428 
uVtaircti 5, 18S7. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
causing eventually an increased speed in the direction of 
the workings; draining, as it were, heat and other matter 
that would otherwise permeate the earth’s crust and 
find its way to the surface, instead of throwing it up 
one common shaft. Perhaps some geological friend 
will throw some light upon this matter.— A. M. 
--se&s-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar.— Saccolabiums, 
Aerides, Phakenopsis and all those things usually 
denominated East Indian, should now be attended to, 
and such of them as require re-potting or basketing 
done. The Yandas of the Y. tricolor, V. suavis and 
V. insignis section, however, are better when re-potted 
in the autumn, unless any of them are not sound in 
their pots, when they should now be done. Prom 
henceforth, the growing Dendrobes, Aerides and all 
plants usually grown with them, require keeping in a 
warm ’growing temperature, as from now commences 
their active growth. It is the bane of Phalrenopsis, 
Aerides and other allied plants, that they are usually 
kept too hot and moist in winter, and in a too dry 
atmosphere, not conducive to free growth, in summer. 
Shade, too, is highly essential to these plants, and if not 
well protected from the sun’s rays, their growth is 
always stunted and the flowers poor. 
The blinds should now be put up on all the houses— 
those of thickest texture on the East Indian and cold- 
house plants ; thinner will do for the Cattleyas and 
Lselias, the Mexican Laslias and Barkerias being left 
unshaded for some time to come. In all cases care 
must be taken that the blinds are only let down when 
absolutely necessary to protect the plants from bright 
sunshine, or thin weak growths will be the result. 
The Temperatures for the Month of March 
should be :—Warm or East Indian house, 65° to 70° by 
day, 60° at night; Cattleya or intermediate house, 60° 
to 65° by day, 55° at night ; Cool or Odontoglossum 
house, 55° to 60° by day, 50° at night; all the houses 
being allowed to range somewhat higher by sun-heat. 
—James O'Brien. 
Cattleya Trianse, “Lady Tennant.” — So 
has been named a grand variety which has just flowered 
with Sir Charles Tennant, Bart., at The Glen, Inner¬ 
leithen, N.B., and flowers of which are before us. The 
fine rose-coloured blooms are over 7 ins. across, the 
petals 2f ins. wide, the labellum is of a glowing violet- 
crimson, and the tips of the petals are heavily marked 
wfith the same colour ; so vivid, indeed, is the colour 
that the pilant would show up prominently among a 
thousand C. Trianae in bloom. Not the least of its 
attraction is its powerfully sweet odour of honeysuckle, 
which even from the cut flowers before us fill the room 
with fragrance. The plant came out of an importation 
received direct by Messrs. William Thomson & Sons, 
Tweed Vineyard, Clovenfords, by Galashiels, N.B. 
Calanthes with Branching Spikes.—I beg 
to thank Major-General Berkeley for the information 
given at p. 412, and which is valuable as affording 
growers of the species mentioned some idea of what the 
plant is capable of producing. I shall now hope for a 
branching spike of C. Veitcliii. Perhaps the Orchid 
grower w T ho shall be so fortunate as to get one, wfill be 
kind enough to publish the fact after seeing these 
notes. We really had two this year on C. nivalis ; 
one of them -was sent to a neighbour’s collection, but 
unfortunately it was kept too cool, and too wet at the 
root, and soon came to grief. The other we have now 
in fine condition.— N. Blandford, The Gardens, Moor 
Hill, near Southampton. 
Ccslogyne cristata Lemoniana, —This plant 
is exceedingly well grown by Mr. Stanton, gardener to 
John Noble. Esq., Park Place, Henley-on-Thames. 
At the present time a specimen in a large pan is bearing 
230 flowers on fifty spikes ; other good pieces are also 
in bloom, the total number of flowers open being about 
600—a sight not often seen in a small collection like 
this. 
Cattleya Trianse Backhousiana.— Mr. G. 
Hardy, Pickering Lodge, Timperley, Cheshire, sends 
us a spike, bearing two flowers, of the magnificent 
Cattleya above mentioned. They are from the original 
plant, and measure over 7 ins. across the expanded 
petals. The latter organs are pale rose, with a large, 
fine, deep, rosy purple, wedge-shaped blotch on the 
upper half. The labellum is also a conspicuous part 
of the whole flower, and is characterised by an intense 
rich purple limb, heavily shaded with crimson or 
maroon towards the orifice of the tube. The column is 
purple at the base and white upwards. 
Dendrobium nobile.— A moderate-sized plant 
of this useful species will soon be an attractive feature 
in a small stove at Chiswick, in the gardens of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. It is of stubby compact 
habit, requiring little or no artificial support, and bears 
over 250 blooms or flower-buds in various stages of 
development. Although by no means the most con¬ 
spicuous or showy species of Dendrobium in cultivation, 
it is one of the most useful for general decorative pur¬ 
poses. Its appearance, in the present instance, is 
greatly enhanced by being isolated amongst a group of 
plants of Anthurium Scherzerianum and A. Andreanum, 
also flowering more or less freely. 
Odontoglossum Alexandrse. — Messrs. 
Ireland & Thomson, of Edinburgh, send us a flower of 
the above of remarkable size and purity. It was taken 
from a plant having two spikes, each bearing twelve 
flowers. The wavy sepals and jagged petals are pure 
white, with the exception of a rosy pink stripe along 
the mid-rib external^’. The labellum has a yellow 
disk striped with brown at the base, and the column 
is pale brown in front with a purplish blotch behind. 
The flower measured 4f ins. across the petals and 5 ins. 
across the sepals ; while the latter organs were 1J in. 
at the broadest diameter, and the petals 1J in. 
These figures should speak for themselves. 
Lycaste grandis. —A plant of this w r as flowering 
the other day in Mr. Peacock’s fine collection at Sudbury 
House, Hammersmith. The flowers, which are produced 
singly, are notable more on account of their size than 
any brilliaucy or attractiveness of colouration. The 
upper sepal alone measures over 3 ins. in length in good 
specimens, while the lateral ones are somewhat shorter. 
The petals stand erect as in other species, and the 
whole flower, with the exception of the labellum, is of 
a pale or creamy yellow colour. The latter organ has a 
large brown blotch in the throat. The various seg¬ 
ments are rather narrow, otherwise the flowers would 
have a more telling effect on account of their great 
dimensions. 
Orchids at Westbrook, Sheffield.— At all 
times there are objects of interest to be seen amongst 
the fine collection of well-grown Orchids at the above 
establishment; but just now there is a special feast for 
the eyes of the lover of this interesting family of 
plants. The flowering house is a span-roofed structure, 
20 ft. by 12 ft., with the walk down the centre, there 
being a stone bench on each side for staging the plants 
whilst in bloom. At the time of my visit the following 
were in flower, and the effect was charming :—Ada 
aurantiaca and Cattleya Trianae were well represented 
by several very fine varieties of various shades of colour ; 
C. Pereivaliana was a fine specimen and extra good 
variety ; Cymbidium eburneum, Ccelogyne cristata and 
its varieties, [alba, maxima, and Lemoniana, together 
with Cypripedium insigne Maulei, C. Boxallii, C. 
Harrisianum, C. villosum, C. venustum, and C. hir- 
sutissimum were flowering freely. Dendrobium fim- 
briatum oculatum, D. Wardianum and D. W. album, 
D. nobile, several large well-bloomed plants ; Lcelia 
anceps, L. a. Pereivaliana, L. autumnalis, L. harpo- 
phylla; Masdevallia Lindenii and M. tovarensis 
constituted endless variety. Odontoglossum crispum 
is well represented, and amongst them are some of the 
finest varieties possible, with excellent spikes of bloom. 
Other species were O. Rossii majus, O. cirrliosum, 
O. blandum, O. Coradinei, O. Hallii, O. gloriosum, 
0. Insleayii leopardinum, 0. cordatum, 0. Pescatorei, 
0. Sanderianum, Oncidium macranthum, 0. Weltoni, 
and 0. Forbesi. Lycaste Skinnerii alba is an extra 
good variety, lately purchased from the Handsworth 
Nursery, and which was found amongst some newly- 
imported plants. 
In the East Indian house there are some nice pieces 
of Phalsenopsis in flower'—namely, P. amabilis, P. 
Schilleriana, P. Sanderiana, and Vanda suavis. In the 
Cattleya house there are a number of fine plants of 
different species showing freely for a good display for 
some time to come. A. Wilson, Esq., the owner of 
this fine collection, is a keen observer of the best 
varieties of Orchids, and none are purchased but what 
are of a meritorious quality. The general collection of 
plants is in good condition throughout, which is a 
proof that careful and good management is carried out 
by Mr. E. Pidsley, the gardener. —J. IF. S. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Shading and Ventilating. —The sun has now 
obtained considerable power, consequently more care 
must be exercised in the ventilating ; shading must also 
be given to those plants of tender growth, or they will 
be apt to suffer if fully exposed,,but whatever material 
is used, it must not be of too heavy a texture, and 
must be removed early in the afternoon to prevent 
drawing or weakly growth ; such things as Coleus, the 
various flowering Begonias and such-like seldom require 
this care, the foliage being of sufficient substance, and 
they quickly establish themselves. 
Propagating, &c.^-Look over the stock of these, 
and if any doubt exists as to quantity, insert more 
cuttings at once. It will be advisable also to take off 
a few potsful of Deutzia cuttings ; if this is done every 
second or third season, a good stock is always secured ; 
this plant too is much admired when in 60-sized pots, 
staged in the greenhouse or elsewhere, but allowed to 
come on naturally. A few pots of Lilium auratum may 
be started in a gentle heat, that is if large structures 
are to be furnished ; in small houses the scent from 
these flowers, even if used sparingly, is objectionable 
unless fully ventilated. 
Azaleas and Camellias. —As the Azaleas which 
have been forced go out of flower, let them be placed 
in a nice genial heat where they may make an early 
and good growth ; those that require potting should be 
attended to at once, and by all means if they are to be 
staged in Vineries or Peach houses, let them be syringed 
thoroughly with the mixture of paraffin oil as previously 
recommended, always being careful to use soft water. 
To induce them to flower earlier, if necessary, some of 
the freest Camellias may be similarly placed ; but if— 
as is very frequently the case—they are troubled with 
scale, do not put them in either vineries or Peach 
houses, hut let them he cleaned with a small stiff sli 
brush kept dipped in the mixture, which we find the 
most effectual means of removing the pest. 
Seed Sowing. —Particular attention must now be 
given to the sowing of seeds, as March is the most 
critical month in this respect. Of course, suecessional 
sowings of such things as Celosias, Cockscombs, Petunias 
and such-like must be made according to requirements ; 
but in case of failure, lose no time in repeating the 
sowing. So far, all our seeds have germinated remark¬ 
ably well, the result of dealing with good firms only. 
Let the potting on of all Pelargoniums of the show or 
fancy type be completed without further delay, or they 
will not become established sufficiently to flower well. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
The Muscat Vines, as well as succession vineries, 
are breaking very freely. Still, care must be exercised 
not to unduly hasten them, or the bunches will be apt 
to run out ; particularly is this the case with Muscats. 
As a preventative, as soon as forward enough, go over 
the whole house with a pair of scissors, and remove 
the extreme point of the clusters, and if straggling, 
the points of the shoulders too, which will greatly 
tend to make them compact, and, in my opinion, 
assists in obtaining a better “set.” Disbud in good 
time, and remove all superfluous bunches as the work 
goes on, so as to relieve the Vines as much as possible. 
In the early house good progress should now have been 
made, and, when swelling, water must be freely applied 
to the roots, taking the precaution not to use cold water, 
as although the weather is so mild, the season is not 
sufficiently advanced for such liberties to be taken ; we 
always use our water on the warm side to all early 
forced houses, and to the Muscat house all the season 
through. 
Tomatos. —We have potted on ‘a strong hatch of 
Tomatos, including Mikado, Hackwood Park and 
Dedham Favourite ; these require to be kept near the 
glass, or they draw and are quite spoiled. As they 
advance in growth they may be kept cooler, but should 
never be allowed to become pot-bound until they reach 
the fruiting size, for which a 10-in. or 12-in. pot, as a 
rule, is quite large enough. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Sowing and Planting. —What a glorious month 
we have had ! Even the most dilatory cannot well 
help having affairs in this department in “Apple-pie 
