April 23, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
freely produced. Perle d’Or has nankeen-coloured 
blossoms, with an orange centre ; it is novel and distinct 
in character. The foregoing may he regarded as the 
flowers of the flock, and they are worthy the attention 
of all lovers of Poses. — E. D. 
- -H®.- 
GARDEN PLANTS ILLUSTRATED. 
Aeraxthus sesquipedalis. 
Most cultivators will probably recognise in this the 
remarkable Orchid of Madagascar known as Angrsecum 
sesquipedale. Sir Joseph Hooker recently decided 
that the name Aeranthus should be retained for the 
large-flowering group of Angrtecum, and the above 
name was first given by Lindlev, of Orchid fame. The 
huge flowers are now pretty well known, and are ivory- 
white with a wax-like consistency ultimately fading to 
yellow. The greenish yellow greatly elongated spur 
will always be an object of interest. There is a larger 
form of this species that flowers later.— Eeichenbachia, 
t. 14. 
Cattleya Dowiaxa aurea. 
The variety here noticed is of freer growth than the 
type, and has longer paler pseudo-bulbs. For this 
reason it will probably prevail more in collections, as it 
responds better to the care of cultivators. The sepals 
and petals are sulphur-coloured, while the lip has a 
ground colour of deep yellow, closely pencilled with 
crimson lines that are particularly handsome and 
attractive. The sepals and petals of C. Dowiana are 
described as orange. The native homes of the two 
forms are 1,000 miles apart ; they are amongst the 
most gorgeous of Cattleyas.— Eeichenbachia, t. 5. 
Cattleya Lawrenciaxa. 
This beautiful Cattleya has an interesting history 
attached to it, both from the time it was first detected 
by Scliomburgk, and the difficulty experienced by the 
collector, Mr. Seidl, in re-discovering and introducing 
it from the vicinity of the Roraima and Hookenaam 
Mountains. The pseudo-bulb bears one leaf, and is 
often more or less deeply suffused with purple. As 
many as eight flowers have already been produced on a 
spike on home-grown pseudo-bulbs, and more may be 
expected. The sepals and broad wavy petals are lilac- 
purple, with the lamina of the labellum deep maroon- 
crimson ; but the colour varies in individuals from pale 
lilac to nearly pure white.— Eeichenbachia, t. 12. 
CcELOGYNE CRISTATA MAXIMA. 
The type is the best of all the species, and that on 
which Lindley founded the genus. The variety under 
notice is considered by the highest authorities to be 
the best of the forms in cultivation, and differs from 
the type in being larger in all its parts, and producing 
eight or nine flowers on a spike. The sepals and petals 
are broad and of great substance, and the lateral lobes 
of the labellum are proportionately smaller than in 
the ordinary C. cristata, showing off the fringed 
lamella* to advantage.— Eeichenbachia, t. 6. 
Dexdrobium Wardiaxum. 
While it is one of the most beautiful Dendrobes, this 
is also one of the freest flowering and most useful 
species coming under the care of the cultivator. 
Flowers are produced in clusters of two to three all 
along the naked somewhat knotted stems of the year 
previous, and are both large and extremely handsome. 
The sepals are oblong and ivory-white, tipped with 
purple, while the petals are broader but similar in 
colour. The whole character of the flower, however, 
is centred in the handsome labellum. The upper part 
of the latter organ is white tipped with purple, while 
all the lower part is orange, with a deep brown, almost 
black, blotch on each side of the column.— Eeichen¬ 
bachia, t. 9. 
L-ELIA autumnalis xaxthotropis. 
The general impression produced at first seeing this 
species is that it claims affinity with the one-flowered 
L. furfuracea. Two or three leaves are produced on 
short stout pseudo r bulbs, and the shortness of the 
drooping flower-scape is by no means suggestive of 
L. autumnalis as we usually see it in cultivation. The 
sepals and petals are rosy pink, with deep purple tips ; 
the anterior lobe of the labellum is deep purple, and the 
median disk of two yellow lamellie ; the flowers are 
delightfully fragrant. This form inhabits the moun- 
tains of Colima, in Mexico, at an elevation of 6-7,000 
ft.— Eeichenbachia, t. 10. 
Lielia euspatha. 
At first sight, this species very much resembles 
L. purpurata, and evidently has great affinities with it, 
but differs in the absence of the fine deep purple pen¬ 
cilled radiating lines in the throat of the labellum so 
characteristic of L. purpurata. The sepals and petals 
are of a pale or diluted rose colour, and bear some re¬ 
semblance to those of L. elegans ; but the petals are 
not sharply aud longitudinally folded as in the latter. 
The upper part of the labellum is deep purple, but 
paler at the margin and tip ; while the throat is white 
or very pale yellow. — Eeichenbachia, t. 8. 
Masdevallia Shuttleworthii. 
While it must be classed amongst the second rank of 
Masdevallias in point of size, it has, indeed, a beauty 
of its own, and a free-flowering habit that will always 
render it popular. The lateral sepals in the best 
varieties are rich rosy red beautifully freckled with a 
darker tint. The dorsal sepal is yellow marked with 
vinous purple veins. The long slender tails are 
greenish yellow deepening to orange-yellow at the 
tips. The flowers of Masdevallia Shuttleworthii 
xanthocorys accompanying this are pale, almost 
straw-coloured, and the plant smaller, but the flowers 
are said to be more fragrant than the type.— 
Eeichenbachia, t. 13. 
Phal-exopsis graxdiflora aurea. 
For garden purposes, it may be convenient, or even 
advisable, to retain the specific name P. grandiflora ; 
but we must not overlook the fact that the oldest, and, 
therefore, the proper name, by right of priority, 
is P. amabilis. The species may easily be recognised 
by the uniform pale green colour of its leaves, and 
the narrow elongated middle lobe of the labellum. 
The variety under notice differs from the type 
by the labellum being almost wholly deep yellow, 
with the usual complement of red spots. It comes 
from an island in the Malacca Straits.— Eeichenbachia, 
t. 11. 
- ->££<- - 
Hardening IJotes from 
Scotland. 
Celery has stood well this season, and a good 
supply till May seems certain ; Major Clarke’s Red and 
Dwarf Incomparable (Turner’s) have done the best. 
Sowings and plantings should be made at least three 
times in succession, and the seedlings should never be 
checked from the beginning. We notice no difference 
between several kinds of Leeks as to their hardiness ; 
Ayton s Giant has stood well, and is still abundant 
and sound, having been removed under the shade of 
bushes. 
Parsley, we believe, always stands the winter best 
when grown stunted during the previous season. On 
ground where young roots were transplanted and made 
firm in the poor soil they have done much better than 
those grown luxuriantly in borders richly prepared. 
This would appear to hold good with most crops which 
have to stand exposed during severe weather. Some 
object to trenching or deep tilth of any form ; but 
such is right in its proper place, and gardens which 
have been trenched and manured well for many years 
may be allowed to become consolidated, especiallv for 
the production of winter crops. 
Wallflowers.—It may be worth while to notice 
that most useful supplies of flowers during autumn and 
early winter may be had from plants raised from seed 
sown during April. They need not be planted in rich 
soil, and we observe where the ground was made firm 
for the young plants they have done best. Very late 
last season we had these sweet-smelling flowers in 
great abundance, and on the same plants the quantity 
is now (April 1st) abundant. There are many varieties 
which can be had in brilliant colours, and certainly are 
of great value for cutting, as well as for their appearance, 
during the period referred to. The double kinds, of 
which we had a quantity, have all been killed. Stocks 
protected under glass are now a mass of flowers ; they 
have been shifted into large pots and well repay the 
trouble. The usual supply of August-sown plants 
make a good succession to the plants in flower now,— 
Caledonian. 
The Am ateurs’ Garden. 
• Flower Seeds.— The frosty nights we have been 
experiencing lately do not give much encouragement 
to put out anything of a tender kind ; hut there are 
many seeds that may be sown now with perfect safety, 
whether annual or perennial. Seeds of the latter may 
be sown now out of doors if they are large and easily 
germinated without much risk of loss ; but if the 
seeds are choice or rare, it is always more advisable to 
sow in pots or pans, and place them under the pro¬ 
tection of a cool frame, or, preferably, on a hot-bed or 
in a regularly-heated pit, greenhouse, or other structure 
that may be at command. If a little heat can be 
given them, the seeds come away more quickly, and 
lessen the danger of loss through damping, slugs and 
other vermin to which they are liable when lingering 
about in a weakly or slow-growing condition. 
Annuals, however, as a rule, call for the attention 
of the amateur at this season more than anything else, 
because they are readily obtainable, cheap, convenient, 
and supply a great want, or, in other words, fill up a 
vacancy in cottage gardens to great advantage. Their 
place could be ill supplied by anything else at the 
amateur s disposal, calculated to make a display of 
some continuity with the least expenditure. Seeds of 
all hardy annuals, or those having any claim to such, 
may now be sown with perfect safety, as the weather 
may reasonably be expected to be mild enough by the 
time the seeds germinate, and favourable to their 
growth. 
Candytuft in various colours may now be sown, 
varieties chiefly of Iberis umbellata and I. amara. 
Collinsia bicolor, C. verna, Chrysanthemum carinatum, 
C. coronarium and C. segetum are popular annuals that 
are almost sure to find a place in gardens. The first 
two named Chrysanthemums exist in numerous very 
pretty varieties, both single and double. Calliopsis 
bicolor, C. Drummondi, C. tinetoria, and Maleolmia 
maritima, the Virginian Stock, and the Larkspurs, both 
single and double, afford great variety both as to colour 
and general appearance. Various bright-coloured 
flowers are afforded by FTemophila insignis, FT. i. alba, 
FT. maculata, 1ST. atomaria, FT. a. discoidalis, Pliaeelia 
campanulata, P. Parryi, Eutoca viscida, Calendula 
officinalis, Clarkias, Godetia, aud others. 
Many annuals, whether hardy or half-hardy, repay 
the trouble of germinating and bringing forward in heat, 
afterwards hardening off and planting out. Amongst 
half-hardy ones may be mentioned Tagetes signata, 
T. patula, French and T. erecta, African Marigold, 
Asters, Stocks, Helichrysum, Ammobiiim alatum, Helip- 
terum, Waitzias, and others. Many that are perfectly 
hardy come much earlier and better if forwarded in heat, 
pricked out in boxes or frames, and planted out in duly 
prepared ground when the weather becomes favourable. 
Phlox Drummondi in great variety, Centaurea cyanus, 
Saponaria calabrica, Dianthus cliinensis, and D. c. 
Heddewigi belong to this category, and are all ex¬ 
ceedingly useful and ornamental plants in gardens. 
Pyrethrum parthenium aureum or Golden Feather must 
not be omitted here, and, together with all those men¬ 
tioned in this latter list, ought by this time to be in a 
forward state. 
Sea Kale, &c. —Where it is necessary to make new 
plantations, and this is frequently the case where any 
quantity is required for forcing, it may be conveniently 
done. The thick fleshy roots may be cut into lengths 
of 3 ins. or 4 ins. and inserted in deeply-trenched or 
otherwise well-prepared ground. These sets or cuttings 
should he taken from thongs or roots that have not 
been forced, as they are invariably tbe best. It is 
usual to lay aside these in heaps when the old plants 
have been lifted for forcing ; plant them about 2 ft. 
apart, in rows 2 ft. to 2J ft. asunder, according to the 
extent of ground at command, and place the cuttings 
about 2 ins. below the surface ; afterwards mulch the 
ground to induce strong growth in the plants. Plan¬ 
tations of Horse Radish and Rhubarb may still be made, 
although the season is advanced for both ; but the 
Rhubarb will come on rapidly, however, if the ground 
has been deeply trenched and weU manured. Flo 
watering is necessary in the case of either subjects 
mentioned when newly planted, hut after growth re¬ 
commences, and especially if the weather be dry, all 
will be greatly benefited and make much stronger 
growth if the ground is mulched and occasional heavy 
waterings given.— F. 
