May 28, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
621 
ORCHID RO TES AND GLEANINGS. 
Odontoglossum Pescatorei. — From Mr. 
J. T. Poe, Riveston, Nenagh, comes a very fine variety 
of this popular Odontoglot, which, if it does not afford 
the variation for which 0. crispum is famous, neverthe¬ 
less gives birth to forms of rare, striking and desirable 
beauty. The sepals are white, flushed with purple 
along the midrib, and furnished with a large and con¬ 
spicuous violet-purple blotch on the middle of each ; 
the petals, on the contrary, are broad and overlapping 
the sepals, of good substance and pure white, with a 
smaller blotch of the same colour on their middle ; the 
labellum is of the ordinary size and shape, but beauti¬ 
fully spotted in a radiating manner towards the margin, 
and having a large blotch of the same colour on the 
crest. 
Oncidium Marsliallianum. — At Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris’s rooms on Friday last (20th), a 
magnificent spike of this fine Orchid was exhibited 
from the gardens of Captain Maxwell, Terregles, 
Dumfries. It was one of two which, in the aggregate, 
bore 141 blooms. The maguificenee of such a spike 
may be imagined when one recalls to mind the hand¬ 
some size of the rich yellow flowers. The chief feature 
of the flower resides in the labellum, which puts in 
the shade 0. ampliatum majus and even 0. varicosum 
Rogersi, to which the general appearance of this species 
may be compared. The spikes in question were 
produced by an imported plant. This is the more 
encouraging when we consider the frequency with which 
0. crispum or 0. pnetextum crops up in importations of 
0. Marshallianum. In the same glass of water were 
some grand blooms of Admiral Fairfax’s variety of 
Cattleya speeiosissima. 
Slugs amongst Orchids. —These pests are 
the cause of many a heart-sore to Orchid growers. 
Take for instance that we may have an importation of 
Odontoglossum crispum or Cattleya Mendelii just 
showing buds. Our hopes are built up on these beau¬ 
tifully developing buds ; we have rosy anticipations of 
something good to come. One morning we find a slug 
has blighted those rosy anticipations. Now, the point 
is, how can we get rid of this sort of vermin. I saw a 
suggestion in one of the gardening papers the other 
day to thoroughly wash the staging, &c. with a 
saturated solution of common salt. I should say this 
might be a good thing, but would it be effective ? I 
would suggest a strong solution of Hydrargyrum 
Bichloride (corrosive sublimate). Perhaps some of the 
knowing ones could tell us if this would be apt to 
have any injurious effect upon the Orchids themselves. 
— J. H. T. Peck, Blaby. 
Epidendrum Arachnoglossum. —This, by 
no means, common species has been flowering for some 
time past in the collection at the Woodlands, Streatham. 
It seems intermediate between E. ellipticum and E. 
evectum with precisely the same habit, but the flower 
spikes do not attain a length of several feet as in the 
latter. The flowers are concolorous, and of a deep rosy 
red, while the labellum is trifid and deeply cut into 
fringes or teeth, as the name evidently implies. 
-- 
FLORICULTURE. 
Pansies in Beds. —While Pansies are still late in 
flowering in the midland districts and the north, they 
are now getting nicely into bloom in more southern 
localities, aided by the warmer weather by day, though 
the nights are still cold. I find that my own plants 
derive great advantage from frequent top-dressings ; 
they are throwing up young growths, and these should 
have some nice light sandy soil to root into. By 
pegging out the leading flowering shoots, space is 
afforded for the young growths to develop themselves ; 
these make excellent cuttings if put into pots in sandy 
soil and kept in a cold frame ; or if a bed be made up 
under a shady wall or hedge and the cuttings put in 
there and a hand-light placed over them, they will be 
pretty certain to strike. One of my favourites among 
the show Pansies is George Rudd, a fine yellow self of 
excellent quality, good habit and very free. I have 
just planted out some seedlings, and the showery 
weather has enabled them to get hold of the soil, and 
they will soon be in flower. I am looking anxiously 
for them to do so, as one likes to raise something good ; 
at the same time, one cannot keep from asking—how 
many blanks will there be ? and how many prizes ? Let us 
hope some of the latter will come to every enthusiastic 
raiser of seedling flowers. — R. I). 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural— May Uth .—The leading 
features of the exhibits brought before the members of 
the Fruit and Floral Committees, on Tuesday, were 
Tree Pieonies, hardy herbaceous and Alpine plants, 
Azaleas, and the Cucumbers brought out in competi¬ 
tion for Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ prizes. A number of 
First Class Certificates were granted, as noticed in 
another column. Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons brought 
forward a various assortment of plants, including Tree 
Pseonies in pots, of which two were certificated. A 
proliferated Calceolaria of the herbaceous type was a 
great curiosity, the corollas being several times dupli¬ 
cated in the same flower. A fine basket of miniature 
plants of Azalea rosaflora, not exceeding 6 ins. in 
height, was shown ; one of Hydrangea stellata fl. pi., 
one of Spiraea confusa and another of Syringa vulgaris 
Lemoinei fl. pi., for the latter of which a vote of thanks 
was accorded. The rosy flower buds of Rosa lucida 
were very ornamental, and Illicium floridanum with 
deep maroon flowers, elicited some attention. E. G. 
Loder, Esq., Floore, Weedon (gardener Mr. Goldsmith) 
agaiu exhibited three well-flowered specimens of 
Myosotidium nobile, a plant most difficult to bloom ; a 
Cultural Commendation was awarded. F. A. Philbrick, 
Esq., Q.C., Oldfield, Bickley, exhibited Hexisia 
bidentata, a curious little Orchid with jointed pseudo¬ 
bulbs and short terminal racemes of scarlet flowers. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, besides a large collec¬ 
tion of Pfeonia Moutan in pots, and also cut blooms, 
exhibited a fine lot of herbaceous plants, including 
North American Cypripediums, such as C. montanum, 
the miniature C. arietinum, C. calceolus, C. pubescens, 
and C. occidentale, the first and last having a white 
labellum and brown sepals and petals, while the others 
are yellow or spotted as in C. arietinum, which is remark¬ 
able for an obconic prolongation on the under-side of 
the labellum, and the lateral sepals free almost to the 
base. No other Cypripedium has all three sepals free. 
Mr. Anthony Waterer, Knap Hill, exhibited a mixed 
group of different types of hardy Azaleas, for which a 
Bronze Banksian Medal was awarded. Both single 
and double forms were shown, all of which were 
seedlings. A vote of thanks was accorded for hybrid 
forms of A. mollis, always characterised by a profusion 
of large flowers in soft shades of red, orange, and 
yellow, and one had canary-yellow flowers. Mr. 
Charles Vuylsteke, nurseryman, Loochristy, Ghent, 
Belgium, exhibited a number of hardy hybrid Azaleas, 
apparently of A. mollis crossed with A. occidentale, 
and having large flowers in different shades of red and 
yellow. A Bronze Banksian Medal was awarded to 
Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, for 
a group of herbaceous and Alpine plants, including 
Aquilegia glandulosa, Anthemis Aizoon, a composite 
with hoary leaves ; Arnebia echioides, the Prophet 
Flower ; and varieties of Phlox subulata, such as P. s. 
nivalis and P. s. Vivid. 
Messrs. James Carter and Co., High Holborn, 
London, brought forward a collection of Mimulus, very 
dwarf in habit, and with unusually large flowers. 
Princess Victoria had crimson flowers, richly spotted 
in the throat ; and Princess Beatrice was closely 
spotted all over with crimson on a yellow ground. 
Mr. R. Dean, of Ealing, exhibited Dean’s new strain 
of Royal Blue Dwarf Cinerarias. The plants were 
healthy, evenly flowered, and very brilliant in colour. 
They were wintered without fire-heat. A vote of 
thanks was given for a well-flowered yellow Polyanthus 
named Governor, having a darker centre. Snowdrift 
was white with a yellow centre. Mr. Charles Turner, 
Slough, exhibited a seedling Pelargonium, Magpie, 
with white flowers, and a purple blotch on each petal. 
Messrs. Wood & Ingram, Huntingdon Nurseries, for¬ 
warded a seedling Pelargonium, named J. Wood 
Ingram, with deep reddish scarlet flowers. 
At the meeting of the fruit committee, Cucumbers 
were brought forward in competition for Messrs Sutton 
& Sons’ prizes. Mr. T. Lockie, The Gardens, Oakley 
Court, Windsor, carried off the first prize with a brace 
of Sutton’s Improved Telegraph ; Mr. C. J. Waite, 
The Gardens, Glenhurst, Esher, was second with a 
brace of Purley Park Hero ; and J. Downing, Esq., The 
Shrubbery, Enfield, Middlesex, was third. Mr. Lockie 
also exhibited six seedling Melons, named Beauty of 
Windsor, being the result of a cross between Dr. Hogg 
and Victory of Bath. The fruits were above the medium 
size, with pale skin and white flesh. Mr. George 
Beaton, Style Hall, Gunnersbury, forwarded three 
dishes of Pears, to show how late they would keep in 
the cool temperature of what was once used as an ice¬ 
house. The varieties were Easter Beurre, Suzette de 
Bavay, and Winter Bon Chretien. A vote of thanks 
was accorded for the exhibit. W. F. Hume Dick, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. W. Palmer), Thames Ditton House, 
Thames Ditton, exhibited a fine dish of Asparagus, and 
a dish of good-sized and well-coloured Strawberries of 
the Auguste Nicaise variety, for which a cultural 
vote of thanks was accorded. A vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. E. Ward, The Gardens, Stoke Edith 
Park, Ledbury, for an exhibit of Broccoli. 
Crystal Palace. —May 21V.—The great summer 
exhibition was held on Saturday in the Palace, where 
a great number and variety of exhibits were got 
together. Owing to the fact, however, that they were 
scattered along the entire length and breadth of the 
building, they failed to produce the striking and 
imposing effect on the visitors they would otherwise 
have done, had it been possible to mass the plants in 
the centre of the building. Azaleas, Pelargoniums, 
Orchids, Roses, Caladiums and Crotons were amongst 
the most noticeable features of the exhibition. 
In the open classes the first prize was carried off by 
Mr. W. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Hawkes- 
yard Park, Rugeley, Staffordshire, whose best plants 
were Tremandra erieaffolia, Darwinia tulipifera and 
Dracophyllum gracile ; the second by Mr. Henry 
James, Castle Nurseries, Norwood, having, amongst 
other things, Darwinia fuchsioides and Boronia 
pinnata. For Heaths in 12-in. pots, Mr. Henry James 
was the only competitor, showing a huge bush of Erica 
Cavendishiana, well-flowered E. Lindleyana and E. 
ventricosa coccinea minor. For nine greenhouse 
Azaleas, Mr. Charles Turner, The Royal Nurseries, 
Slough, was first, showing huge specimens of Reine de 
Fleurs, Due de Nassau, Madame de Canmert d’Hamale, 
&c. ; Mr. H. James was second with some good 
specimens. For eighteen Azaleas in 9-in. pots, Mr. C. 
Turner was the only competitor, with creditable 
specimens ; while he was also first in the classes for 
show and decorative Pelargoniums, fancy ones, and in 
the class for eighteen Pelargoniums, showing fine 
specimens of Amethyst, Gold Mine, Kingston Beauty, 
Ellen Beck, Princess Teck and other well-known 
varieties. Mr. D. Phillips, Langley Broom, Slough, 
was second in the first and last of the above-mentioned 
classes ; Mr. J. Wiggins, gardener to W. Clay, Esq., 
Grove Road, Kingston, was third for the show type; and 
Mr. F. Hill, gardener to H. Little, Esq., The Barons, 
Twickenham, third in the class for eighteen. 
Mr. T. N. Penfold, The Gardens, Beddington House, 
Beddington, was first for stove and greenhouse Ferns ; 
Mr. J. Bolton, Combe Bank, second ; and Mr. H. 
James third. For fine-foliage plants, exclusive of 
Palms and Ferns, Mr. T. N. Penfold was first, and 
Mr. H. James second. Fine specimens of Crotons, 
including Andreanum and Queen Victoria, were shown 
by Mr. J. R. Bird, gardener to J. A. Causton, Esq , Lodge- 
more, Alleyn Park, West Dulwich ; by Mr. H. James, 
and Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, who gained 
the first, second, and third prizes respectively. 'Mr. J. 
Lambert, gardener to H. W. Segelcke, Esq., Elfindale 
Lodge, Herne Hill, gained first prize for nine Dracaenas ; 
Mr. H. James second, and Mr. T. N. Penfold third. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co. -were awarded the first prize for 
Caladiums, showing magnificent specimens ; while Mr. 
C. Simmonds was second. Mr. A. Luff, gardener to 
R. R. Hyatt, Esq., Hetherset, Leigham Court Road, 
Streatham, was first for Gloxinias ; Mr. J. Wakeham, 
gardener to H. Barrett, Esq., Merivale, North Dulwich, 
second ; Mr. Schumacher, gardener to J. Wood, Esq., 
Alleyn Park, West Dulwich, third. Mr. A. J. Catt, 
gardener to W. Cobb, Esq., Silverdale Lodge, Syden¬ 
ham, carried off the first prize for nine Orchids; Mr. 
F. Hill being second ; and Mr. H. James third. The first 
prize for a group of not less than forty plants went to R. 
J. Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell; the 
second to Mr. C. J. Salter, gardener to J. Southgate, 
Esq., Selborne, Streatham ; the third to Mr. S. Cooke, 
gardener to De B. Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Seven- 
oaks. For a single specimen of Orchid, Mr. H. James 
was first, with Ladia purpurata, ; Mr. F. Hill second, 
with Cattleya Skinneri ; and Mr. A. J. Catt third. 
Messrs. John Laing &. Co. carried off the first prize for 
a group of plants arranged for effect. It contained 
Palms, Ferns, Crotons, some fine new Begonias (de 
scribed on another page), &c. Messrs. Hooper & Co., 
