828 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 27, 1887. 
possessed of a fragment of garden ground can grow 
them ; that they are, in fact, flowers for the million, 
and need no encomiums, as they carry their own recom¬ 
mendations with them. TVe feel quite unable to give 
them their due meed of praise, or describe a tithe of 
them, so varied are their tints and shades, all of which 
are fascinating. They do not possess the huge di¬ 
mensions of some strains, due to a certain extent 
probably to the arid atmosphere of the summer we 
have just passed through. We may say that they 
range from the purest snowy white, with a small and 
neat yellow eye, to a jet-black with a similar central 
spot; and one would naturally conclude that the 
grower had been collecting and selecting for a number 
of years to secure such a varied range of colours. Some 
of the whites present violet blotches on three of the 
lower petals, with a faint but pleasing tint of mauve 
on the upper petals. One flower was of a clean pale 
sulphur or primrose, a colour much in vogue amongst 
those having some pretensions to taste. Blues are 
represented by shades similar to the old Blue King, 
Cliveden Blue, Holyrood, with, of course, endless 
combinations of blue, white, violet, purple, and yellow. 
White-edged varieties, with a ground colour of purple, 
rose and violet, represent a strain we frequently receive 
from Germany. Irregularly striped or flaked flowers 
in velvety maroon, purple, and fiery orange, remind 
us of some Picotees of the fancy class. Brilliant yellow 
buff colours and orange tints were also noticeable, and, 
all things considered, we must give preference to the 
limitless variety presented by home-grown strains of 
seed. 
-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Lselia Turneri Littleana. —A grand specimen 
of this was kindly sent by Henry Little, Esq., of The 
Barons, Twickenham, to Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’s 
Rooms in Cheapside on Friday last for Orcbidists to 
see. Mr. Hill has put some splendid growth on the 
plant, and the last growth is about 3 ft. in height, 
hearing about a dozen flowers, the sepals and petals of 
which are rose-coloured like L. Turneri (L. elegans 
Turneri of gardens); the lip is tubular, but broadly 
expanding in the front, of a glowing carmine-crimson 
colour, which extends over the side as well as over 
the front lobe. The throat is pure white, and although 
the plant differs materially from the original L. Turneri, 
it may be regarded as the highest example in that 
direction. 
Lselia elegans. —While on this subject I may as 
well ask what is Lselia elegans, and again give my 
views on the subject? The name is applied to one of 
the most variable and dissimilar groups of Orchids, but 
which is so easy to divide into two well-defined and 
distinct sections, as to leave it inexcusable to allow 
them to remain under one name. My opinion is, that 
they are as much Cattleyas as Lselias, and both 
sections of hybrid origin, the white or blush-petalled 
(usually named L. elegans Schilleriana) being crosses 
both ways between Laelia purpurata and Cattleya 
intermedia, and the rose-petalled or Turneri section 
between Cattleya guttata (Leopoldi) and Ltelia pur¬ 
purata. In every respect the plants and flowers are 
in different degrees intermediate between the parents I 
have named, the Turneri varieties even always showing 
traces of the spotting of C. guttata on the sepals, and 
its peculiar corrugation of the lip. I have dried off 
examples of each of those I have named, and also the 
varieties of so-called L. elegans, which I regarded as 
their progeny, and I found convincing proofs of the 
correctness of my judgment in the matter by the more 
visible resemblance they have to each as they decayed. 
Taking the test for L*lia to be eight pollen masses 
developed, and for Cattleya four developed and four 
rudimentary, 1 always find the plants called Lselia 
elegans in this respect to be more Cattleya than Lselia, 
four of the pollen masses being but partially developed, 
and in some cases no more visible than in Cattleya 
labiata. In Warner’s Select Orchidaceous Plants 
Turner’s variety is figured as L. Turneri, and that 
should be the specific name around which its varieties 
should be grouped, leaving L. elegans for the other 
section, provided it be determined to retain the name 
Laelia for them. It would be as well to do so, per¬ 
haps, as it would be as correct as Cattleya .—James 
O'Brien. 
Stanhopea oculata. —Two very distinct forms 
of this fine species flowered recently in the collection of 
Messrs. Shuttleworth, Carder & Co. at Clapham. That 
which may be described as the type, has the sepals and 
petals heavily spotted with lilac-purple on a yellow 
ground, while the labellum is closely spotted with 
black, and has two large black blotches on the sides of 
the hypochile. The other form is much more boldly 
marked, and may be considered in many respects 
superior to the type. The sepals and petals in this 
case are golden yellow, with a few large blotches on 
each ; the labellum is also golden yellow at the base 
with the customary and conspicuous eye spots, from 
whence the specific name has been derived, while the 
upper portion, including the horns, are white, marked 
with numerous small spots. In any of its numerous 
forms it is a free-flowering and very showy Orchid, and 
its odour is very agreeable, and by no means over¬ 
powering. 
Masdevallia Peristeria. —The flowers of this 
species are described as honey-coloured, which may 
be true to a certain extent ; but they are also 
densely marked with brown spots, most conspicuous 
internally, whilst externally they are traversed with 
strong greenish yellow ribs. The petals, on the other 
hand, are pure white, and the lip amethyst—a curious 
combination in the genus. The flowers are solitary 
and large individually, the tube being short and wide, 
showing off the petals and labellum to advantage, 
which assume the attitude seen in P. elata, the Dove 
Orchid. The species belongs to the Coriacea section, 
and is both distinct and pretty. The above curious 
characters we noted in the collection at Sudbury 
House, Hammersmith. 
An Erratic Cypripedium. — A remarkably 
abnormal form of Cypripedium Lowii has reached 
us from Mr. Sharpe, gardener to A. Curie, Esq., 
Priorwood, Melrose, having been sent by Messrs. 
Thomson & Sons, Clovenfords. In the specimen in 
question the lateral sepals—normally united by their 
contiguous edges, forming one piece, and supporting 
the labellum —are in this instance free to the very 
base, reflexed behind the ovary, and distant from the 
labellum. The petals, on the other hand, are united 
by their edges to the upper sepal to within 1*5 in. of the 
tip of the latter ; but being longer than that organ, 
they curve or converge towards one another, forming 
an arch over the sepal. The petals, although adnate in 
the way stated, retain their respective colours, which 
are, however, much intensified, the spotting on the 
lower half of those organs being very dark, and the 
upper half a deep rich purple. The other organs of 
the flower appear quite normal. 
--- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
- ♦ 
■ ♦ - 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Tuberous Begonias. —The main batch of tuberous 
Begonias should now be at their best, but to keep them 
so for any length of time a little warmth should be 
afforded to the pipes, in the house in which they are 
staged, morning and evening. It must be remembered 
that these plants are most impatient of damp resting 
upon the foliage ; in fact, unless the temperature of the 
structure is kept light and buoyant, both flowers and 
foliage quickly spoil. It will greatly assist in their 
keeping, also, if the pots are staged on inverted 60’s, 
that all danger of stagnation at the roots may he 
avoided ; the bulbs, too, under these conditions ripen 
more satisfactorily and, consequently, keep or winter 
better. 
The batch of Gloxinias for autumn and winter¬ 
flowering must be potted up without further delay, as, 
if treated as advised, they will now be fairly started 
into growth ; do not allow for shifting on, and use 
pots of rather smaller size than for spring and summer 
flowering ; a little assistance in the way of liquid 
manure water will compensate for loss of root room, 
and they will flower more freely than if over-potted. 
Hedychiums are now supplying us with some grand 
flower spikes, in fact, better than usual ; how noble 
they look in a mixed collection ! added to which, the 
perfume is delicious. Continue to liberally treat them 
so that the latest growths may be induced to flower ; 
but when all growths are up, and autumn advances, 
they must be kept rather drier, but at no time allowed 
to suffer. Caladiums, as they go past their best, 
should be removed from the house to the cold frames, 
where they may be allowed to gradually dry off and 
ripen preparatory to storing them ; if those to ripen 
early are noted and stored by themselves they will be 
found to start next season with less trouble and con¬ 
siderably in advance of the main batch. That useful 
little variety Argyrites may be encouraged to grow for 
some time to come, although from now onwards green¬ 
fly may be expected to infest them; a slight fumigation 
now and again will be found the best means of keeping 
them clean. Let all care be taken of spring-flowering 
stuff, such as 
Wallflowers, Campanulas, Silene, &c., the dry 
weather having much retarded their growth, and at 
best the plants will be smaller than usual for autumn 
bedding out. Our earliest Cinerarias are now quite 
ready for their final shift, which will be into 8 -in. size. 
They are well rooted, and now only require head and 
root-room to develope ; the late batch are making a 
good start, and will be encouraged, but they must not 
at any time be coddled. Primulas we have staged in a 
pit by themselves, and are a good sturdy lot of plants. 
We have a good stock of herbaceous Calceolarias, and 
as soon as they are large enough to handle they will be 
pricked out singly into 60’s, and returned to the cold 
pits until well on in the autumn, when wanner quar¬ 
ters must be found for them. As Chrysanthemums 
advance in growth, let the necessary ties be put to 
them so that all danger of breakage by storms may be 
avoided ; ours are a first-rate lot, and we never re¬ 
member them so robust as they are this season. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Although thus early in the season, attention must 
be paid to winter supply, particularly to Cucumbers 
and French Beans ; our plants of the former have been 
shifted into 32’s, and placed on a shelf near to the 
glass, so as to make them as firm in growth as possible. 
This is of the greatest importance at this season of the 
year ; if kept in strong heat or plunged they grow too 
vigorously, and are quite unable to withstand the 
dreary month of November, when they ought, if 
properly treated, to be yielding a supply of fruit. It 
is rather too soon to sow those for spring fruiting; it is 
far better to defer sowing, and then keep the plants 
always growing, than to be obliged to resort to stop¬ 
ping in the middle of winter, which is at all times an 
objectionable practice. The heated pits, which have 
been used for Cucumber growing, have now been sown 
with French Beans ; by this means we avoid sowing in 
pots, as under such conditions they give but a poor 
return in the autumn. The variety we find the most 
serviceable is Osborne’s Prolific, and although we have 
been induced to try new and would-be better ones, we 
have been compelled to return to our old love. Con¬ 
tinue the collecting and drying of the necessary 
droppings for the making up of 
Mushroom Beds, for there will evidently be but 
few to be had of out-door growth, so it is necessary 
that no time should be lost in the making-up of the 
beds. See that the borders in both vineries and Peach- 
houses, from which the fruit is gathered, do not 
become too dry. In the case of the former, liquid 
manure should be given, so that next season’s crop 
may be assisted, and in each case let the occupants of 
the houses be freely syringed at least twice a day, and 
should there be any trace of scale on the Peach trees 
let them be syringed with tobacco-water, or any other 
insecticide, according to fancy ; this is far les3 
dangerous than subjecting the trees to a winter 
dressing. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Celery should now be encouraged to grow as rapidly 
as possible, and a dressing or two of superphosphate 
will be found beneficial to the crop. The early batch 
ought to be ready for use, but unfortunately through 
the drought ours is later than usual. Earthing up 
must be done while the plants are quite dry, taking 
care that the soil is kept out of the hearts during the 
operation. Cardoons are growing very strongly, and 
through the scarcity will come in useful later on. 
The Onion Crop is much smaller than usual, and 
quite ready for lifting, which will be done this week. 
It is useless to leave them any longer in the ground, as 
all growth is dying, and there is danger of their again 
starting into growth if allowed to remain, in which 
