Pitcher Plants, the large collection of stove 
and greenhouse flowering and fine-foliaged plants, or 
the many good things which are rapidly being increased 
in the propagating department. Suffice it to say that 
amongst the last-named we noted, as a plant of great 
merit, that fine scandent species of Club Moss, Selagi- 
nella viridangula, of which we give an illustration, and 
which, Mr. Williams states, grows several feet in height. 
It has a terete stem somewhat thicker than a straw, 
furnished with alternate branches 1 ft. or more in 
length, divided into ovate pinuce from 4 ins. to 5 ins. 
long. The main stem and branches are furnished with 
scattered leaves, while the pinme bear close-set dis¬ 
tichous leaves about two lines long, obliquely oblong- 
falcate, decurrent and auricled at the posterior, and 
rounded at the anterior base. The pinnae are twice 
divided alternately on the pinnate plan, the alternate 
divisions all terminating in long elegantly quadrangular 
spikelets, the bracts of which are long and much acu¬ 
minated. 
-- 
THE CULTURE OP CELERY. 
The original wild Celery (Apium graveolens) may be 
found in pools and ditches, but it is not very common. 
The plant has an acrid taste and disagreeable odour. 
The varieties of Celery grown in our gardens have all 
been derived from it, and are so much unlike it in 
appearance that it is only by the aid of botanical science 
that the identity can be proved. The object aimed 
at in its cultivation is the production of the greatest 
possible quantity of radical or root leaves, without 
unduly exciting what properly belongs to the second 
years’ growth, for when it arrives at that stage it is 
comparatively useless, as it then regains a great portion 
of that acrimony which the original wild type possesses. 
To ensure successful results in its cultivation, it must 
always be borne in mind that any undue check received 
from being kept too dry for any length of time may 
stop its growth sufficiently to cause it to bolt. 
For the main autumn crop sow from the middle to the 
end of February in pans, using light and finely sifted 
soil, and covering the seeds slightly. Place the pans 
in any heated structure, such as a Cucumber or Melon 
frame or early Vinery, and shade from bright sunshine. 
A piece of brown paper covered over serves to retain 
the moisture, and till the plants are up saves some 
little time in watering. After they have perfected two 
leaves transplant into boxes, using rich, finely sifted 
soil, and replace them in the warm house or frame ; 
when they begin to crowd each other transplant them 
into a bed of 4 ins. of rotten dung, or any rich light 
soil under glass taking care to water well whenever it 
becomes necessary, it being a matter of supreme im¬ 
portance to keep the plants in a growing state from first 
to last. Three inches between the plants and 4 ins. from 
row to row will be very suitable distances ; these will 
be fit for their permanent quarters by the middle of 
June. Measure out the ground 5 ft. from row to row, 
dig the trenches out 1 ft. in width and a good spit in 
depth, throwing the soil out equally on each side, and 
put in from 4 ins. to 6 ins. of the richest dung available. 
Cow-manure is the best, and dig it in well; if the soil is 
poor and shallow dig over the bottom of the trench 
before putting the manure in, and instead of digging 
the manure in, level it, and throw over it 3 ins. of the 
best soil which came out of the trench. If dry give a 
good soaking of water previous to planting, when ready 
select the strongest plants and plant them with a 
dibble or trowel down the centre of the trench, 4 ins. or 
5 ins. apart, giving a good watering to settle the soil 
about the roots. 
Selagineli.a 
