October 16, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
100 
times say to , me—we have given up' growing large- 
flowering Pelargoniums, because they are so subject to 
green-fly, and they soon contaminate other plants near 
them. But there is no great difficulty in keeping them 
clean, a little timely fumigation works wonders ; and 
it can be depended upon as an universal experience, that 
where there is a penchant for any particular flower and 
a desire to grow it, there will be no great difficulty with 
the cultural process. 
Let me close this portion by giving a short selection 
of a few good show Pelargoniums:—Amethyst, Claribel, 
Confessor, Despot, Fortitude, Maid of Honour, Mag¬ 
nate, Royal Review, Illuminator, Sunbeam, Venus and 
Virgin Queen. A few of the best of the decorative 
Pelargoniums will be found in Captain Raikes, Comtesse 
de Choiseuil, Duchess of Edinburgh, Gold Mine, Marie 
Lemoine, Queen Victoria, Rosetta, Triomphe de St. 
Mande, and Volonte Natiouale alba.— R. D. 
Manure for Auriculas.—I was, on one occasion, 
talking to John Ball, the Auricula grower, at the Royal 
Nurseries, Slough, about potting Auriculas, and what 
kind of manure he used. He said very little ; in fact, 
besides good yellow fibry loam, leaf-mould, and some 
sand, he simply used some bone-meal, which he mixed 
in with the soil, and he said he believed this greatly 
helped the flowers when they expanded in the spring. 
I once asked the Rev. F. D. Horner his opinion as to 
the use of patent manures or bone-dust in the culture 
of the Auricula, and he replied that cf the two he would 
rather use the latter, but neither on anj f extended scale 
till the experiment was proved upon a few plants that 
could be spared if sacrificed by its use ; and he went on 
to say that he did not use either of the two ingredients 
in the case of his own plants, nor, indeed, any manure 
or top-dressing at all, only loam, leaf-mould and sand. 
If they (his own plants) like any of these ingredients, 
they are “fat enough” without any stimulant, and if 
they do not like the solids of their compost, I do not 
think any condiment or stimulants will make them 
take to it. • What a change this is from the composts 
recommended by some of the florists of a generation or 
two ago. Sweet invigorating soil, without any artificial 
stimulant, is now the order of the day, and happy is 
that Auricula grower who can obtain all he wants in 
the way of a soft, silken, rich yellow loam. All I can 
say is that it is very difficult to get this kind of thing 
in some localities. — R. B. 
-->X-<-- 
ORCHID NO TES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar: Re-arranging 
the Plants for Winter.— It is now time to see 
that all the plants are in their proper places for the 
winter season, and that those plants which have during 
their flowering time or from any other cause got into 
houses in which it would not be desirable to leave them 
for the winter, are now put in their proper quarters ; 
also those which are generally grown in the cool house 
in summer and autumn, but which are known to be a 
trifle more susceptible to damage from cold, should 
now be placed where they are not likely to go below 
50°, and at the same time will not be subjected to a 
much higher temperature than given in the cold house. 
Foremost among these should be mentioned Odonto- 
glossum vexillarium, 0. Roezlii, 0. phalrenopsis, 0. 
Krameri, 0. cirrhosum, 0. Warscewiczii, Masdevallia 
bella, M. chimrera, and all that section ; M. tovarensis, 
Ada aurantiaca ; all the Promenseas, Restrepias, and 
Zygopetalum rostratum and Z. Burkei; all the Paphi- 
nias, Houlletias, and Trichocentrums ; and all the 
Miltonias, These are known to be more tender than 
0. crispum, the many varieties of Masdevallia Harry- 
ana, and other things which are strictly cold-house 
plants, and which can bear as low a temperature as 
40° Fahr., and, therefore, a safe and slightly warmer 
place should be selected for them. With these plants 
and others which will not thrive in the cold house at 
its lowest limit, there is more in selecting a humid 
situation where there is but little variation of temper¬ 
ature than anything else. 
If kept in the cold house, all the Lycastes, Anguloas, 
Zygopetalum, Odontoglossum nebulosum, 0. pul- 
chellum, 0. Uro-Skinneri, 0. grande, 0. Insleayi, &c., 
should be placed in the warmer and drier end of the 
house, and with them may be associated (suspended 
where possible) all the Oncidiums of the O. crispum, 
0. Marshallianum, 0. prietextum, 0. Forbesii, and 0. 
varicosum section, which are strictly cold-house plants 
where the prescribed temperature is kept. Also 
perfectly cold-house plants, but which are often 
injured by being kept in warm houses, especially in 
winter, are Nanodes Medusie, Trichosma suavis, 
Sophronites grandiflora, Odontoglossum Rossii majus, 
0. Cervantesii, 0. ramosissimum, 0. Edwardii, and 
all the others of those sections ; Oncidiutn ornithor- 
rhynchum, 0. macranthum and all its allies. Lailia 
pumila and its varieties, L. p. Dayana, &c., are quite 
cold-house plants, where they are so treated from the 
time of their importation, and not nursed into bad 
health in a warm house before trying them in the cold. 
This is often the reason why plants appear to resent 
strictly cool treatment. 
Of the Aerides and Vandas—which, generally speak¬ 
ing, are kept far too hot in winter—the grower must 
discriminate between those coming from elevated situa¬ 
tions in India proper and those from the Philippine 
and other islands and low levels, giving the latter— 
such as A. Lawrenciie, A. Sanderiana, A. quinque- 
vulnerum, and Vanda Sanderiana—the warmest and 
most humid situations. Bolleas, Pescatoreas, Bate- 
mannias, and Warscewiczellas dislike extremes of heat 
or cold, or a suddenly varying temperature. They 
usually succeed in a moist, still situation, where Odonto¬ 
glossum Roezlii thrives, or suspended near the warm 
house Cypripediums ; here, also, Oncidium ampliatum, 
0. Papilio, and 0. Krameri will do best. The Bolleas, 
&c., like to be near the glass in a light situation, where 
direct sunlight does not fall on them, and require to be 
kept moist always rain-water being used on them and 
all other Orchids where possible. If not convenient to 
suspend them, and the stage is a low one, a temporary 
one should be raised to receive the plants. 
Odontoglossum citrosmum is best grown in baskets, 
and should be kept in the coolest part of the Cattleya- 
house ; and Mormodes, Catasetums, and Cycnoches 
which have finished their growth should be placed on a 
shelf in a cool inteimediate house, where they may be 
kept dry to shed their leaves and harden their growths. 
Deciduous Calanthes, such as C. Veitchii and C. 
vestita, which are ripening their growths before sending 
up flower, should now have less water and more light ; 
even a fair amount of sunlight assists in hardening the 
bulbs.— James O’Brien. 
Masdevallia Tovarensis. — This charming 
white Orchid is now flowering, and it may bo as well 
to remind those of your readers who are in the habit of 
cutting it for use, that to cut the flowers, spike and 
all, is a wasteful practice, as if the flowers themselves 
only are cut, the flower spikes continue to flower for 
years, and thus, in the course of time, plants literally 
covered with bloom can be secured, whereas, if the old 
spikes are removed the plants have to depend only on 
the annual supply of new ones. M. Tovarensis is by 
no means a tender plant, but it is not safe in the cold 
house in winter, but should be put with the Chiuneras 
where it gets 5° or so more heat.— J. B. 
Masdevallia velifera. — Mr. F. W. Moore, the 
curator of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 
Dublin, is an enthusiast with Masdevallias, and the 
collection at Glasnevin is rich in them. Among a 
number of others, either showy or curious, the singular 
M. velifera is flowering there. Its bold fleshy flowers 
are flatly expended, the lower portion being 1 in. 
across, and bearing two tails, each over 1 in. in length; 
the horn-like continuation of the upper portion of the 
flower is 3 ins. in length, the whole flower being nearly 
6 ins. In colour it is orange slightly stained with 
brown, and the labellum is maroon—a striking and 
distinct species. 
Angraecum caudatum. — A well-flowered 
example of this extraordinary plant was exhibited by 
Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, M.P., Waddesdon 
Manor, Aylesbury, at the meeting of the Floral Com¬ 
mittee on Tuesday. It bore a spike 2 ft. long, on 
which were ten flowers, each measuring from 2 ins. to 
3 ins. across. The sepals, petals, and curiously twisted 
tails, 9 ins. long, are brownish green, and the large 
showy lip whicli points upwards is snow-white, the 
whole contrasting charmingly with the thin light green 
leaves. A. caudatum was imported from Sierra Leone 
by the Messrs. Loddiges, of Hackney, just fifty years 
ago, but it has always been very rare. Recently, 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co. succeeded in getting over an 
importation, one of which was the plant exhibited. It 
by no means requires a hot temperature, but thrives 
well in the Cattleya house. 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 
The autumn show of hardy fruits, held in the great 
Conservatory on Tuesday and Wednesday, was de¬ 
cidedly one of the successes of the season, the display 
of Apples and Pears being in every respect one of the 
finest seen here. In all the classes there was a keen 
competition, and samples of the highest quality were 
the order of the day. Besides the competing collec¬ 
tions and single dishes, the leading trade-growers 
also contributed largely, splendid collections of 
Apples especially being staged not for competition 
by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons ; Messrs. C. Lee & 
Son : Messrs. Cheal & Sons ; Messrs. Paul & Son. 
Cheshunt ; Messrs. W. Paul k Son, Waltham Cross ; 
and the Canadian Commission. In addition to the 
long tables of fruits, there was also such a display of 
Dahlias—show, fancy, Pompon, and single varieties— 
as we never remember to have seen before so late in 
October. The show and fancy varieties were especially 
fine, and consisted of contributions from Mr. Turner, 
Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. and Messrs. Rawlings 
Brothers, and the Cactus varieties from Mr. Ware also 
claimed a large measure of praise. Hardy autumn¬ 
flowering herbaceous plants from Mr. T. S. Ware and 
Messrs. Paul & Son lent additional interest to the 
show. 
The new plants certificated were Angrsecum cau- 
dabum, from Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, M.P., 
Waddesdon Manor. Rhododendrons amabile and 
luteo-roseum, fine greenhouse hybrids, raised from 
Princess Alexandra and .Javanicum, the former blush 
white, the latter a bright peach colour, both single, 
with large individual blossoms ; from Messrs. Veitch & 
Sons. Begonias, the Hon. Mrs. Plunkett and Paul 
Vicq, both handsome and distinct double varieties, the 
first-named large and pure white, with petals as broad 
and well-rounded as a good Carnation; the latter 
bright rosy scarlet, with broad guard petals as in a good 
Hollyhock ; from Messrs. H. Cannell k Sons.' Chry¬ 
santhemum Mons. William Holmes, an exceedingly 
fine Japanese, with large deep crimson flowers, with 
the florets golden wire-edged; from Mr. G. Stevens, 
Putney. Dahlia R. J. Rawlings, a good clear yellow 
show variety ; from Messrs. Rawlings Bros., Romford. 
Dahlia Annie Harvey, a deep maroon Cactus variety, 
with a fine broad petals ; from Messrs. H. Cannell & 
Sons. Dahlia Helene, a very showy single variety, 
crimson shaded, with an orange-scarlet centre ; from 
Messrs. Cheal and Sons. Dahlia Zephyr, a grand 
single variety, buff and crimson, the centre of the petals 
being of the latter colour, from Mr. C. Turner ; and 
Adiantum imbricatum, a very distinct and handsome 
Fern, with large pinnse deeply and finely cut; from 
Mr. G. Masters, gardener to Colonel H. Cornwall 
Leigh, High Leigh Hall, Knutsford, Cheshire. Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons received a Cultural Commendation 
for a remarkable display of cut blooms of double- 
flowered Begonias, every bloom being of the finest 
quality in size, form and colour. A similar award was 
also made to Mr. Searing, gardener to C. F. Partington, 
Esq., Cheshunt, for very fine cut blooms of Cattleya 
Gaskelliana alba, and Vanda coerulea. 
There were twenty-nine classes for Apples and Pears, 
and Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, in the class 
for a collection of fifty varieties of the former, secured 
the highest honours with a grand lot of fruits ; Sir. G. 
Sclatcr, Heavitree, Exeter, coming in second ; and Mr. 
J. Watkins, Hereford, third. With a dozen culinary 
varieties, Mr. McKenzie, Linton Park, Maidstone, came 
in first ; and for half a dozen, the highest award went 
to Mr. A. Smith, Warren Hill, Essex. In the corre¬ 
sponding classes for dessert sorts, the leading awards 
went to Mr. C. Ross, Welford Park, and Mr. C. J. 
Goldsmith, Kelsey Manor, Beckenham. In the classes 
for specially-named varieties, the finest examples were 
staged as follows -.—Blenheim Orange, Mr. S. Haines, 
Coleshill; Cox’s Orange Pippin, Mr. T. Baily, 
Shardeloes ; Ribston Pippin, Mr. H. Folks, Great 
Gaddesden, Herts; King of the Pippins, Mr. G. 
Thompson, Croxby House, Hounslow ; Dumelow’s 
Seedling, Mr, W. Jones, Wallington Bridge, Car- 
shalton ; Mere de Menage, Mr. C. Ross ; Golden Noble, 
Mr. D. C. Powell, Powderham Castle, Exeter; Warner’s 
King, Mr. T. Turton, Reading; Gloria Mundi, Mr. 
Threadgold, Downs House, Yalding ; Peasgood’s Non¬ 
such, Mr. W. Edwards, Withington; and Lane’s 
Prince Albert, Mr. C. Ross. The Pear classes were 
also well contested, but lacking the bright colours of 
the Apples, were by no means so attractive. Mr. J. 
Butler, of Sittingbourne, was invincible with a col¬ 
lection, Mr. C. Davis coming in second, and Messrs. 
Bunyard & Co. third. Mr. Butler also had the best 
dozen dessert varieties ; and for six, Mr. G. Ware 
Tunbridge Wells, came in first. In the separate classes 
the first prizes were awarded as follows :—Doyenne du 
Cornice, Mr. G. Ware ; Beurre Superfin, Mr. Powell ; 
Marechal de la Cour, Mr. R. Silk, Whiteness Gardens, 
Margate; Marie Louise, Mr. R. Smith, Kenward 
Gardens, Yalding; Beurre Diel, Pitmaston Duchess 
and Louise Bonne of Jersey, Mr. J. Butler; and 
Fondante d’Automne, Mr. R. Smith. 
At the meeting of the Fruit Committee Messrs. T. 
Rivers and Son, Sawbridgworth, exhibited fine samples 
