832 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 22, 1887. 
on the 3rd of December, is showing well all over the 
surface. - 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
General Work. —While the frosts prevail, continue 
the wheeling out of all necessary material for the 
dressing of the squares according to the crops which it 
has been decided shall occupy them. At the same 
time it will be advisable that the manure be placed in 
good-sized heaps instead of being spread, so that as 
much of the ammonia as possible may be retained. 
With burnt refuse it may be wheeled on, and as digging 
proceeds it can be spread on the surface, particularly on 
the squares to be devoted to Potatos. 
As soon as the seed hampers arrive, let them be un¬ 
packed and placed on the shelves and in the drawers of 
the store-room. If this precaution be not taken, many— 
such as Cabbage, Radish, and such-like—will be found 
badly mildewed when the time comes for sowing. I 
would also recommend that litter, or better still, if to 
hand, bracken Fern be placed over the Broccoli in the 
squares ; undoubtedly, many will be killed outright 
unless precautions are taken. 
A sowing of Brussels Sprouts now made inside a 
frame, from which the lights can be removed at will, 
will be found preferable to boxes, both for this and 
Cauliflower, as they are much less liable to damp off. — 
Walter Child, Crooine Court. 
-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Phalsenopsis aphrodite. —Our correspondent, 
“B. Q.,” p. 317, in reply to “F. R. M.,” p. 301, is 
right in asserting that P. aphrodite was the first in¬ 
troduction of the genus, and just such a plant to make 
cultivators at home long for more of the relatives of those 
magnificent plants popularly known as Moth Orchids. 
Unfortunately for science, Lindley—usually a careful 
man—committed a blunder that has never been rectified 
since in gardens, nor is it likely to be for many years 
to come. If science endeavours to press its claims upon 
the attention of horticulturists in general, it is likely 
to meet with much stubborn resistance, or reticent 
complacency, which is equally provoking. Nomen¬ 
clature in gardening is very conservative ; while, on 
the other hand, science is a rank radical, very per¬ 
sistently changing the classification or the nomenclature 
of plants, with the professed intention of simplifying 
these systems, and rendering them more scientifically 
correct. This may be edifying and instructive if 
thoroughly grasped, but is productive of much con¬ 
fusion amongst gardeners generally who are unac¬ 
quainted with synonymy. 
The plant under notice here, when first flowered by 
the Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, was misnamed 
Phalsenopsis amabilis by Lindley, seeing that P. 
amabilis of Blume is a totally different plant, and now 
generally known in gardens as P. grandiflora. Dr. 
Reichenbach, in a German publication, was the first to 
call attention to the mistake, so that P. amabilis of 
gardens should henceforth be known as P. aphrodite. 
It is easily recognised by its large white flowers, is 
readily distinguishable from the true P. amabilis by 
its comparatively short labellum, and when out of 
flower, by its broad, rounded or obovate leaves, that 
have always a darker green hue than those of P. 
amabilis, and are generally suffused with a purple tint 
on the under surface, or all over in the young and 
growing condition. Figures of this species are given 
in the Botanical Register, 1838, t. 34, in the Botanical 
Magazine, t. 4297, and in other works ; but, of course, 
under the wrong name. 
Cymbidium elegans. —From W. Macdonald, 
Esq., of Woodlands House, Perth, we have received a 
grand raceme of this rare and handsome Orchid. The 
flowers remain in a half-opened condition, after the 
manner of C. Mastersii, but are productive of a fine 
effect when seen in a mass. The raceme sent us bore 
little short of fifty flowers, all well formed and in 
bloom, and the effect of this may be imagined when 
the whole of this number are so densely arranged as to 
overlap one another for two-thirds of their length. 
They are uniformly of a pale yellow colour, excepting 
the medium ridge or crest of the labellum, which is of 
a much deeper yellow. The colour very much resembles 
that of some garden varieties of the Daffodil, and is 
certainly not very common amongst cultivated Orchids. 
The labellum, which is usually spotted internally with 
blood-red, is, in this instance, almost devoid of such 
colour. The leaves are narrowly ensiform, or sword- 
shaped, and spring from a bulbless root-stock. The 
species well merits cultivation on accountof its numerous 
flowers, and their peculiar and distinct colour. Its 
usual period of flowering is autumn, and Mr. Mac¬ 
donald may be congratulated on having flowered it at 
this dull season. It is a native of some parts of India, 
particularly of Nepaul, and is figured in Lindley’s 
Sertum Orchidacea, t. 14. 
Malformed Cypripedium Lawrencianum. 
— A flower of this useful species has also reached 
us from Mr. Macdonald, Woodlands House, Perth, 
and which is of great size and substance. This is 
most evident in the standard or upper sepal and the 
labellum. Both these organs are also highly coloured 
and normal, excepting the labellum. At the lower 
end of the pouch is a peculiar laterally compressed 
triangular process, about J in. long, projecting in front 
from the anterior part, and of the same colour as the 
rest. 
Cypripedium insigne, var Chantinii.— 
Two large and handsome flowers of this variety— 
an indication of good cultural treatment—were also 
sent us by Mr. Macdonald. They were originally bought 
as distinct varieties, but there is nothing to indicate 
that they are in any way distinct from each other. 
The only difference between them and the type may be 
that the lower sepal is somewhat more distinctly spotted 
than usual. 
Oncidium Phalsenopsis. —The flowers of this 
pretty and interesting Orchid are by no means large, 
but exceedingly attractive. They are comparable to 
those of the well-known Oncidium cucullatum, and the 
whole habit of the plant is also similar. A considerable 
range of variety presented itself amongst a number of 
specimens flowering in the establishment of Mr. 
William Bull, at Chelsea, where we saw them the other 
day. The ground colour of the sepals and petals is 
white, or of the softest blush, but under the dim light 
and smoky atmosphere of London at this season, it is 
often difficult to detect these soft and delicate shades of 
colour. In some varieties the base of these organs were 
furnished with a distinct purple blotch, while in others 
this was broken up into a number of smaller blotches or 
spots. The labellum is a strong feature of the flower, 
and serves to give it character. The white ground 
colour is purer than that of the other parts of the flower, 
and attractively spotted clear violet-purple near the 
base, with a yellow disc. It is essentially a cool-house 
Orchid, and occurs at very high elevations in its native 
country, Ecuador, and is by no means common in col¬ 
lections at present. The species is figured in the 
Illustration Horticole, 3 ser., t. 3, and in the Orchid 
Album, ii, t. 96. 
Goodyera discolor. —When seen in a healthy 
thriving condition, as we saw it the other day in Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons' nursery at Chelsea, this Orchid creates 
a fine effect in the East Indian house at this season. 
The individual flowers are large for the genus, but 
small when compared with the generality of popular 
cultivated Orchids, but when seen in masses have a 
striking and relieving effect against its own dark 
bronzy foliage, or if associated with green - leaved 
Orchids belonging to other genera. The upper velvety 
side of the leaves is furnished with a pale grey or white 
band along the centre, while the under side is purplish 
red. The flowers are of the purest shade of white, 
excepting a medium-yellow blotch on the labellum, and 
lasts a long time in perfection during the winter months. 
The flower-stems attain a height of 8 ins. or 10 ins., and 
are freely aud regularly produced every year. This is 
one of the few Orchids with ornamental foliage that 
cultivators allow to develope its flower-stem. The 
persistent part of the plant is a rhizome, and by division 
of this with a bud to each piece after the flowering 
period is over, affords a ready means of propagation. 
The plant may be grown in a pan or basket with plenty 
of drainage, and when the surface of the soil is well 
covered with foliage, this forms a handsome and satis¬ 
factory subject for cultivation. A figure of the species 
was given in the Botanical Magazine, t. 2,055. 
Ansellia africana. — Amongst the larger- 
growing kinds, this is one of the most useful from its 
habit of flowering regularly during the month of 
January, and lasting a long time in perfection. The 
upright stems sometimes attain a height of 3 ft. or 4 ft., 
but will flower with great freedom although not ex¬ 
ceeding 2 ft. or 2£ ft. The plant belongs to the 
Cymbidium group, but the drooping panicles are 
produced from the apex of the long stems ; and if the 
flowers are only of medium size, their abundance com¬ 
pensates for this deficiency. Taken altogether, it is a 
noble Orchid, and one of the few epiphytes from Africa 
that deserve the attention of Orchid growers in general. 
The sepals and petals are of a bright yellow, beautifully 
spotted with dark brown. The labellum is more de¬ 
cidedly yellow in general appearance, but is also striped 
or blotched towards the base. A single panicle will 
sometimes produce nearly a hundred flowers. Rough 
fibrous peat, with a quantity of leaf-soil and sand, 
is a good compost in which Ansellias will thrive and 
flower satisfactorily. They should be grown in the 
East Indian house, with abundance of moisture when 
making their growth. There are two or more varieties in 
cultivation, and the type is figured in the Botanical 
Magazine, t. 4965, and in the Botanical Register, 1846, 
t. 30.— J. F. 
-*>$<-- 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVO¬ 
LENT INSTITUTION. 
On the afternoon of the 14th inst., the annual general 
meeting of the members of this institution was held 
at “Simpson’s” 101, Strand, when there was a fair 
average attendance of officers and subscribers. The 
chair was taken at 3 p.m. by the treasurer, Mr. Harry 
J. Yeitch. The minutes of the previous annual meeting 
having been read and confirmed, the secretary, Mr. E. R. 
Cutler, read the report of the committee of manage¬ 
ment, which congratulated the subscribers on the con¬ 
tinued success and prosperity of the institution. 
During the past year ten pensioners died, four of whom 
left widows unprovided for. Three of these, in 
accordance with rule 7, had been placed on the pension 
list in succession to their husbands. The collecting 
cards, issued in the autumn, brought in £185 15s. 9 d., 
after paying all expenses in connection therewith ; 
being £42 8s. 9 d. in excess of the collection made in 
1885. The resignation of the late treasurer, E. 
Tidswell, Esq., was announced with much regret, as 
during his tenure of office he had worked hard to 
increase the revenue of the institution. The committee 
had, in the interim, elected Mr. Harry J. Yeitch to the 
office, and it would rest with the subscribers at that 
meeting to confirm the appointment, or reject the 
nomination of the committee in favour of some one else. 
The 43rd Anniversary Festival, which was presided 
over by Mr. Sherwood, resulted in the largest subscrip¬ 
tion list that had ever been raised at the annual festivals. 
The institution was under a debt of gratitude to Mr. 
Sherwood for the very earnest manner in which he had 
pressed its claims upon the generosity of the profession. 
The next annual festival was announced to be held on 
June 29th, when Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 
would preside. Ten pensioners were to be elected that 
day, making the total on the books 122, or four in 
excess of the total in 1886. Six would be placed on the 
list in accordance with rule 6, and the others elected by 
votes in the usual way. Although the revenue of the 
institution had increased, the report stated that the 
number of candidates had increased also, and in a larger 
ratio, the number of applicants this year being seven¬ 
teen, and the committee appealed for further assistance 
to enable them to meet the pressing claims made upon 
the institution. 
The report of the committee and statement of accounts, 
given below, were unanimously adopted. The election 
of Mr. Veitch as treasurer was also unanimously con¬ 
firmed ; and Mr. John Bolton, Regent’s Park Terrace, 
Mr. H. Ballantine, The Dell, Egham, Mr. W. Denning, 
Combe Lane, Norbiton, Mr. J. Douglas, Great Gearies, 
Mr. J. Ridout, Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, and Mr. J. 
J. Saxby, Spring Gardens, S.W., were elected members 
of the committee, in the place of Mr. Sherwood, Mr. R. 
Ker (deceased), Mr. Bruce Findlay, Mr. J. Laing, Mr. 
J. Roberts, and Mr. A. F. Barron, who retired by 
rotation ; Mr. John Lee, Mr. J. F. Meston, and Mr. 
Jesse Willard were elected auditors ; Mr. H. Bollen, 
Mr. J. Webber, Mr. E. AY. Cathie, Mr. G. Munro, and 
Mr. AY. Richards as arbitrators ; and Mr. E. R. Cutler 
as secretary for the 46th time. It was also resolved 
that as two deaths had occurred since the voting papers 
had been sent out, the two next highest on the poll 
that day be also elected. 
At five o’clock the result of the poll was declared, 
when it was found that the six having the highest 
number of votes were Mr. W. AVadds (1211), Mrs. 
Elizabeth Cole (1172), Mrs. Harriett Chapman (1095), 
