614 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 28, 1887. 
circumstances, and these find the point of the indicator 
steadily fixed upon the culture of the land, signifying 
with unmistakable precision that there is something 
amiss here. 
It might be asked why do gardeners advocate so 
persistently the necessity of deep cultivation ? The 
answer is obvious. Confined to a certain limited space, 
they had no other alternative, necessity compelled 
them to adopt the system—the want of which system 
appears so completely to have thrown our modern 
farmer on his beam ends ; and it appears that some 
special act of legislative protection is absolutely neces¬ 
sary to meet his case. But before such remedial 
legislation can be brought to bear, there must be many 
a long speech made for and against “deep cultivation, 
for we have always amongst us our shallow diggers, 
ready with their block to scotch the most willing wheel 
of progressive improvement for either their own or 
their country’s good. Many a tedious examination 
before some Lords Committee on some land improve¬ 
ment scheme before this question can be settled, rent, 
of course, arranged — and before their inexorable 
judgment is given, for come it must; and there can be 
no other than “Go forth, drain, deepen, and improve 
your system of cultivation which trouble might, in 
a great measure, have been saved had the Lords Com¬ 
mittee only taken a quiet turn through some well- 
managed kitchen garden, and had a gossip with the 
gardener. After all, 'it will amount to that in the 
end, and the shortest way to that end is the point at 
issue. 
The piece of ground on which these Onions were 
grown has been enclosed as a garden for more than 100 
years, with the exception that lately we have stirred 
the subsoil. In addition to the maiden clay which 
grew these Onions, I had almost forgotten to speak of 
yet another element called rain, which, perhaps, had 
quite as much to do with the success of our Onion bed 
as to any treatment I have yet mentioned. Many 
farmers—but I am glad to say not all of them—throw 
their land into narrow ridges and furrows, with a view 
to carry off surface or rainwater ; but gardeners do not 
believe in losing a drop of rain-water. All the rain 
which falls upon our garden ground passes down 
through the body of the soil into the system of drainage 
underneath, leaving behind, for the benefit of the plant, 
those recuperative influences we can never over-estimate, 
but which the farmer, from, perhaps, his greater 
breadth of surface to deal with, has so much more 
difficulty in disposing of. We can never over-estimate 
the vital and nourishing effect upon our crops of the 
30 ins. or 40 ins. of rain which is supposed to fall 
annually upon the surface of the British Islands. 
Land deeply cultivated, thoroughly drained, manured 
and prepared for the absorption of rain-water, cannot 
fail to be remunerative. 
--—- 
ODONTOGLOSSUM BLANDUM. 
While it ranks among the prettiest of the small¬ 
growing species, it is comparatively rare in this country, 
and must remain so, because never found very plenti¬ 
ful in its native woods, near Ocaha, Columbia. 0. 
nsevium is its nearest ally. The inflorescence is a 
raceme, usually, if not always, exceeded in length by 
the long linear leaves. The sepals and petals are 
narrow, pure white or yellowish white, spotted with 
brown blotches of varying intensity, according to the 
fineness of individual forms. The basal lobes of the 
labellum are small, yellow and spotted, while the 
medium lobe is comparatively large and white, spotted 
with violet stripes or blotches and finely crisped at the 
margin.— Reicheribachia, t. 24. 
-- 
HYBRID AZALEAS. 
I THINK that the forms of these produced at the 
meeting of the Eoyal Horticultural Society on Tuesday 
last, were of a very interesting character, and they 
served to illustrate what remarkable and valuable 
decorative plants they make at this time of the year. 
There were, first of all, Messrs. Yeitch & Son’s hybrids 
from A. mollis and A. occidentalis, an American species 
in the way of A. nudiflora, or the Ghent Azalea. These 
form a remarkably pretty break, as we get, in combi¬ 
nation -with the large flowers and bold trusses of A. 
mollis, the pretty markings found in the hardy 
American varieties, Maiden’s Blush, blush, flushed with 
pale pink, and with blotches of orange on the upper 
segments ; and Beauty, having a leading tint of rose 
instead of pink. Whether this break is perfectly hardy 
remains to be seen ; but as conservatory plants they 
should take a high position, being so marvellously free 
and beautiful. Next came Mr. Anthony Waterer’s 
hybrids between A. mollis and the orange-yellow A. 
sinensis. Here the distinct character of the cross did 
not appear to be so apparent, but the flowers appeared 
to have taken a stouter and more rounded form ; none 
of the peculiar colour of A. sinensis was in them, and the 
trusses were large, bold, and freely produced. Probably 
this break must be intended, and Mr. Waterer, no 
doubt, intends it also to be the precursor of something 
yet more valuable to be produced from it. 
The chief interest, however, clustered round the 
handsome and distinct form of A. nudiflora, with 
double flowers. It is somewhat remarkable to note, 
that though the deciduous American Azaleas came to 
this country as far back as 1734, little was done to 
improve them, and any additions were the result, per¬ 
haps, in a few cases of sports, but, no doubt, more 
particularly of natural seedlings. Until about forty 
years ago, the Belgian growers systematically crossed 
them, and thus obtained' a batch of new varieties ; 
known, subsequently, as Ghent Azaleas. Mr. Waterer 
states that for a long time there has been in cultivation a 
semi-double variety, known as Maiden’s Blush ; and it 
is, perhaps, from this the double varieties have pro¬ 
ceeded. I remember visiting Mr. Waterer about ten 
years ago, and in a large bed of American Azaleas I 
noticed several double varieties. Since then they have 
been increased, and now he has them at Knap Hill in 
many colours—from pure white up to scarlet. Strange 
to say, he has not troubled to name them ; and the 
two certificated by the Floral Committee, on Tuesday, 
were named by that body. They were Snowflake 
and Peach Blossom. 
These double varieties produced but little seed, and 
the seedlings are in many cases single-flowered. But 
that they will become considerably increased in course 
of time there can be no doubt. One great quality 
they possess over the single varieties—the flower being 
double are much more persistent, and they last longer 
in a cut state. The same holds good when they are 
growing in the open air, and there is no loss of hardi¬ 
ness of character. 
Finally, for the reason above stated, any particular 
variety must be propagated in some fashion other than 
by seedlings. Layering is the method that finds most 
favour at the Knap Hill Nursery ; they can also be 
propagated by grafting, and, probably, by cuttings 
made of the young wood. They are deserving of a 
wide recognition, for they are a most valuable class of 
plants.— R. D. 
-- 
NEW PLANTS CERTIFICATED 
At the Crystal Palace, 
May 21st, 1887. 
Cattleya Mendelii var. Mrs. Henry Little. 
For description, see p. 598. Exhibited by Mr. F. 
Hill, gardener to Henry Little, Esq., The Barons, 
Twickenham. 
Begonias. 
Mr. Hardy. —The leaves of this Begonia are of a 
deep blackish purple or metallic hue, and both by this 
and their shape show that it belongs to, or has an 
affinity with, B. incarnata. The stems are shrubby, 
not tuberous, and the leaves are very much larger than 
in the type ; not only so, but the flowers themselves 
are very much enlarged, and of a soft rosy pink hue, 
while the fruits are crimson. Altogether the improve¬ 
ment is very marked. 
Princess Victoria. —This and the succeeding one 
belong to the tuberous-rooted section. The plants 
exhibited being yet in their early stages, one can only 
guess at the effect produced by large specimens. As it 
is, however, the flowers are of great size, flat, and of a 
rosy colour flushed with scarlet. The leaves are of a 
deep green. 
Duke of Edinburgh. —The flowers of this variety, 
whether accidental or not, were undulated at the 
margin, but of great size, orbicular in outline, and of a 
rich intense crimson. Not only size, but substance is 
imparted to these new productions, which are yearly 
being improved by the hybridist. Exhibited by 
Messrs. John Laing & Co., Forest Hill, London. 
Azalea Souvenir de Francois Vervxne. 
The great size of the flowers of this form shows it to 
be a plant of considerable value for decorative or cut- 
flower purposes. They are white, with the exception 
of a pale yellow blotch in the throat, but being fully 
double, this is concealed. The segments of the corolla 
are finely undulated at the margin. Exhibited by 
Messrs. John Laing & Co., Forest Hill, London. 
Moutan Peonies. 
Van Rinzii. —The flowers of this variety are large, 
and of a fine, deep, uniform rose colour. The outer 
petals are broad and rounded, the inner ones being 
much narrower and slightly cut at the apex. 
Uranie. —Another fine form, with large almost 
globose flowers of a deep uniform rose colour ; but the 
petals are decidedly more cut into lobes, especially 
towards the centre of the flower, which gives it a 
characteristic appearance. The centre is also very full. 
Odorata Maria. —For description, see p. 599. 
Louise Mouchelet. —The flowers are large and of a 
delicate pink or pale carnation colour, but deeper 
towards the centre. The petals are rather distinctly 
crimped and cut. A very distinct variety. Exhibited 
by Mr. T. S. "Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham. 
Show Pelargonium Henry Daukes. 
In this we have a seedling of great merit, producing 
trusses of large richly-coloured flowers. They are flat 
and well-formed, with the three lower petals of a rich 
crimson colour. The two upper ones are many shades 
darker, approaching a velvety black. Exhibited by 
Mr. J. Wiggins, gardener to W. Clay, Esq., Grove 
Koad, Kingston. __ 
By the Floral Committee of the R. H. S. 
May 21th, 1887. 
Odontoglossuji Pescatorei, Pollf.tt’s Variety. 
The flowers of this form are large, with well-imbri¬ 
cated segments ; the sepals are white, with a violet- 
purple lobed blotch on the middle of each. A smaller 
orbicular blotch occupies the centre of one petal ; 
while the other one is usually or always unspotted 
white. There is a blotch in front of the crest on the 
lip. A fine variety, exhibited by H. M. Pollett, Esq., 
Fernside, Bickley. 
Phaljinopsis speciosa. 
The leaves of this distinct-looking species are of a 
uniform light green colour, as in P. grandiflora. The 
flowers, however—six of which were borne by the 
plant shown on a pendent spike—are of a peculiar 
shade of violet-purple. The labellum is heavily 
bearded with white hairs on the fleshy ridge of the 
terminal lobe ; the lateral lobes are small, erect, and 
yellow. A rare species, exhibited by Major-General 
E. S. Berkeley, Sibbertoft, Market Harborougli. 
Moutan Peonies. 
Odorata Maria. —For description see p. 599. 
Lactea. —Flowers large, full, double, and white. 
There is a purple blotch at the base of each petal, but 
owing to their great number the blotch is unobservable 
at a casual glance. Exhibited by Mr. T. S. Ware. 
Zenobia. —In this we have a departure from the 
usual variation of colours seen in P. Moutan, and being 
of an intense red, the flowers recall those of the old- 
fashioned double Pieony—namely, P. officinalis fl. pi. 
They are in this instance semi-double or open in the 
centre when fully expanded, and the petals are flushed 
with rose and white at the very base externally. 
Exhibited by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham. 
Banierii. —The flowers of this variety are large, 
but not full in the centre, of a soft rose colour, 
and distinct in appearance. There are numerous dark 
lines at the base of the petals radiating from a dark- 
coloured base ; and the petals are crenate or bluntly 
toothed at the apex. Exhibited by Messrs. James 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Abies excei.sa mutabilis. 
This appears to be a very singular form of the type, 
with the young developing shoots and leaves of a soft 
canary-yellow colour. Judging from the name, the 
yellow colour gives place to green as the growth for the 
season matures, so that the effect would be best in 
spring, or only during that time. At present it is very 
striking. Exhibited by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. 
