748 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 23, 1887. 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Cattleya gigas Shuttleworthii. — This 
superb Cattleya is now flowering for the third time 
in Messrs. Shuttleworth, Carder & Co.’s collection, at 
191, Park Road, Clapham, and will take its place 
amongst the notable and valuable things that find 
their way into collections where good things are 
prized. The pseudo-bulbs have gradually gained in 
size from the earliest of the series yet retained by 
the plant, and at present seven healthy leaves on 
as many pseudo-bulbs are borne by this variety ; 
these are oblong, rigid, and of a healthy deep 
green colour, the longest being somewhat over a foot 
in length. From the huge spathe three flowers 
emerged, and owing to the great heat which then 
prevailed, rapidly developed and expanded. This 
rapidity of growth was somewhat unfavourable to their 
best development, causing them to be smaller than 
usual, but, notwithstanding, the flowers are large and 
extremely handsome. The sepals and petals are of a 
soft rose, the latter being large and undulated, bearing 
occasionally a few large rich crimson blotches. The 
labellum is of the usual large size, with, however, a 
shorter deep purple tube, and a large expanded rich 
purple lamina, which is beautifully undulated and 
crisped at the margin. The throat is closely striped 
with purple and yellow, but the whole flower derives 
character and is greatly enlivened by a golden yellow 
and white blotch on each side of the orifice of the 
tube, and this is the more conspicuous on account of 
the dark colour of the rest of the lip. 
Erratic Oypripediums.— Instances of normally- 
coherent organs becoming disunited, and imitating 
others already existing, frequently occur in one or 
other genus of the great Orchid family. Occasionally 
we have instances of this kind in Oypripediums ; but 
the union of normally-free parts would seem to be rare, 
or by no means of common occurrence. Excepting in 
C. arietinum, there are only five free parts or segments 
of the perianth ; while in most other genera of the 
Orchid family there are six. A case has occurred in 
C. Lawrencianum, at Clapham, in the collection of 
Messrs. Shuttleworth, Carder & Co., where the originally 
six parts have become reduced to three—that is, the 
anterior and dorsal sepals and the lip. The dorsal 
sepal, generally known as the standard, is the centre of 
interest in this case, and has three short points, which 
represent the standard and the two petals. The whole 
three, taken together, are only about half the usual 
width of the standard alone, and the outer margins 
have the characteristic spots of the petals of C. Law¬ 
rencianum, with their colour. The central stripe 
represents the standard, and has the same tint. 
Instances of another kind were seen in specimens of 
C. Veitchii, shown at the Chiswick Horticultural 
Society’s show, on the 14th inst., by Henry Little, 
Esq., The Barons, Twickenham. Two specimens had 
each two lips, arising from some abnormal cause. In 
one case the normal lip was present ; but inside of this, 
and apparently quite perfect, was another and some¬ 
what smaller one, situated a little to the right of the 
median line of the column. In another case, the 
normal lip was evidently suppressed, and the position 
occupied by two distinct lips—somewhat smaller than 
usual, but quite perfect—inserted right and left of the 
median line of the corolla. The significance of this 
would be that through some accidental or other cause 
the normal lip had been suppressed, which caused two 
other organs usually adhering to, or forming part of, 
the column to become separated, and to simulate the 
true lip. 
Masdevallia demiesa. —Amongst a large col¬ 
lection of Masdevallias flowering with Messrs. 
Shuttleworth, Carder & Co., at Park Road, Clapham, 
may be seen this new species recently named by 
Reichenbach, belonging to the Coriacea section. The 
flowers are borne singly on peduncles that fall a little 
short of the leaves ; they are of medium size, with a deep 
metallic shining brown tube, and deflexed yellow tails 
about 1 in. long. The interior of the flower is also of a 
fine metallic brown, and altogether the flower is both 
distinct and pretty, and many times larger than others 
of recent introduction, concerning which so much has 
been said. The leaves are sub-erect, spathulate obovate, 
of a deep shining green, and 3 ins. or 4 ins. long, from 
which an idea of the general habit and appearance of 
the plant may be gleaned. 
Cypripedium javanico - superbiens. —As 
may be gathered from the name, this distinct Cypri¬ 
pedium is a hybrid between C. javanicum and C. 
superbiens, otherwise known as C. Veitchianum. The 
large standard is greenish with white veins, and the 
oblong petals also show some of the same green tint 
derived from C. javanicum, but they are closely spotted 
with blackish purple all over, and also have the rose tint, 
all of which is common to C. superbiens. The foliage 
is beautifully marked with two distinct shades of green, 
or green and greyish white. 
-- 
FLO RICULT URE. 
A Selection of Fine Auriculas. —Can plants of 
the best Auriculas be had ? is a question put by those 
desirous of adding to their collections. I can answer 
this question satisfactorily by saying, Yes. I am of 
opinion that a novice in the art of Auricula culture 
should start with a selection of the improved cheap 
varieties by way of seeing what he can do, and then if 
the liking for Auriculas, and his capacity to grow them 
progresses alike, he should then add some “ cracks,” and 
discard the weakest in his collection. I know this is a 
doctrine that finds little favour with some growers, but 
I know it is backed by others of experience, and I stand 
by it. A young beginner can start with a select few, 
that he can purchase at from 2s. 6c7. to 5s. each, and 
he can get “cracks”at from 7s. 6tf. to 21s. each. It does 
seem a pity to buy expensive varieties, and ruin them 
from inefficiency of culture before the ’prentice hand has 
tried to show what it is capable of doing. 
How as to the “Cracks.” What can be had ? Take 
the green edges, and such fine varieties as Colonel 
Taylor, Booth’s Freedom, Prince of Greens, the Rev. F. 
D. Horner, and Talisman can be had without difficulty. 
Of grey edges : Alexander Meiklejohn, C. E. Brown, 
Campbell’s Confidence, Dr. Horner (Read), George 
Lightbody, John Waterston, Lancashire Hero, and 
Douglas’s Mrs. Moore and Silvia. Of white edges: 
Acme, Beauty (Traill), Conservative, Frank Simonite, 
Glory, John Simonite, always very scarce and dear, 
Smiling Beauty and True Briton. Of seifs : Woodhead’s 
Black Bess, C. J. Perry, Duke of Albany (Douglas), 
Lord of Lome, Mr. Douglas, Pizarro and Sapphire 
(Horner). I have no doubt that I lay myself open to 
the charge that I have included in the foregoing list 
a few varieties that can hardly be properly designated 
“cracks,” but I can say of them that they are all good 
enough to be placed in a pan of twelve varieties, and 
I may add that Mr. Horner’s grand dark self, Heroine, 
is in course of being distributed by Mr. B. Simonite, 
at a big price of course, but it is worthy of it; and 
our old friend Ben is also distributing a new white edge 
of his own raising, which he has named Heatherbell, 
and which he describes as being extra fine.— It. D. 
-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Wirral Rose Show. — July 20th. —The annual 
exhibition of this society was held in Hamilton Square 
Gardens, Birkenhead, on Wednesday last, but the 
exhibits were considerably below the average of this 
usually most successful gathering, both as regards the 
quality and number of blooms staged. In the section 
open to nurserymen, Messrs. Harkness k Sons, Bedale, 
Yorks, took the first prize for seventy-two trusses, 
distinct, and for thirty-six trebles, being the only 
exhibitors in these classes. For thirty-six single 
trusses, Messrs. James Dickson & Sons, Chester, were 
first; Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, Chester, 
second ; and Messrs. G. & W. H. Burch, Peterborough, 
third. Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons, G. & W. H. Burch, 
and F. & A. Dickson & Sons were placed in the order 
named for eighteen triplets. Teas, which are generally 
staged so well, were not represented in the nurserymen’s 
section. 
In the amateurs’ class for thirty-six varieties, single 
blooms, the Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Romford, had the 
premier collection ; and T. B. Hall, Esq., Rock Ferry, 
followed with a well-formed lot of flowers; W. J. Grant, 
Esq., Ledbury, being third. W. Boyes, Esq., Derby, 
had the best twenty-four varieties, staging fresh bright 
specimens, and J. E. Backhouse, Esq., Darlington, 
and E. J. Day, Esq., Rowton, were second and thiid 
in the order named. For twelve triplets the prizes were 
awarded in the same order as for the thirty-six singles. 
For the best twelve Teas or -Noisettes, single trusses, 
Mr. Pemberton again came to the front, followed 
by T. B. Hall, Esq., and W. J. Grant, Esq. 
For the best twelve of any one light variety, 
T. B. Hall, Esq., was the only competitor, W. Boyes, 
Esq., being in a similar position for six new Roses. 
For twenty-four varieties, single trusses, open to all 
amateurs in Cheshire and Lancashire, the first prize 
and Gold Medal was gained by Alfred Tate, Esq., 
Wool ton, with a well-balanced lot of blooms ; T. B. 
Hall, Esq., being a very close second ; and the Rev. L. 
Garnet, Christleton, third. The remaining classes were 
local, D. Walford, Esq., Spital, taking the Cup for 
twelve varieties, single trusses; Miss Squarey, Bebington, 
the first prize for six varieties ; and E. Claxton, Esq., 
Allerton, first for twelve varieties, single blooms, Tea or 
Noisette. For six varieties, the Rev. Canon Fielden, 
Bebington, and C. K. Hall, Esq., were first and second. 
For the best box of six Tea and six hybrid perpetuals, 
with their own foliage or Fern, T. B. Hall, Esq., was 
first with small rich-coloured blooms arranged on a 
' groundwork of Adiantum cuneatum ; The Rev. Canon 
Fielden second. The latter exhibitor also secured the 
Bronze Medal for the best Tea or Noisette, and 
T. B. Hall, Esq., that for the best hybrid perpetual in 
the local divisions. 
Mr. S. Johnson, South Grove Nurseries, was awarded 
an extra first prize for a well-arranged table of plants, 
consisting of stove and greenhouse-flowering and foliage, 
with good Gloxinias, Carnations, Palms, &c. ; also a 
similar award for cut Roses. Mr. William Henderson, 
nurseryman, staged a useful and interesting group, in¬ 
cluding stove and greenhouse-flowering and foliage 
plants, with Ferns and a selection of coniferse and 
evergreens in pots. 
St. Ann’s Amateur Floral and Horti¬ 
cultural, Nottingham.— The twenty-sixth annual 
exhibition of this society was held on Monday and 
Tuesday last, and was, in every way, a decided success. 
The liberal prizes offered in the various classes brought 
out good and keen competitions, as may well be 
imagined from the fact that nowhere in the United 
Kingdom is there more enthusiasm among amateurs 
than in the town of Nottingham. At Hunger Hill, 
near the town, over 2,000 amateurs have gardens, and 
wonderfully well they are managed. Rose culture is 
carried on with great spirit, and some really splendid 
blooms were staged by the various exhibitors. 
For a group of plants arranged for effect, there was a 
fine competition. The whole were arranged so as, when 
completed, to form one large group, which had a 
splendid effect. This was formed by Mr. Thacker, the 
president, who contributed many well-grown novelties 
of sterling merit. The other classes for plants and cut 
flowers contained some well-grown specimens. The 
fruit was fair and the vegetables good, considering the 
dryness of the season. The prizes were distributed by 
A. Morley, Esq., M.P., who, in a few well-chosen 
words, addressed the various competitors in a very 
encouraging manner, promising them his support in 
the future. The show was well attended, and the 
public of Nottingham have Mr. S. Thacker, the 
energetic president, to thank for once more giving them 
such a floral treat. This gentleman was ably assisted 
by Mr. O’Hara, who carried out the arduous duties of 
secretary in a very satisfactory manner. — A. 0. 
Chiswick Horticultural.— July nth.— The 
annual show of this comparatively young society was 
held in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
Chiswick, and the exhibits were arranged in the big 
vinery and in three large marquees erected on the grass. 
The summer show is annually increasing in importance 
and the competition becomes keener. The weather 
was most auspicious, which drew out a large attendance 
of visitors in the afternoon. 
Groups, both for aud not for competition, were the 
chief feature of the largest marquee, and many of them 
were of superior merit. Mr. W. Brown, St. Mary’s 
Grove, Richmond, carried off the first prize, including 
the Jubilee Challenge Cup for the year, with a taste¬ 
fully and gracefully arranged group ; Messrs. Hooper 
& Co., Covent Garden, were a very close second ; and 
Messrs. Fromow & Sons, Sutton Court Nursery, Chis¬ 
wick, came in third. Mr. J. Prewett, Swiss Nursery, 
Hammersmith, was awarded the Silver Cup, as first 
prize, for a group of twenty-five plants in flower ; 
E. H. Watts, Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick (gardener, 
Mr. A. Wright), came in second, receiving the Silver 
Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society ; while E. M. 
