February 12, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
379 
Year as compared to what it is if started at March 1st, 
or even February 1st. We consider it much improves 
the flavour to cut and bottle it for ten days or a fort¬ 
night before sending it to the table. In a late house 
it is also very serviceable, and when well ripened it 
keeps fairly well, and always pleases the eye.— II. Bell, 
Morton Hall,, Midlothian. 
Gros Colmar Grape v. Lady Downes. 
-—Your correspondent, “Scotia,” gives a capital hint 
when he says, “I would advise a long season, plenty 
of heat and air the gist of the whole matter is in the 
last five words, and I am inclined to think that the 
kind of heat is no small factor in the production of 
flavour in some varieties of Grapes. The best flavoured 
Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat I ever ate were grown at 
Worksop Manor, in a vinery heated entirely by flues. 
The host flavoured Gros Colmars I have tasted were 
grown last season in a house heated in just the same 
way, but in another garden. Muscats are planted at 
the hottest and driest end of the house, next to these 
are two Vines of Gros Colmar, then comes four or five 
Vines of Lady Downes’ Seedling ; and the Gros Colmar 
Grapes under these conditions are superior in flavour 
to Lady Downes under the same conditions. Until 
last December I never tasted a Gros Colmar that I 
considered equal in flavour to an equally well.-grown 
Lady Downes ; I then, and have since, experienced the 
above-mentioned difference. I know that this is 
heterodoxy, and the statement will, perhaps, bring a 
hornet’s nest about my ears ; hut having once realised 
the fact of the superiority of Gros Colmar under certain 
conditions, no amount of stinging will cause me to 
yield until it has been proved that I am mistaken.— 
J. Udale, Elford, Tamvjorth. 
Chinese Primulas. — I enclose you herewith a 
few blooms of Chinese Primulas, taken in every instance 
from plants which were at their best about November 
10 th last, and which were exhibited in their various 
classes at the Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society’s 
Show on the 25th of that month. These varieties are 
invaluable because of their excellent lasting properties, 
and for cutting purposes are unsurpassed; the long foot¬ 
stalk of each individual bloom renders the sacrifice of the 
truss unnecessary, as is the case in some of the ordinary 
or common varieties. I think The Queen is far and 
away the best Primula grown ; its habit is all that 
can be desired, and continuing as it does in bloom for 
a period of about four months, is indispensable as a 
winter decorative subject. Princess Louise is another 
excellent white, which should he grown by everyone. 
Marquis of Lome and Emperor, blooms of which are 
also enclosed, last equally as long as the two preceding 
varieties, and are also invaluable for winter work.— 
J. H. II. [The flowers were of fine quality and well 
deserve our correspondent’s good opinion of them. —Ed.] 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Potting Stove Plants.— We have finished the 
potting of stove plants, and have thoroughly re-arranged 
all the plants, adding new staging material so as to 
make all secure for some time to come. 11 will be found 
necessary to dew over the occupants of this structure 
with the syringe frequently during the prevalence of 
sunshine. By this means they will all the more readily 
start, and become established in the fresh compost. We 
have sown the main batch of tuberous Begonias, with 
the exception of Frcebelii, which (as it does not flower 
until late in autumn) will not he sown until the end of 
next month. Much care is necessary in providing 
drainage when sowing the seed, so that the soil may be 
kept quite sweet, or the little seedlings will not make 
satisfactory progress if the soil becomes at all sour. It 
is always advisable, also, in the sowing of such fine seeds, 
to damp the soil in the pots before sowing, so as to 
prevent watering until they have germinated ; and the 
pots should also be covered with a square of glass to 
prevent evaporation. 
. Seed Sowing.— We have also made a sowing of 
single Dahlia, Lobelia, Pyrethrum, Grevillea, Rho- 
danthe, and many others. The season is now suffi¬ 
ciently advanced, and unless an early start is made 
they are not satisfactory ; notably is this the case with 
the Dahlias, which, unless sown in good time, do not 
make tubers of sufficient size to enable them to flower 
until late in the season, when frost speedily puts an end 
to their beauty and usefulness. So soon as the 
Fuchsias, which were introduced as advised for early 
flowering, have made a start, let them be re-potted 
and placed in a good growing atmosphere, where they 
should he encouraged by frequent syringings to start 
away quickly. When growth has fairly commenced, 
they may be placed in a light airy position, or they 
will become drawn, and cannot he expected to flower 
satisfactorily. 
Bedding Plants. — Continue the potting off and 
propagating of all bedding plants, so that the necessary 
quantity may be secured. A good sowing of Mignonette 
should at once be made in 6-in. pots. To grow this 
well, the compost should have been previously prepared 
and made rich. Bone dust is excellent for the purpose. 
Good drainage must be given, and the compost should 
be made quite firm in the pots by ramming. This will 
prevent frequent watering, which this plant dislikes. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Cucumbers. —With the state of the weather so 
extremely favourable for forcing, things are making 
rapid progress. The pit we have used for forcing has 
been cleared out, as there are numerous other structures 
wherein the necessary plants can be forwarded, without 
devoting one specially to the purpose ; besides which, 
we require to plant out the successional hatch of 
Cucumbers, which are quite ready. The hot-bed has 
been made good for them, and so soon as they are 
established, the early winter set will be removed, and 
the Melons planted, or rather potted, as we grow all 
ours in pots resting on brick piers, thus allowing of the 
bottom heat being renewed at will. The young plants 
are growing away nicely on a shelf near to the glass, 
and so keep sturdy. 
The Vines are breaking rapidly, and the directions 
previously given must be followed, carefully remember¬ 
ing that so soon as foliage appears ventilation must be 
given in good time in the morning, so that the growth 
made will be of good substance. We syringe the 
Muscat canes very frequently during the present bright 
weather, and find it of the greatest benefit; it greatly 
assists in a good break. Peaches, too, are now starting 
freely ; continue the heeling in of all shoots intended 
to he left for next season’s fruiting, syringe the trees 
twice a day, keep a sharp look-out for green or brown 
fly—upon the appearance of which fumigate until 
destroyed. The trees in the successional house should 
receive the same treatment as the early houses, only 
that the house should be more freely ventilated, 
especially at mid-day, tapping the branches of the 
trees with the thick of the hand to distribute the pollen. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Preparing Ground for Crops. —We are still busy 
digging all vacant squares, and until the sun gains 
power we wheel out burnt refuse, manure, &c., on to 
squares yet to be dug. We have yet one more square 
to double dig, but we hope to do it this week, should 
the weather continue favourable. The ground for 
Shallots and Garlic was dug early in November, and 
afterwards a good sprinkling of gas-lime was applied to 
the surface, and it is now in fine condition for planting, 
which will be done in the next few days. We have 
also given the ground intended for transplanting Tripoli 
Onions a good sprinkling of gas-lime ; this we find a 
great preventive against grub. Of course, the ground 
had been previously well dressed and deeply dug. 
Seed Sowing, &c.— Should the weather permit, we 
intend making a good sowing of second early Peas and 
Broad Beans. We have finished the planting of 
Forest trees, also the lifting of all that is required for 
estate work this season, so that the transplanting of 
seedling stuff will be proceeded with, so as to get it 
completed, if possible, before the March winds prevail. 
The stock of seed Potatos should now he looked over, 
and the earliest should be spread out in single layers ; 
should they have made too long a growth already they 
should be partly cut back, so as to be ready for plant¬ 
ing. Be careful to protect Radishes and Carrots sown 
last month from frost, or they will be injured at the 
ground line ; ours, so far, look strong and healthy. — 
Walter Child, Croome Court. 
-- 
The annual exhibition of the Trowbridge Horti¬ 
cultural Society will take place on Wednesday, 
August 17th ; and that of the Maidenhead Society on 
August 18th. 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchids from Perth.— From Mr. Macdonald, 
Woodlands House, Perth, we have received another 
box of Orchids, containing, amongst others, a spike of 
a chaste and charming form of Cattleya Trianse, the 
proportions of which are truly grand. The flowers, if 
spread out, measure over 7 ins. across ; the sepals are 
almost 1 in. in breadth, and the petals over 2£ ins. 
Both are of a delicate blush, while the labellum is 
several shades darker, with a large orange blotch in 
the throat, and measures over 2 ins. in breadth when 
flattened out. A richly-coloured variety of Cattleya 
Percivaliana formed a fine contrast to the above. It 
cannot compare with well-grown specimens of C. Trianaj 
in regard to size ; but the rich velvety, almost maroon- 
purple, of the upper part of the labellum will always 
tell in its favour, while the orange and purple lines of 
the lower part recall that of Cattleya Dowiana. The 
variety of Lielia autumnalis known as L. a. atrorubens 
made a handsome appearance in the foggy atmosphere 
of Catherine Street. The intense purple of the sepals 
and petals will always constitute the variety one of the 
most serviceable and valuable for decorative purposes. 
The sepals shone like burnished metal on the outer 
surface, and measured almost 5 ins. from tip to tip. 
The lower half of the labellum was almost pure white, 
while the middle lobe was more intensely purple than 
either sepals or petals ; the flowers were also very 
fragrant. A tliree-flowered spike of Laelia anceps also 
reached us in fine form ; but seeing that so many 
varieties are now in cultivation, it would scarcely he 
advisable to give it a special varietal name. The purple 
and yellow lines in the throat are well marked, and the 
purple band round the orifice and the middle lobe 
contrasts well with the yellow disk. Two spikes of a 
small-flowered species of Brassavola which we do not 
recognise, each bearing nine or ten flowers, accompanied 
the others. The flowers were white, but too small to 
engage the fancy of most cultivators. 
Odontoglossum Rossi majus. — Among 
some fine varieties in flower I have some of the rubes- 
cens variety, which are beautifully scented—as sweet 
as Oncidium tigrinum. Is this usual ?— J. Cypher. 
Laslia anceps. —I send you two flowers, for your 
opinion, cut from a plant hearing seventeen blooms. 
The plant was an imported piece, bought last February 
from the Liverpool Horticultural Co., and is flowering 
for the first time. It has been grown fully exposed to 
the sun, never having been shaded. The whole of our 
L. anceps are flowering well this season and were grown 
on the same plan.— E. Cooper, gardener to the lit. Hon. 
J. Chamberlain, M.P., Birmingham. [The flowers of 
Lielia anceps sent us were exceptionally fine, not only 
with regard to colour but also size. The whole of the 
upper part of the labellum was of an intense purple ; 
the middle lobe is deeply bifid, and the longitudinal 
yellow disk is so elevated and ridged in front as to he 
misleading at first sight about the identity of the 
species. The purple lines on the yellow ground colour 
of the interior of the lip were well defined and con 
spicuous in the orifice. The petals were of great breadth 
even to the tip, and of a warm rosy colour. — Ed.] 
Well-grown Oalanthes.— Under this heading, 
in your last issue, some rather startling statements are 
made. Your correspon dent, “Con.’’says, that “Three 
bulbs of Calanthe Veitchii are grown in a 6-in. pot, 
and each bulb producing two spikes of bloom 4 ft. in 
length.” Thus we have six spikes with from 200 to 
300 flowers from a 6-in. pot. I am led to ask whether 
a mistake has been made in these figures ? If not, 
then some of us have much yet to learn in the culture 
of these plants. Again, it is said that Calanthe 
vestita has five or six bulbs in a pot, and are equally 
well flowered. I do not dispute the statement, but I 
should be glad if your correspondent would kindly 
inform us how many bulbs were put into these pots 
when potted up last spring. I, too, have grown 
Calanthes for some years, and some people who have 
seen them have been rather flattering in their praises ; 
but I have not yet obtained ten or twelve spikes of 
bloom from a 6-in. pot. Our C. Veitchii make bulbs 
from 9 ins. to 15 ins. in height, but I consider 12 ins, 
as satisfactory. From these we generally obtain three 
spikes—two from the base of the bulb, and one from 
the top. We have some spikes now in bloom, which 
opened their first flowers in the first week of November 
last. Have any of your readers ever heard of, or seen 
