796 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 13, 1887. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar. —Now is the 
time to see that all the heating apparatus is in perfect 
order, and the boilers sound and clean, or to make 
any alterations which former experience may suggest. 
Where any of the piping has sunk out of the level, the 
dipping joints should be carefully raised and blocked 
up. The valves for regulating the temperature should 
be oiled and put into proper working order, and all 
defective points made good. When all is right, a 
coating of lampblack and oil will tend to preserve the 
pipes from rusting, and give a tidy appearance ; but, 
above all things, I wish to caution growers against 
any of the varnishes sometimes recommended by 
painters, which do serious and lasting injury to the 
plants. I have even known gas-tar recommended and 
used ; but its destructive influence on the plants was 
immediately visible, and of such a decided character, 
that nothing would thrive for years in the houses 
where the piping was so blacked. 
Where any doubts as to boiler power is felt, it is 
desirable to immediately call in an experienced person, 
to advise as to the desirability of at once putting in 
a new one. Painting the houses is an abomination to 
the Orchid grower, and a certain amount of injury is 
always done to the stock whilst in progress ; but it is 
very necessary, and should now be pushed on briskly. 
Where possible it is best to-clear one house at a time, 
and when painted and sweetened by being thrown 
open, to empty another into it, and so on, freely 
ventilating the newly painted house after refilling.— 
James O’Brien. 
Orchids from Dumfries.— Specimens of Orchids 
from Captain Maxwell, Terregles, display some good 
features. A prettily spotted Odontoglossum crispum 
has a peculiarly elongated, pandurate lip. Cattleya 
Gaskelliana delicata is a lovely pale lilac variety with 
yellow throat, C. G. superba has a very bright crimson 
labellum and white ray in the two lower sepals. The 
Cattleya Gaskelliana marked No. 12 is also a very 
bright variety, and two forms of Cattleya Eldorado are 
marked advances on C. E. splendens, both in size and 
colour. To crown all Captain Maxwell sends a splendid 
flower of a fine variety of Cattleya Mossiee imported 
many years ago, but which is equal to the best even 
among recent importations ; its colour is very bright, 
and the marbled and veined crimson and yellow 
labellum very handsomely fringed. 
Disa cornuta. —From F. W. Moore, Esq., 
Curator of the Roj'al Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 
Dublin, comes a fine spike of this pretty and 
delightfully fragrant terrestrial Orchid. The flowers, 
which are an inch across, are pale yellow, and look as 
though frosted over ; the hood is tinted with blue on 
the outside, and the trowel-shaped labellum in the 
centre is black, which forms a distinct contrast. The 
flowers are larger than those we have seen before, but 
not so densely set on the spike. 
Bartholina pectinata. —This singular terres¬ 
trial Orchid also comes from Glasnevin. Its flowers 
are singularly lacerated, and at a glance somewhat 
resemble the large Soldanellas ; the colour being blue 
and white. The fine Catasetum discolor also accom¬ 
panies it. - —_ 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Bringing tip Arrears. —During such a season as 
the present, arrears of work are hard indeed to recover, 
and we find it extremely difficult to keep all straight. 
The state of the atmosphere renders frequent dampings 
necessary, and plants that are at all pot-bound require 
looking over and watering at least twice a-day, all of 
which entails an extra amount of labour not generally 
required or desired. We have cut back the stock of 
Shotv and Fancy Pelargoniums, and placed them 
in a close frame, so as to encourage the stools to break 
as freely as possible ; but little water must be given 
them until growth is made, and unless very dry at the 
roots, the syringe is generally sufficient to start them, 
when they should be encouraged to grow freely. As 
soon as the roots are in action, the plants must be 
shook out, and subjected to partial root-pruning and 
re-potting, using pots a size or two smaller than they 
previously occupied, so as to permit of a shift later.on. 
Over-potting of these plants is always a source of 
anxiety ; for if, through over-watering, the soil should 
become soured, the stool is spoiled for the season, so 
far as a specimen plant is concerned. We have put in 
a batch of cuttings from the best autumn and winter- 
flowering varieties. These will be encouraged to grow 
on, and as soon as ready, will be shifted into 48’s and 
prepared to take the place of those which have been 
doing duty through the spring and summer. Young 
plants grown on in this way give much better trusses 
of bloom than older stock, the colour also being more 
intense, which is particularly desirable in the autumn 
months. 
Eupatoriums. —Our last season’s batch of Eupa- 
toriums were cut back after flowering, and later on 
given a shift into 8-in. pots; they have made good stuff, 
and have now been transferred to the greenhouse stages, 
where we find them extremely useful for cutting from, 
as they flower so very freely. As an edging to the 
stages, we are this season using a quantity of double 
Portulacas, and with their great diversity of colouring, 
they look extremely pretty ; many of the blooms, too, 
come in very useful for button-hole work. Hedychiums 
are now throwing up some splendid heads of bloom, 
and are much admired when cut, but the odour emitted 
is too powerful to allow of more than one spike in any 
room. 
The Intermediate House is quite gay with 
Achimenes, tuberous Begonias and other kindred 
subjects. We have potted on our seedling Cyclamen, 
and also the best of last year’s batch ; they occupy 
shelves in this structure, which suits them admirably, 
being near to the glass, and the temperature maintained 
sufficiently to keep them always growing. Bouvardias 
we have placed in a heated pit; they do not succeed 
thoroughly unless specially treated—that is, by growing 
the plants first, and then gradually hardening them 
off and ripening the wood. In the autumn they 
bear a greenhouse temperature well, and flower freely. 
Gesnerias and Tydeas are making a capital growth, and 
we have been obliged to give them a part of the stage 
to themselves ; if cramped early in the season the 
foliage does not fully develop, and in this point, 
generally speaking, lies much of their beauty. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
The excessive drought will not admit of the 
cutting of turf for the preparation of soil for the 
lifting of Vines or Peach trees, but should rain come 
(which, at the time of writing, appears as far off as 
ever), lose no time in securing the requisite quantity. 
Bear in mind that the frequent transplanting of Peach 
trees subject to forcing is an absolute necessity ; if 
allowed to remain too long without being lifted, a 
strong watery growth is the outcome, producing little 
or no fruit and always of inferior quality ; should such 
growth make its appearance, do not fail to lift the trees 
as soon as the crop of fruit is gathered ; by carefully 
treating the trees after the operation, the next season’s 
crop is not interfered with as regards quantity, so 
amenable to treatment are they. Should the weather 
be very bright and dry keep the house rather close 
throughout the day and shade the roof with mats ; also 
keep the trees frequently syringed, the interference 
with the roots will then be but little felt and they will 
quickly root into the new soil. 
Vineries. —As the crops are removed from the 
vineries they must be attended to ; old Vines, which 
naturally become exhausted, can be kept in good con¬ 
dition for many years by careful treatment ; and now 
is the time for it to be done so that next season’s crop 
may receive the full benefit. Go carefully over the 
whole of the border, forking it up until plenty of roots 
are found ; let all surface soil be removed and replaced 
with a coating of specially prepared rich compost, 
using, according to fancy, artificial manures, but being 
very careful not to omit giving plenty of fine bones 
and bone dust. Clay’s, Beeson’s, and such manures 
are much more effectual if used when the Vines are in 
active growth. _ 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
"Watering. —Affairs in this department remain in 
much the same trying condition as before, watering of 
all crops being an absolute necessity. The thick 
mulchings and copious waterings which we gave to 
Peas and Beans have been of much service, as we are 
now getting an abundant supply of the latter. Celery 
makes but little progress, although well attended to, 
Cauliflowers are also anything but satisfactory, many 
of them having prematurely turned in. All those so 
inclined have been removed, and the square made good 
with younger plants. 
Potatos, as a rule, must be small and very light 
in the yield ; from a square of Cosmopolitan we are 
digging quite a good sample, which are of extra quality. 
As soon as time can be found we must lift the second- 
early kinds, for should rain come it would only cause 
them to start into growth, and so spoil the crop. 
Turnips are well up ; but as food is scarce we find the 
birds rather troublesome, and have to protect the bed. 
Seed Sowing. —If not already done, no time must 
be lost in preparing the ground for the sowing of 
"Winter Spinach, Cauliflower, Lettuce, and Tripoli 
Onions. It will be far better not to use a freshly dug 
square or border, on account of the drought. Rather 
select a portion in good heart, subjecting it to a deep 
scuffling, so that a proper surface to receive the seed 
may be secured, and if very dry after the drills are 
drawn, let them be well watered, covering the seed 
with old soil from the potting-bench. We have pricked 
out a good bed of Neapolitan Lettuce, which we find 
to be excellent; but the very best we have yet grown 
is one new to us this season — White Chavigny. — 
Walter Child, Croorae Court, Worcester. 
-->*<*- 
FLORICULTURE. 
*♦*- 
The National Carnation and Picotee Society, 
Northern Section. —This exhibition took place at 
Manchester on Friday the 5th inst., and was held in 
the new annexe of the Exhibition Palace, the various 
exhibits being arranged on tables placed along the 
centre. Compared with London and Oxford it was a 
small show, and it lacked the splendid quality seen at 
the latter. But the hot and dry weather had seriously 
affected the flowers, and some who had entered found 
themselves unable to exhibit. With the solitary ex¬ 
ception of Mr. C. Turner, of Slough, no southern or 
midland grower put in an appearance, and the northern 
men had it to themselves. Air. R. Lord was in fine 
form, as at Oxford, and Messrs. B. Simonite and J. 
Whitham came up well also ; but purity was wanting 
in many blossoms. There was a good deal of what the 
growers term “fogginess,” as the flowers do not bleach 
well in a hot and dry season. 
In the open to all division the leading class was for 
twelve dissimilar Carnations, and five prizes were 
offered. There were five competitors, and Mr. Robert 
Lord, florist, Hole Bottom, Todmorden, was first, with 
blooms showing the fine quality seen in the Todmorden 
flowers at Oxford: he had C.B. Master Fred, P.P.B. 
William Skirving, S.B. Fred, C.B. Thomas Moore, 
S.B. Robert Lord, R. F. Rob Roy, C.B. Shirley Hibberd, 
S.F. Henry Cannell, P. P. B. Squire Llewellyn, P.F. 
James Douglas, S.F. Tom Lord and S.B. Admiral 
Curzon. Mr. B. Simonite, Rough Bank, Sheffield, 
came in a good second ; third, Mr. J. Beswiek, 
Middleton ; fourth, Mr. F. Law, Carnation Gardens 
Rochdale; fifth, Mr. George Geggie, Waterloo Nursery, 
Bury. 
There were also five stands of twelve Picotees, and 
here also Mr. R. Lord was first with an excellent stand, 
having good blooms of H. Red E. Morna, H. Rose 
E. Mrs. Payne, L. Red E. Thomas Williams, R.H. 
Rose E. Lady Louisa, H. Rose E. Mr. Sharpe, L. Purple 
E. Ann Lord, L. Rose E. Mrs. Aldcroft, H. Red E. 
John Smith, H. Purple E. Mrs. A. Chancellor, L. 
Purple E. Cynthia, L. Purple E. Clara Penson, and 
H. Purple E. Zerlina ; second, Mr. J. Beswiek, Middle- 
ton ; third, Mr. B. Simonite: fourth, Mr. F. Law ; 
fifth, Mr. George Geggie. 
Then followed two classes, one for twelve Carnations 
and the other for twelve Picotees, nine at least to be 
dissimilar in each case, open only for growers of five 
hundred pans or less. Mr. John Whitham, Hebden 
Bridge, Yorkshire, was first, with C.B. Master Fred, 
S.B. Admiral Curzon, P.P.B. William Skirving, S.B. 
Fred, S.B. Thomas Storer, P.F. Florence Nightingale, 
R. F. Crista-galli, P.P.B. Thomas Anstiss, S.B. Robert 
Lord, P.P.B. William Skirving, S.B. Thomas Storer, 
and S. F. Tom Lord ; second, Mr. F. Law ; third, Mr. 
W. Taylor, Middleton ; fourth, Mr. John Whittaker, 
Roy ton ; fifth, Mr. J. Thorniley, Middleton. There 
were nine competitors in this class, but six only in that 
for twelve Picotees, Mr. J. Whitham again taking first 
honour, with H. Red E. Brunnette, H.P.E, Zerlina 
