.July 23, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
747 
Masdevallia ignea Massangeana. 
The flowers of this fine variety are upwards of 2 ins. 
across, and differ from the typical form in point of size, 
as well as colour. They are borne singly on scapes well 
elevated above the leathery evergreen foliage, and take 
rank amongst the best of the genus. The colouration 
is very intense, consisting of orange-vermilion striated 
with darker veins. The outer three segments, generally 
designated the sepals, are deeply bilabiate. The upper 
sepal is subulate and indexed, or folded over the flower, 
while the lateral ones are broad, oblong-ovate and very 
conspicuous. It is named in compliment to M. Massange 
de Louvrex, Belgium, with whom it flowered several 
years ago.— Orchid Album, t. 273. 
SCHIZOCASIA ReGNIERI. 
A beautiful Aroid under this name has been intro¬ 
duced from Siam by Regnier, whose name it com¬ 
memorates, and acquired by the Compagnie Continental 
d’Horticulture, and shows considerable affinity with 
S. Portei, already cultivated in this country. The 
petioles of the leaves are yellowish, beautifully marked 
with hieroglyphic blotches. The blade is large, 
peltate, and deeply cut into cordate, lanceolate seg¬ 
ments, and is deep green above, with prominent whitish 
nerves, and glaucous beneath, while the margins are 
undulated, adding somewhat to the appearance of the 
leaves.— I!Illustration Horticole, 5 ser., I., t. 6. 
--- 
ARDENING fjflSCELLANY. 
Lilium polyphyllum. —This Lily is not often 
seen blooming in English gardens. I believe that it is 
usually considered to require damp treatment. We 
have a plant now in flower at Oakwood, Wisley, which 
appears to show this to be a mistake. We planted it in 
1881 in a rather dry loam mound ; the stem is. now 
5 ft. 5 ins. high, and has thirteen flowers and buds. It 
carried itself well, but fearing the effect of thunder and 
rain I thought a stake desirable; the earth was so hard 
and dry that it was necessary to make a hole with a 
digger before we could force the stake down. This 
Lily is very graceful and pretty, though not showy. 
If any of your readers have seen it flowering in India, 
any hints as to its growth at home would be very 
useful.— George F. Wilson, Heatherbank, Weybridge, 
July 19 th. 
The Huntingdonian Pea. —I consider this one 
of the best of the many sorts I have tried for the general 
crop. The pods are not so large or as showy as many 
other sorts, averaging only about six peas in each, and, 
consequently, will not make as good an exhibition 
variety as some leviathans ; but its good qualities are 
appreciated when gathered young, cooked, and placed 
on the table, asit always gives satisfaction. It possesses 
a good colour, has a fine appearance, and is, I think, 
the best-flavoured Pea I have ever tasted. It is a 
heavy cropper, and has stood this season’s drought as 
well as most other sorts. The birds are very fond of 
this Pea, and when sown by the side of other varieties 
they always seem to attack this in preference to them, 
both when the young plants first appear above ground 
and also the pods, showing them to be great connoisseurs 
in taste, and thereby adding their testimony to its 
general excellence. As the Pea is such an all-round 
favourite at table, perhaps others of your subscribers 
would give us the benefit of their experience.— Alfred 
Gaut, The Gardens, Copped Hall, Totteridge. 
The Scarlet Austrian Briar. —Neither of the 
fine forms of Rosa lutea are cultivated to that extent 
which their elegant habit, fine foliage and charming 
flowers would warrant; nor would it seem that any¬ 
one has been doing much towards their improvement 
or the raising of new forms recently. That under 
notice is a charming and brilliantly-coloured form that 
has been in cultivation for many years, having been 
figured in the Botanical Magazine, t. 1077, under the 
name of Rosa lutea tricolor. This latter name was 
given from the fact that the upperside of the petals is 
scarlet, while the underside is yellow. It flowered 
grandly a short time ago at Pendell Court, Bletchinglev ; 
but from its being planted in a dry situation against 
the wall of the mansion, the duration of the flowers 
this year was not so good as on previous occasions. 
No one can deny their appropriateness and beauty in 
such positions ; but Mr. Ross is gradually getting 
collections of this and other kinds of choice ornamental 
Roses planted in beds, forming masses on the grass in 
conspicuous places. The double golden yellow variety 
has been so planted ; but from the plants being cut 
down to form a close mass all over the bed, they have 
not flowered so freely as when left unpruned—con¬ 
ditions that must be regarded in the cultivation of 
Austrian Briars. 
A Fasciated Delphinium. —A very striking 
and curious instance of fasciation in a variety of 
Delphinium exaltatum has just been brought to our 
office by Mr. S. D. Archer, 27, Furze Road, Thornton 
Heath. The stem was 41 ft. high, and is flattened 
from the base to the apex. It was thickest at the 
base where the flattening is less decided, but from 
thence upwards it becomes gradually dilated, and 
thinner till it reaches a breadth of 3| ins., aud from 
J in. to -r 3 g- i n - i a thickness, and measures 6$ ins. 
across the top where it is covered with flowers. At 
the extreme apex it breaks up into two leading points 
with a great many small points, the exact number of 
which would be difficult to determine on account of 
the flowers being densely packed on all sides of the 
stem and apex, much more thickly than would be 
admissable in a well arranged bouquet of flowers. At 
the base of the huge flattened or fasciated raceme the 
flowers are somewhat more loosely arranged, and 
numerous short lateral branches are given off as in the 
ordinary course of growth in the species. The whole 
stem is thickly clothed with leaves on all sides, almost 
to the base, and the lower half where the flattening is 
not complete has a number of depressed cavities ap¬ 
pearing as if resulting from a vacuum. Fasciation of 
Delphinium elatum has been previously recorded by 
Dr. Masters in his valuable w T ork on “ Yegetable Tera¬ 
tology, ” but he gives no particulars respecting it. 
New Miniature Sunflower. —This is a very 
pretty and useful thing. It is of dwarf, compact, 
bushy habit, and bears an abundance of single, small, 
bright golden flowers, between 3 ins. and 4 ins. in 
diameter. It is a most valuable plant for grouping in 
beds or borders, and also for cut-flower work, as the 
blooms last a long time in water. It will, I am sure, 
become a general favourite when better known.— Alfred 
Gaut, The Gardens, Copped Hall, Totteridge. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
_ _ 
■ ♦ ■ 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The Greenhouse. —As remarked in last week’s 
Calendar, a thorough re-arranging and staging should 
at once take place, which need not be repeated until 
the autumn. Of course, many of the soft-wooded 
plants must be removed from the stage as they go out 
of flower, but can readily be replaced by those kept in 
reserve for the purpose. It will be advisable to dispense 
with as many as possible of the Zonal Pelargoniums 
which have been kept flowering on for cutting purposes 
in the greenhouse ; if they are kept in a favourable 
position on a good firm bottom, and all flower stalks 
removed as they appear, they will be found most valu¬ 
able next autumn ; it is surprising how bright and 
cheerful a truss of scarlet Pelargonium looks indoors 
after the first visitation of frost. Should the plauts be 
much pot-bound, give a small shift, but if any of the 
soil of the ball is unused rather return to the same 
pot, and now and again give a dose of liquid manure 
composed of soot and cow-dung, which will keep the 
plants in robust health ; in very hot weather they may 
be sprinkled overhead after watering in the evening. 
Ferns. —As is usual in most mixed plant stoves, a 
plentiful crop of Ferns appear, and to-day we are 
potting off a good stock of Blechnums, Pteris longifolia 
and several of the hardier varieties, which are so 
extremely useful in a small pot for room decoration 
during autumn and winter, together with a good 
batch of seedling Adianturns and crested Pteris 
serrulata. While writing of Ferns, let me say 
that Davallia canariense will be found much more 
useful for all purposes if grown in quite a cool tem¬ 
perature. The fronds are very useful late in the 
season, and are good for cutting, lasting quite fresh for 
a long time in water when subjected to cool treatment. 
Achimenes have all been staked and put in pro¬ 
minent positions in the intermediate house, where, 
staged with Begonias, Ferns, and many other subjects, 
they have a pretty effect. Gesnerias having now made 
a good growth, are staged by themselves, Maidenhair 
Ferns being dotted amongst them to hide the nakedness 
of their pots. The syringe not being applied to them, 
the Fern-fronds are rendered more serviceable for cutting 
purposes. 
Poinsettias.— Our Poinsettias, which are a good 
sturdy lot and well rooted, we have shifted into 8-in. 
pots. They will be returned to the cold pit, but, for a 
time, will not be so freely ventilated ; and in case of 
very bright sunshine, a slight shading will be given 
until they take to the fresh compost. When it i3 
ascertained that the pots are full of roots, the most 
liberal treatment should be adopted in the way of 
feeding them with liquid manure. It is astonishing 
to see the quantity ol this they will take with impunity, 
to the ultimate production of bracts of enormous size. 
Artificial manures do not, as a rule, appear to suit 
these plants ; but cow, sheep, deer, or liorse-droppings, 
in conjunction with soot, used alternately, and with 
occasional applications of clear rain-water, produce the 
most favourable results. 
Bouvardias have been potted on and placed in a 
frame where a genial heat is maintained. Ventilate 
freely during the day to keep them sturdy. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Vines.—A slight appearance of spider in the Lady 
Downes and Muscat vineries has rendered the applica¬ 
tion of sulphur necessary ; the first dose appearing to 
quite clear the pest. This is more necessary in the 
case of white Grapes which are permanently disfigured, 
and rendered almost useless for dessert, if once a 
footing is established by this insect. Should we find 
any trace in a few days, a second dose will be given, 
which even in the most stubborn cases is generally 
sufficient to exterminate. Undoubtedly the season has, 
by the intense heat which has prevailed, greatly 
contributed and assisted in the establishing of red- 
spider, where, under ordinary circumstances, it would 
not have been noticed, at the same time the most 
vigorous measures must be adopted out of doors; a free 
use of the garden engine must be made, as well as 
attention being paid indoors ; in fact this is a most 
trying season. 
Strawberries. —Lose no time in completing the 
potting on of Strawberries for forcing ; late potting 
simply means unripened and consequently unfruitful 
crowns, from which, under even the most favourable 
care, only a most moderate return can be expected. 
We have planted out the succession house and frame 
of Melons, and shall at once sow for our latest batch, 
if a favourable autumn follows, these sometimes come 
in extremely useful. We once had a very good lot, 
some of the fruits weighing 13 lbs. each ; this is much 
too large for all purposes, but it was grown from seed 
supplied by a friend. The late lot we always grow in 
pots, and find them much more reliable than if 
planted out. _ 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
General Work.— We have certainly experienced a 
little relief from the few showers we have had, but 
they have been of such short duration as to make no 
impression whatever on the soil, consequently, watering 
continues a stern necessity. We have put out nearly 
all our winter stuff, and shall give one good soaking as 
the work proceeds, after which they wdll take care of 
themselves. We have lifted all the early Ashleaf 
Potatos, and the ground is again cropped ; it is quite 
useless leaving early varieties in the ground any 
longer, but they will keep much better fit for table if 
stored in a cellar, than if kept too dry. 
Turnips, &c. —We are anxious to put in a good 
breadth of Turnips for late use, and also for storing, 
but the soil is so hard and fiery that it is impossible to 
break it down ; if sown much later they never keep 
sound long. The seeds mentioned last week were all 
sown ; and in addition we have to-day (18th) made a 
sowing of Ellam’s Cabbage under cover rather than 
trust to outdoor for such a critical crop. As soon as 
the seed germinates, the boxes will be placed out of 
doors, when they will be well attended to, and when 
large enough to handle, the plants will be pricked out 
on a prepared bed ready for planting out in the early 
autumn ; the square for these is already prepared, 
with the exception of giving to the surface a good 
dressing of gas-lime.— Walter Child, Croome Court. 
