206 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 26, 1887. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Oattleya Bowringiana. — Finely - flowered 
specimens of this Orchid have recently been seen in 
several private collections. It is, as yet, by no means 
common, having been introduced only about three 
years ago from British Honduras, in Central America. 
Already we have indications of its being a stronger¬ 
growing and more freely-flowering species than C. 
Skinneri, to which, in general appearance, it strongly 
conforms, and to which, indeed, it is allied. The 
flowers are smaller, however; but the stems and 
leaves are longer and narrower, while the habit is more 
vigorous. Five to ten flowers are produced on a spike, 
and a plant we saw at Studley House was quite equal 
to, if not better than this. The sepals and petals are 
rosy purple with deeper veins, and the exterior surface 
of the convoluted lip preserves the same lively colour. 
The margin of the tube, however, is deep purple ; while 
the upper lobe is similar, but marked towards the base 
or in the throat with a conspicuous white spot. One of 
its most valuable points is that it flowers in autumn 
and early winter, while the allied C. Skinneri blooms 
in spring. 
Oncidium Batemanianum. —Flowers of this 
fine old species come to us from Mr. E. Dumper, 
gardener to J. Fitz Gerald Bannatyne, Esq., Limerick. 
It is very variable, and has in its different forms 
various synonyms—ramosum, spilopterum, Pinelli and 
others. The individual flower, of the fine variety now 
to hand resembles a good 0. varicosum, its large bright 
yellow-lobed lip being much like that species. The 
crest, however, is different, and it usually has a bright 
chestnut blotch in its front at the narrow part of the 
labellum. 
Twin-flowered Cypripedium insigne. — 
By a system of good cultivation it seems that many of 
the Cypripediums that normally bear but one flower 
may be induced to bear two, and that the second one 
is the terminal bud, which is never developed unless 
the plant by good cultural treatment is enabled to 
nourish and support it. We have had evidence of this 
in the three cases of twin-flowered C. Lawrencianum, 
mentioned by us at pp. 156 and 171. This also seems 
to be the explanation of C. biflorum, a variety or an 
allied form of C. barbatum. Although from the name 
we should expect it to bear twin flowers on the spike, 
yet in reality more than one bloom is rarely produced. 
A Freak of Dendrobium formosum. — A 
curious and strange mixture of union and abortion has 
occurred in a flower of this species at Melbourne Lodge, 
Queen’s Walk, Ealing, similar to what is recorded in 
The Gardening World, Yol. Ill, p. 604, in thecase 
of Cattleya Mendelii. It is there stated that there 
were only two sepals, but from the median position of 
the lower one underneath the labellum, the inference 
was that the two lateral sepals had become fused to¬ 
gether. In the present instance such is not the case, as 
the lateral sepal occupies its proper position, while the 
corresponding sepal, its companion on the other side of 
the lip, is altogether absent. With this exception the 
nature of the freak in both cases is exactly similar. 
Half of the lip has developed in the usual manner, 
with its normal colour, while the other longitudinal 
half is pure white, and corresponds to a half-petal 
which has become fused with it on that side. The 
other petal is perfect; so that, on the whole, one lateral 
sepal, half of a petal and half of the lip are entirely 
suppressed. The remaining and true portion of the lip 
is orange-yellow in the throat, as in the normal state ol 
the species.— J. F. 
Orchids at Stonehouse Court. —On looking 
round Major Chapman’s garden at Stonehouse Court, 
I was agreeably surprised to find so many Orchids in 
flower. All the flowering plants are collected together 
and effectively arranged in a small house, which formed 
quite a pretty group. Amongst them may be men¬ 
tioned a nice plant of Anguecum sesquipedale, Cattleya 
Loddigesii, C. intermedia, Crologyne flaceida, Cypri¬ 
pedium Sedeni, with many spikes of bloom ; C. insigne, 
C. Spicerianum, a grand specimen bearing several twin 
flowers, and fully developed ; Dendrobium Dearei, with 
very strong growths, the flowers last several weeks in 
perfection, and are pure white; D. heteroearpum, D. 
bigibbum, D. formosum giganteum, wonderfully strong 
growing on a block ; Laelia anceps, vdth six spikes ; 
Maxillaria grandiflora, crowded with its fragrant 
flowers ; Trichomanes suavis, Oncidium ornithor- 
rhynehum, suspended in a basket, bearing ten spikes 
of its small but sweet-scented flowers : 0. flexuosum, 
Odontoglossum Rossii majus, several baskets suspended, 
bearing many spikes of bloom ; 0. Insleayi splendens, 
a grand variety with seventeen flowers on two spikes ; 
0. grande, 0. pulchellum majus, 0. Madrense, a gem 
of a plant, and last but not least that useful winter- 
flowering Orchid, Zygopetalum Mackayi. The collec¬ 
tion throughout is in excellent health, and scrupulously 
clean, and reflects great credit on Mr. Elmer, the head 
gardener. — W. Driver, Longfords. 
Odontoglossum crispuin. —These plants are 
now commencing to throw up their flower-spikes in 
quantity, and give promise of good things for some 
time to come. Trying as the tropical summer has 
been to all cool Orchids, it has been an easy matter to 
prevent damage to the plants. Experience has proved 
further convincing, that these plants do well in the 
summer if placed on lattice-work over water in a pit 
having a north exposure, with not too much shading. 
During the day-time very little ventilation was given, 
but more during the night. They were well syringed 
every morning and evening during the hottest weather, 
and consequently luxuriated in a moist cool atmo¬ 
sphere. It was found that the force of water from an 
ordinary syringe or garden engine was too much for 
them ; but a splendid substitute was found in the 
spray pump of E. Griffith Hughes, of Manchester, 
which is commonly used for the Fir Tree Oil insecticide. 
This gives a far better spray than any garden engine I 
have seen. At a distance of 3 ft. or 4 ft. from the 
nozzle the spray falls in an imperceptible cloud-like 
mist, and is just what is wanted for Odontoglossums. 
It is wonderful how well nearly all Orchids thrive 
without artificial heat during the summer and mild 
autumn. The growths are far more vigorous and 
healthy. Even during winter just sufficient heat to 
keep away damp and cold is far more beneficial and 
conducive to a natural growth than higher temperature. 
Instead of firing-up at night we adopt the method of 
well covering the glasshouses with a coarse kind of 
blanket, and the pipes are kept only just warm all 
night. This keeps frost out, and does away with 
scorching pipes and hot dry air. Of course, where 
there is a large area of glass this would be impractic¬ 
able, or nearly so, but for small collections I can, 
from experience, strongly recommend these protective 
measures.— J. H. Tacy FecJc, Blaby, Leicestershire. 
Cymbidium Mastersii. —AVe have occasionally 
seen this Orchid grown from year to year without 
producing flowers ; but in those cases the specimens 
were confined to the East Indian house. Being a 
native of Assam one would naturally expect that a 
high temperature and a steamy atmosphere were 
necessary for its well-being, and this may be the case 
when making its growth ; but while resting a cool 
atmosphere with plenty of ventilation should be main¬ 
tained. During that period also the quantity of water 
should be considerably diminished, but never to the 
extent of what may he called drying off, otherwise the 
evergreen leaves will suffer, and in the absence of 
pseudo-bulbs the whole plant will be diminished in 
vigour, besides looking crippled and miserable. When 
healthy and making satisfactory growth there is an 
abundance of long, arching leaves that present a 
respectable appearance, even when there is no bloom. 
The habit is similar to that of C. eburneum, but the 
flowers are more numerous, and produced in an archiDg 
raceme. They are less conspicuous, it is true, than 
those of C. eburneum, but are white, beautifully 
spotted on the lip with rose, and, like those of the 
latter, deliciously scented. The species is now flower¬ 
ing at Morden Park, Wimbledon, Surrey. 
-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Manchester Horticultural Improvement. 
—November 17 th .—At this meeting, which was held 
in the Memorial Hall, Mr. Bruce Findlay presiding, 
the attendance of members was the largest on record, 
the paper for the evening being read by Mr. W. Swan 
(ex-honorary secretary of the society) on Ferns. The 
chairman said it was very gratifying to see so many 
present. The subject for their consideration was one 
which they had had before them on former occasions ; 
but it was so many-sided that they could almost devote 
a whole session to the study and elucidation of it, and 
then it would not be exhausted—it had so many 
phases. First there was the geological distribution of 
Ferns. They all knew that in the coal formation Ferns 
form an important feature ; but fossil botany is yet in 
its infancy. Some of their professors in London are 
devoting considerable attention to that subject, and 
have already discovered about 400 kinds of Ferns in 
the coal formation, many of them generically related 
to those now growing. A certain writer had said, with 
reference to these fossils, that “we here discover unex¬ 
pected witness of the goodness of the Creator in times 
past, written as with a diamond upon the rock.” 
Turning to the geographical aspect of the question, he 
said it was well known that Ferns are found in the 
tropical regions and also in the arctic regions, between 
which two points there is a wide range ; and it would 
be an interesting study to find out the means by which 
they came to be growing in the various localities where 
they are now to be found. Then there is the generic 
distinction of Ferns, which is but comparatively little 
understood by gardeners. It would thus be seen what 
an inexhaustible field for investigation this subject 
supplied. 
Mr. Swan said he was not unmindful of the fact that 
there were many gentlemen present who for a number 
of years had made Ferns their special study, and had 
attained to considerable perfection in their culture. 
That Ferns are favourites with most people is a fact 
that must be patent to all, and that they are con¬ 
tinually sought after by increasing numbers will be 
readily admitted, for the demands for Ferns in pots 
is greater now than ever it was before, whilst cut fronds 
of many sorts, and several of the hardy Ferns, are now 
sent into the market and used by the bouquetist at a 
rate that would have seemed incredible a few years ago. 
Ferns can be used in such a variety of ways and may 
be grown under so many and varying conditions, that 
time would only permit him to lightly touch some of 
the phases of this interesting subject. Our own islands 
can boast of only forty or fifty species of Ferns, but 
these are represented by a large number of varieties. 
The houses devoted to stove Ferns should be such that 
though a good share of light is at command, it would 
be an easy task to shade the whole of the plants with 
roller blinds. He considered the shading thus applied 
to be much better than permanently covering the glass 
with paint, whitewash, or summer-cloud, or a mixture 
of one’s own choosing. Under such continuous shade 
he found many forms would grow rapidly, and push up 
fronds in clusters or singly in rapid succession. The 
growth, however, under these conditions is not at 
all enduring. The form of house it is desirable to set 
apart for the culture of Ferns is, perhaps, of less im¬ 
portance than for any other class of plants. Moisture 
must be always present, and that this may he con¬ 
tinuous and plentiful, the side and central stages 
should be covered with a moisture-retaining material, 
so that thorough drainage may be given to the plants, 
and also the humidity so essential to their well-being. 
The temperature needed in a house set apart for the 
stove Ferns should be about as follows :—Beginning 
with March, during which season the majority of 
Ferns needing it may be potted, the day reading of the 
thermometer should be about 60°, rising just a little 
if the sun should shine brightty. The night tempera¬ 
ture should be 50° to 55°, according to the state of the 
outside atmosphere. During spring, when growth 
will be rapid, 55° to 60° should be given at night, with 
from 65° to 70° during the day. By this time the 
shading will be often called into requisition, and if 
this be used ere the temperature has risen very much, 
but little air will be required. Yentilation must be 
resorted to as the temperature increases, but it should 
be equally spread over the whole of the house, so that 
in no part is there a rapid rush of cool air upon the 
tender-growing fronds, for if once the fronds are acted 
upon by rapid changes of temperature, the outer 
edges of the pinna will quickly turn brown and 
shrivel, to the complete disfigurement of the fronds, 
and of course a corresponding loss of beauty to the 
plant. During the summer, efforts must be made to 
prevent the Ferns getting too hot through sun heat. 
At this period, the fire heat may be entirely dispensed 
with. The months of June, July, and August are 
almost always hot enough to permit this change to 
take place. In the autumn the temperature may be 
gradually lowered, so that by December the day 
reading will be about 60°, and the night temperature 
50°. If intensely cold weather should prevail, it 
would be better to adopt lower readings. The soil 
required for Ferns is as a rule very simple. Peat, 
loam, and silver sand, with some potsherds broken 
small, or some small charcoal, or even a dash of cinders 
scattered in with the mixture is suitable for most 
species. 
A brief discussion followed, in which the general 
excellence of the paper was admitted, but the president 
and other speakers joined issue with the essayist on 
some points. 
