December 18, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
253 
Angraecum eburneum.—This large-growing 
Orchid is not so popular as it deserves to be, seeing 
that it flowers in the middle of winter, and lasts for 
five or six weeks in bloom. Its peculiar noble-looking 
spikes of flowers are freely produced, and this is another 
consideration to be remembered. A plant of it here, 
and which had for three years been in a 9-in. pot, was 
last spring one entire mass of roots, so much so, that 
I potted it on just as it was, pot and all, into a larger 
pot, at the same time putting it lower down, as it had 
lost some of its lower leaves. The naked stem thus 
treated, and which was covered with sphagnum for 
about 2 ins., has thrown out from under the sphagnum 
two flower spikes, one of which met with an accident 
while in a young state. This is the first time I have 
known it to do so, seeing that it has flowered in the 
usual way each season it has been here, and is also 
doing so at the present time. I may say that the 
flower-spike in question is not so strong as the ordinary 
ones are.— E. Dumper, Limerick. 
Oncidium Jonesianum. —Not only is this a 
comparatively recent introduction, but it is rapidly 
becoming one of the most popular Oncidiums we have. 
There are various reasons whereby this may be ac¬ 
counted for. In the first place, the plant is of easy 
culture and free-flowering ; while, on the other hand, 
both the leaves and the flowers afford a very dis¬ 
tinct type amongst a vast assemblage of species 
where the prevailing colours form a mixture of green, 
yellow and brown. In this instance, the flowers are 
moderately large, with greenish white sepals, more or 
less distinctly blotched with brown, and in good va¬ 
rieties this is shown off to the best advantage by a greater 
purity of the white ground-colour. The large bifid 
labellum is white, with a few brown blotches and yellow 
basal lobes. The quill-like leaves of this species are 
one of its peculiar features, and cultivators are at great 
variance as to whether these leaves should stand erect 
or be suspended. It is also grown in pots, small 
baskets, or on rafts—in the latter case, with a small 
quantity of sphagnum tied over the roots, while in the 
former case, the plants evidently enjoy the treatment, 
produce leaves of great thickness, and flower strongly. 
There is a figure of the species in 'Williams’ Orchid 
Album, t. 183. 
Coryanthes spsciosa. — This species has 
flowered in several varieties in Major Lendy’s garden 
at Sunbury House, Sunbury-on-Thames ; and in con¬ 
nection with it the gallant Major points out to us 
a crucial test between C. speciosa and C. macrantha, a 
matter which sadly puzzles some of our growers. C. 
speciosa has the connection between the cap and the 
body of the labellum quite plain, whereas the same 
position in C. macrantha is indented, so as to form a 
correct representation of the cerebral axis in a skeleton. 
As the varieties Albertina, punctata, &c., may be 
referred to C. speciosa, and others to C. macrantha, this 
test is of importance. 
Cypripedium insigne maculatum.— From 
Mr. William Bull, and also from Mr. F. W. Moore, 
the curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 
Dublin, we have received this pretty plant. Well ! it 
is distinct from C. insigne Maulei and all other varieties, 
and is a very desirable kind. In form its flowers 
are as regular as the best shaped of the species. Its 
dorsal sepal is better shaped than that of C. insigne 
Maulei, but less purple spotted. The flower approaches 
nearest to C. insigne albo-marginatum, but it is far 
finer than that variety. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Bolton Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment. —This society has only been established a few 
months, yet has met with much success, about fifty 
gardeners of Bolton and the district having already 
become members. It has been decided to hold seven 
monthly meetings during the present session, which 
commenced on October 7th, when the president, Mr. 
Herd, gave an opening address. On November 4th, 
the secretary, Mr. Charles Jones, gardener, Wellesley 
House, Bolton, read a paper on the Chrysanthemum ; 
and on December 2nd, Mr. Hicks, gardener to Mrs. 
Haslam, Ravenswood, Bolton, contributed a paper on 
bulbous plants, with special reference to the Eucharis, 
of which he is a very successful grower. He remarked 
that among bulbous plants there were to be found 
many gems, but he considered the Eucharis the finest 
of them all. In its cultivation some were successful, 
while there were others who failed to grow it even 
under most favourable circumstances, as regards house 
accommodation. The best soil in which to grow the 
Eucharis, he considered, was good fibrous loam, pulled 
to pieces by the hand, of about the size of Walnuts, 
with a good sprinkling of charcoal about the size of 
Beans, some good well-decayed leaf soil, and enough 
sand to make the whole thoroughly porous. The 
latter was an important essential, as the plant is nearly 
an aquatic, and loved to be watered unsparingly, both 
over head and at the roots. It was also greatly benefited 
by liberal supplies of liquid manure during the growing 
season. It liked a steady temperature of about 65°, 
and shade from the direct sun during the summer 
months. While not quite exempt from the attacks of 
insects, the Eucharis is not so subject to them as many 
other plants. Mealy bug and scale were the most 
troublesome pests to its foliage ; but it has a most 
insidious enemy in the Eucharis mite, and when this 
attacks a batch of plants, he believed there was no 
cure, but a good preventative could be found in strong 
soot-water, applied clear, which was more or less 
obnoxious to all root insects, and was at the same time 
beneficial to the plants. An interesting discussion 
followed, in which Messrs. Amos, Pointain, Turner, 
Corbett, Harrison, Herd, Wilson, Shuttleworth, 
Fletcher and Mr. Cochrane, of the firm of Messrs. 
F. & A. Dickson & Sons, Chester, who was present 
by special invitation. The next meeting will be held 
on January 6th, when “The Primulas” will be the 
subject of a paper by Mr. Smith. 
Birmingham and Midland Counties Gar¬ 
deners’ Improvement Association.— Dec. 1st. 
—Mr. Page, for many years gardener at Maple Bank, 
and one of the oldest and most successful exhibitors of 
the Chrysanthemum in the midlands, read a paper at 
this meeting on “Chrysanthemum Culture.” He 
dealt with his subject in a most able and interesting 
manner, and at the close of his remarks was accorded a 
most cordial vote of thanks from the 150 members of 
the society who were present. Alluding in the first 
place to the history of the Chrysanthemum, he referred 
his hearers to the excellent book written by Mr. F. W. 
Burbidge, and which 'lie said was available to every 
member, being in the library of the association. 
Specimen plants—his chief forte—were dealt with at 
some length, commencing with the cutting, upon 
which everything depended, and illustrating the proper 
one to select ; he travelled somewhat out of the beaten 
path, by advocating, if available, a slight amount of 
bottom-heat in which to propagate the same, gradually 
inuring to light and air, and growing perfectly cool 
until the first week in February. By this time the 
young plant should be in a condition to “ stop ” for the 
first time, to induce a “break” of four or five shoots, 
and about March 15th re-pot into 6 ins. pots, the plants 
being ready for another stopping by the end of that 
month. April he considered a most important period in 
the history of the plant; every endeavour should then be 
made to indueo them to make free and strong root-action, 
and this Mr. Page said was brought about in his case 
by again placing the plants where they could receive 
bottom-heat, giving, at the same time, an abundance 
of air to encourage sturdy growth. By the end of 
April they would again be in a condition for re-potting, 
after which he again used bottom-heat for about a 
fortnight, stopping about the middle of May, and 
placing the plants at the end of this month in then- 
flowering-pots. About June 15th, Mr. Page said, he 
pinched the plants for the last time, taking from the 
break about thirty-five shoots, and allowing unres¬ 
trained growth to the bud, giving them manure water 
according to their strength and condition ; advising a 
careful use of stimulants during the formation of the 
bud, or a secondary growth would most likely ensue. 
Laying great stress upon the absolute necessity for 
careful supervision in respect to watering, and alluding 
to the time—about the middle of August—at which the 
buds should appear, he remarked that the grower should 
on no account allow the plants to suffer from want of 
water, or the ruin of the foliage would result. Mr. 
Page next gave directions for mixing the manure in 
solution—using the various ingredients in the following 
proportions : Sheep or cow dung, one peck ; soot, half 
a peck ; lime, quarter of a peck ; sulphate of ammonia, 
quarter of a pound ; which the lecturer said he was 
always in the habit of well mixing together, boiling 
and straining ; and using the liquid in the proportion 
of one quart to three of water, and occasionally 
doubling the strength in the case of backward plants. 
Mr. Page said he always made a point of beginning 
early with the manure-water, increasing the strength 
according to the capacity of the plants, to absorb the 
additional food. The compost recommended for them 
was : loam, two parts ; stable-manure, one part ; the 
remaining part to consist of sand, well-decayed cow- 
manure, crushed bones and old mortar in about equal 
proportions. Mr. Page concluded with a few clear an l 
intelligible instructions respecting growing for the pro¬ 
duction of cut blooms, and also plants for decorative 
purposes. The chair was filled by Mr. W. B. Latham. 
Maidstone Gardeners’Society.— Dec. IsL — 
Mr. Carr presided and Mr. Archer occupied the vice¬ 
chair at this meeting. The whole of the evening was 
occupied by a discussion on Orchid cultivation, and 
amongst other specimens of this beautiful and interest¬ 
ing family of plants were Liparis pendula, Calanthe 
Yeitchi and Maxillaria picta, by Mr. W. Peters; 
Lycaste Skinneri and Odontoglossum crispum, by Mr. 
Goacher ; Zygopetalum Mackayi, by Mr. Cuckow ; 
Cypripedium insigne and C. barbatum, by Mr. Leonard. 
Several water-colour drawings of Orchids were lent by 
Mr. K. Peters. The debate was opened by Mr. 
Bridgland, who confined his remarks to the genus 
Dendrobium, and gave careful and exhaustive directions 
for the treatment of the various species. Mr. Goacher 
followed, selecting the Odontoglossums chiefly as his 
subject. He strongly deprecated the use of the syringe, 
except under special circumstances, and advocated 
liquid manures. Mr. Ocock scouted the idea that 
special houses for Orchids were the absolute necessity 
some growers pretended. Some of the finest specimens 
he had ever seen were grown in mixed collections of 
plants. He gave some excellent hints on the culti¬ 
vation of Vandas, iErides and Saccolabiums. Com¬ 
posts were then noticed, Messrs. Hicks and Archer 
being the chief speakers. Mr. W. Peters, an amateur, 
in the course of a lengthy and very practical speech, 
recommended young growers to reason why certain 
soils suited certain things, and why certain treatment 
would grow one genus well and be death to the next, 
and advised them to get out of the too prevalent rule 
of thumb methods. He gave a list of some twenty 
species he had now in flower, and greatly regretted 
that he had not the opportunity of growing his plants 
as he should like to grow them. The temperature of 
the water to be given to the warm Orchids was also 
discussed, and a very instructive meeting was closed by 
a few remarks from Messrs. Leonard and Carr. 
-- 
FLORICULTURE. 
Chrysanthemum Cuttings. —I suppose that thou¬ 
sands of cuttings are being put in this month. Now 
that the plants are out of flower, cuttings should be 
made from the young growths thrown up from the 
base of the stem, and these can be inserted in pots in a 
light sandy soil, firmly pressed about the cuttings, and 
be placed in a cold frame unless a greenhouse is avail¬ 
able where only sufficient heat is given to keep the frost 
out. Here they strike root more quickly, and I am 
certain they are also safer when struck. All that is 
required is protection from frost and cold winds. But 
one cannot always get all their cuttings at one time ; 
some sorts throw up suckers, not only very sparingly 
but not until January or February. Cuttings may 
remain in the striking pits until the end of January, and 
then such as require to be grown on at once may be 
potted off singly and kept close for a time until 
established.— R. D. 
Lord Lyon Pink. —This is one of the admirable 
forcing Pinks, raised by the late Mr. James Clark, 
of Bury St. Edmunds. I thought I had lost it, but to 
my great joy found that, during the past summer, I 
had a few plants left among some seedlings. I think 
it was the very best Pink Mr. Clark raised ; it is a good 
grower, makes pipings freely, and it blooms abundantly 
—large, full lilac-purple flowers. I remember once 
calling upon Mr. Clark, and finding that he struck 
cuttings of his Pinks by making up a bed among his 
Gooseberry trees, and putting a common hand-light 
over them. It is so well deserving of being extensively 
grown that I have no hesitation in calling attention to 
it. It is Lord Lyon, not Lord Lyons. It was named 
by Mr. Clark, after the celebrated race-horse, Lord 
Lyon ; and not after the once-popular admiral and am. 
bassador Lord Lyons.— R. D. 
