October 29, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
141 
Vitality of Orchids. —If we compare the cul¬ 
tivation of Orchids at the present time with their 
treatment some years ago, when their habits were but 
little understood, we cannot help being struck with 
the contrast. Then they were grown in a condition of 
high pressure, which lost to us many gems ; the natural 
result of the protest of nature against this treatment. 
Now that they receive a more natural treatment, we 
have many fine collections in different parts of the 
country. Where can we see finer or healthier plants 
than at Glasnevin or in Dr. Paterson’s collection ; 
taking these two as representative collections ? But 
Orchids are long-suffering plants ; they will bear a 
variety of treatments. Some of the finest Cattleyas I 
ever saw were at the nursery of Messrs. J. & R. Thynne, 
Kelvinside, Glasgow. These were grown in baskets, 
suspended in the Croton house, where they got a large 
amount of heat all the year round, very little air, and 
what I should consider a superabundance of moisture. 
In spite of this they throve amazingly, and did not by 
their appearance disgrace the splendid collection of 
Crotons and Palms they were growing amongst. I have 
seen Orchids again, in some out-of-the-world nursery, 
growing amidst a mixed collection of cool-house plants, 
exposed to extremes of temperature, and yet healthy 
and thriving enough to disgrace many an Orchid 
specialist.— J. H. Tacy Peek, Blaby, Leicestershire. 
Catasetum longifolium. —A plant of this 
curious and pretty Demerara Orchid appeared in flower 
at Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’s Sale Rooms, Cheap- 
side, on the 21st inst. It appears to prefer grow¬ 
ing head downwards, with its long narrow leaves 
drooping over the pendent racemes of wax-like flowers, 
of which there were three or four in various stages on 
the plant in question. The sepals and petals are 
reddish brown, and the pouch, which is singularly 
bent backwards, is of much the same colour, with an 
orange ring round the mouth, which above the orange 
is coloured at the edge with blackish purple, the whole 
finished with a fringe of the same colour. There are 
from ten to fifteen flowers in a raceme, and in the point 
of colour the different plants show much change, one 
finely-flowered specimen, which we saw in flower with 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, being of a different tint to the 
variety here mentioned. 
The Curious Growth of Calanthe Veitchii 
mentioned in your last issue as taking place at Gun- 
nersbury Park, is also to be seen in our collection on 
several plants of the same variety. The bracts of the 
flower stems being so long and broad, I was under the 
impression that new bulbs were being produced for 
some few days, and had an idea of removing them ; 
but remembering a similar occurrence a few years ago 
I determined to let them remain, and the result is 
very strong spikes of bloom. Perhaps it will be from 
such spikes that some fortunate individual may get a 
branch some day. It may be interesting to know if 
this peculiarity is seen in other collections ; also if the 
extra bright summer has been the cause of it.— N. 
Blandford, Moor Hill, Southampton, Oct. 22nd. 
Oncidium varicosum.— One of the gayest of 
Orchids at this period of the year is the Oncid just 
mentioned, which seems to grow very satisfactorily, 
whether attached to a block or grown in a pot or 
basket. The latter method of treatment, however, 
seems admirably adapted for displaying its natural 
habit and beauty to the best advantage ; while, at the 
same time, perfect drainage is ensured, and free play is 
given to the roots of this epiphyte to ramble over the 
woodwork of the basket as they would on a raft. A 
greater evenness or regular supply of moisture would 
be held by the material in a basket, thereby greatly 
assisting the plant during its growth. A grand 
branching panicle, bearing over 100 flowers, has been 
sent to us by Mr. J. Routledge, Freeland Gardens, 
Forgandenny, Perthshire, and the plant bearing it is 
grown in a 5-in. basket. The size and colour of the 
flowers are so good that we felt very much inclined to 
call it 0. v. Rogersii. In the originally-described 
type, the sepals and petals are dull green banded with 
dull brown ; but in this case they are barred with the 
latter colour on a clear and distinct yellow ground. 
The lip, as usual, is the most conspicuous organ of the 
flower, being large, two to four-lobed in front, and of a 
bright golden yellow colour. 
Oncidium prastextum. — A handsome and 
branching spike of this highly ornamental species has 
been sent us by Mr. J. Routledge, Freeland House 
Gardens, Forgandenny, Perthshire. It is so fine a 
variety as to be with difficulty distinguished from a 
form of 0. crispum ; and the chief means of distin¬ 
guishing it seems to be the more freely-branching and 
graceful panicle of flowers, which are smaller than 
those of 0. crispum. For 0. prastextum, however, 
they are large, and in every way testify to good cultural 
treatment. In the typical form the sepals and petals 
are brown margined and broken with bars of yellow, 
the lip also being more conspicuously marked in this 
respect; but the specimens before us have sepals and 
petals of a uniform deep chestnut-brown, while the lip 
is also of the same colour, with a large creamy or pale 
yellow blotch below the middle, more or less broken 
with brown blotches and spots both in front of and over 
the conspicuous yellow crest. The flowers are possessed 
of a very agreeable (but in the state in which we 
received it not very strong) odour. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural.— October 25th. —The ex¬ 
hibits of new plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables 
before the committees on this occasion were interesting, 
but not very numerous. The miscellaneous exhibits 
were, however, both numerous, extensive, and of a 
special and interesting kind. Potatos and other 
vegetables were strongly represented, particularly the 
former, which comprised some extensive exhibits, in 
several of which were a great number of varieties, and 
special and noticeable kinds were represented in 
quantity. The competition for the special prizes 
offered by nurserymen was very keen, bringing out in 
many cases a large number of entries, constituting, in 
fact, the leading feature of the meeting. A wide table, 
extending along the entire leDgth of the conservatory, 
was closely occupied with exhibits, as were also two 
side tables, rendering this the largest exhibition held 
by the society since the Rose and Carnation Show last 
summer. There was likewise a larger attendance of 
visitors than on several previous occasions. 
There were only two exhibitors of Orchids, and of 
these, F. G. Tautz, Esq. (Mr. C. Cowley, gardener), 
Studley House, Hammersmith, showed a most interest¬ 
ing specimen of Cirrhopetalum ornatissimum, which 
received a Botanical Certificate ; it is described in 
another column. A vote of thanks was accorded for a 
plant of Cypripedium obscurum, one of the parents of 
which is evidently C. insigne. Cattleya Loddigesii 
Candida was a pure white variety, with the exception 
of a faint blush and yellow tint on the middle lobe of 
the labellum. Vanda Sanderiana was represented by a 
plant bearing several flowers of the usual showy 
character, but the purple reticulation and other mark¬ 
ings were darker than usual. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited the 
hybrid Begonia, John Heal, for the third time, showing 
the persistency of the flowers. B. Adonis was also 
brought forward, together with Bouvardias Dazzler 
and Hogarth, Amaryllis Solandraflora, with a tube 
about 6 ins. long ; and a quantity of trusses of bloom of 
greenhouse Rhododendrons, in rose, blush, scarlet, 
crimson, pale and deep apricot, and orange colours. 
Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, exhibited a 
collection of Carnations in pots, for which a Silver 
Banksian Medal was awarded. Souvenir de la Bruyiere 
and Vesuvius were good scarlet forms, and Louise 
Chretien, Sultan, Buisson, and Claudia Comte were 
excellent striped kinds. Mr. William Holmes, of the 
Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney, London, exhibited 
a collection of Chrysanthemum blooms, all Japanese, 
one of which was certificated. Macbeth was a golden 
yellow suffused with bronze, and a special vote of thanks 
was given for a most singular variety, named Macaulay, 
with crested florets. The latter were clavate, and 
divided at the apex into six or eight divaricate claw¬ 
like segments. The flower-head was flat, yellow, 
suffused with bronze, and bore a striking resemblance 
to a curled Endive, except in colour. It may prove to 
be the forerunner of a new type. A very interesting 
exhibit was made by Mr. J. Roberts, Gunnersbury 
Park, Ealing, in the shape of a sport from the crimson 
tree Carnation, named Brunette, which was pure white 
with the exception of a few red streaks. Mr. J. Crooke, 
Farnborough Grange Gardens, Hampshire, was accorded 
a vote of thanks for Primula obconica purpurea. He 
also showed some Salvias, Celosias, Trichinium 
Manglesii, and a small collection of Pears and Plums, 
a vote of thanks being given for the fruit. 
At the meeting of the Fruit Committee, Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons were awarded a Silver Banksian Medal 
for a collection of Potatos, which was an extensive one, 
and the quality of great excellence. It included 
Sutton’s Abundance, Reading Hero, Reading Russet, 
Eclipse, Hundredfold Fluke, First and Best, Fillfcasket, 
Woodstock Kidney, LadyTruscot, Ashleaf and Reading 
Ruby Kidneys, together with a large number of seed¬ 
lings, of which No. 36 was a clean rough-skinned 
white, apparently of some merit. A similar award was 
made to Mr. C. Fidler, Potato grower, Reading, for a 
collection of tubers. Noticeable were Imperator, 
Village Blacksmith, White Elephant, Fidler's Enter¬ 
prise, Fidler’s General Gordon, and Fidler’s Reading 
Giant. Six Potatos of the latter exhibit weighed 
12 lbs. 6 ozs., and a grower, after lifting so much of 
his crop of this variety, calculated that he would have 
18 tons per acre. A conical heap of this Potato was 
shown. Messrs. H. Deverill & Co., Royal Seed Stores, 
Banbury, were awarded a Silver Banksian Medal for a 
collection of vegetables, prominent amongst which were 
The Wroxton Brussels Sprout, Aylesbury Prize Red 
Celery, Exhibition Early ScarletjCarrot,.Beet; and the 
Onions, Improved Wroxton, Ailsa Craig, Anglo White 
Spanish, Rousham Park Hero, and Cocoa Nut. The 
latter was shaped like the fruit mentioned, and was, in 
many respects, very distinct, had a clean skin, was very 
firm, and well ripened. A Bronze Banksian Medal was 
awarded to Messrs. Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stour¬ 
bridge, for a collection of Potatos. Noticeable, distinct, 
and prominent varieties were Webb’s Stourbridge 
Beauty, Schoolmaster, The Dean, Lord Rosebery, 
Adirondack, M. P., and Benefactor. As in the previous 
collections, a considerable number of varieties was 
exhibited. 
From the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
Chiswick, came a collection of Potatos, representing a 
number of varieties. Prominent amongst these were 
Marmaduke, Iris, Lord Tennyson, Beauty of Reading, 
Dewdrop, Vigorous, and Lord Aberdeen. A very 
interesting collection of Turnips, in a considerable 
number of varieties, were also staged from the same 
gardens. Good yellow kinds were Yellow Finland, 
Yellow Malta, Yellow Dutch, and several forms of 
Golden Ball ; Snowball, Improved Snowball, Early 
Snowball, The Model Early, and Model White Globe 
were good white varieties ; while the green sorts were 
represented by Early Stone or Stubble, and Green-top 
Stone ; red or purple varieties were represented by 
Milan Strap-leaved, Extra Early Milan, Veitch’s Red 
Globe, Early Red Strap-leaved, and American Stone ; 
while Cowhorn, Long Red, and Long Green Tankard 
were curious elongated forms. Mr. John House, 
Eastgate Nursery, Peterborough, exhibited some very 
fine samples of seed Potatos ; coloured Kidneys 
were Mr. Breeze, Edgecote Purple, American Rose, and 
The Trophy ; while Myatt’s, May Flower, and Magnum 
Bonum were good white Kidneys. Reading Russet and 
Village Blacksmith were noticeable round forms. Mr. 
Thomas Laxton, seed grower, Bedford, made an in¬ 
teresting exhibit of Laxton’s Open Air Tomato, a 
smooth - skinned scarlet and small variety ; some 
seedling Potatos ; Laxton’s Sandy Prize Onion ; and 
Laxton’s September Beauty Apple. 
Mr. C. Ross, Welford Park, Newbury, showed four 
seedling Potatos, and four heads of Celery. A seedling 
Kale was forwarded by Mr. D. Murray, Culzean Castle 
Gardens, Ayrshire, N.B. Mr. Lye, The Gardens, Clyffe 
Hall, Market Lavington, showed a seedling Potato; and 
Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, had some Moss Curled Parsley. 
Mr. R. Gilbert, The Gardens, Burghley, Stamford, 
staged some plants in pots of Chou d’Universal and 
Gilbert’s Jubilee Green—both Brussels Sprouts; and the 
sprouts of the former were of enormous size. He also 
showed a quantity of the same sprouts gathered, 
Gilbert’s Universal Savoy, and some fine examples of 
Gilbert’s Chou de Burghley ; for the latter a vote of 
thanks was accorded. A Cultural Commendation was 
awarded to Mr. G. Bloxliam, The Gardens, Brickhill 
Manor, Bletchley, Oxon, for six huge specimens of 
Veitch’s Superb White Cos Lettuce. Mr. Fletcher, 
Ammersley, Notts, exhibited some very large specimens 
of a new Potato, named Lord Tennyson. Vicar of 
Moseley Potato was shown by Mr. C. Burden, The 
Gardens, Wake House Green, Moseley, Birmingham. 
Fruit was not a very noticeable feature at this 
meeting, and Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, were 
the principal exhibitors, showing some fine specimens 
of the Sandringham, Bismarck and Baumann’s Red 
Reinette Apples. Mr. C. Ross, already mentioned, 
made a fine exhibit of three smooth Cayenne Pine 
Apples, weighing respectively, 6 lbs. 13 ozs., 8 lbs., 
and 8.§ lbs. There were several other smaller and less 
important exhibits, of Apples especially, and a few 
Plums and Pears. 
As already stated, the prizes offered by seedsmen 
for Potatos and vegetables brought out a numerous 
class of exhibitors. There were ten entries of twelve 
dishes of vegetables for the four prizes offered by Messrs. 
