236 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 10, 1887. 
ready way in which it starts this season may, I think, 
be attributed to the intense heat of the past, and 
consequent early ripening off of the stools. 
Asparagus is now plentiful and good ; but it is 
a little remarkable that on lifting the crowns the roots 
are in full action, the autumn rains probably causing 
this. Another batch of roots must be put in forthwith, 
so that there may be no stint at the festive season 
which is now so close upon us. We have made up 
another Mushroom bed, and as the manure was rather 
damp, we mixed a few barrow-loads of dry loam with 
it, which will make it more sound. Continue to place 
in the plunging pit as required Azaleas, Lilacs and 
Deutzias, and a good batch of the strongest H.P. Roses 
may also be treated likewise ; but be careful not to use 
too much fire-heat. _ 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Early Peas and Beans. —Make the most of all 
weather that will permit of digging being carried on, 
so that the soil may become well pulverised, and, 
consequently, in good condition to receive the seed 
later on. Where climate allows, a good sowing of 
early Peas should be now put in, and also a few rows of 
Mazagan Beans, choosing as sheltered a position as 
possible. Later on the ground between the rows of 
Peas comes in well for the first sowing of Spinach, 
Radishes, and so on, as considerable shelter is afforded 
to the tender growth by the sticks used for the Peas. 
We have made up the hot-bed for Radishes and Carrots, 
and hope by the time these notes are in print to have 
sown the former. Carrots will do better if left until 
the beginning of the new year. 
Planting. —A good deal of our time is now occupied 
in lifting and planting forest trees, which it is very 
desirable should be pushed on with all speed while the 
weather continues so open. We have also nearly 
finished the levelling of turf, so that the roller can be 
frequently used upon it to cause it to thoroughly knit in 
good time. Let the nailing on the walls be pushed on, 
and, if possible, as the weather keeps so open, let an 
extra hand be employed. The Peach trees will be all 
the better if left quite unnailed, and then the main 
wood looped securely to prevent injury from the winds; 
by this means the wood becomes thoroughly hardened. 
Pay due attention to the protection of Endive and 
Lettuce, and the frequent and regular sowings of 
Mustard and Cress. If time can be spared, the fruit 
in the store-rooms should be gone over, handling it as 
little as possible, and simply removing that which is 
decayed.— Walter Child , Croome Court. 
-->3=<-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar.— Cut Orchids: 
Judging by the condition of many of the Orchid 
blooms sent me for my opinion, I should say that it is 
not generally known that to cut the flowers before they 
are thoroughly mature is to waste them. When cut 
too soon after they are expanded they travel badly on 
account of their tissues being soft, and they quickly 
wither ; whereas if allowed to remain on the plants 
until they are just at their best, and all the tissues 
fully made up, no class of plants equal the Orchids in 
the lasting properties of their flowers. By following 
my plan of letting the flowers remain on the plants 
until they mature, and then cutting them for indoor 
decoration, the utmost good is got from them without 
injuring the plants, or decreasing the duration of the 
flowers for use as cut blooms. To illustrate what I 
mean I may say that a just expanded spike of Odonto- 
glossum Rossii majus will, if cut and placed in water, 
last but a day or two, and even during that time look 
withering ; whereas if allowed to remain on the plant 
a fortnight or more, it will last a fortnight longer in 
water after cutting. The same applies to many other 
Orchids. Cut blooms of Dendrobium infundibulum 
just expanded last but a short time in water, but I 
have frequently kept them good for eight weeks after 
cutting, when they had been open on the plants for 
three or four weeks ; indeed, it is surprising how long 
some of them will last in a tolerably cool room. 
Where it is not necessary to leave the flowers of such 
things as Odontoglossums on sprays as they grew, the ut¬ 
most limit of duration can be attained by plucking each 
flower off the spike, and placing their short stems in 
shallow dishes of water, as thus each floweF gets a free 
and direct support, from the water not having to pass 
through the main stem, as it does when the spike is left 
entire. Flowers intended for wiring for bouquets or 
buttonholes can thus be kept for a very long time if 
they are cut when properly matured. Those who cut 
immature Orchid blooms for sending 'away, and who 
doubtless look affectionately at them when covering 
them down, should be present at their unpacking after 
the yielding substance of the flowers has allowed them 
to knock about on the journey.— James O'Brien. 
Form in Orchids. — In discussing Orchids with 
amateurs like myself, it has frequently struck me how 
different their ideas are as to the form, shape, 
and markings of any particular species or variety, such 
as Odontoglossum crispum, 0. Rossii majus, &c.; but 
now the time has arrived, I am sure, for us to consider 
whether something more definite ought not to be 
formulated as to what should be considered a typical 
form. For example, in the beautiful Odontoglossum 
crispum there appears to be an original type, and, 
later, an improvement on this ; both pretty as they 
are, but one must be the “beau ideal” of the artistic 
Orchidist. For what reason must purity of colour, 
depth of petal, and regular markings not be considered 
before a stiff geometrical arrangement, such as is com¬ 
monly expected by florists ? It will be difficult to draw 
a line, I know, but any step in the right direction will 
be an inestimable boon to amateurs like myself, who 
will be satisfied to see their plants bloom, and not to 
know whether one’s plants has a title to be considered 
anywhere near the accepted standard of the large and 
privileged growers, who command the service of money 
and scientific gardeners. As you have a staff of writers 
who are authorities on Orchid culture, possibly, at this 
dark season of the year, they may have leisure to go 
into this subject and throw some light on the question 
for the benefit of their fellows.— Northern Orchidist. 
Dendrobium Phalaenopsis. — Those who 
know the beautiful D. bigibbum from Queensland can 
imagine the flowers magnified two or three-fold, when 
a pretty good idea of the general appearance of this 
species will have been made. There can be little 
question that they are both closely allied in habit, 
structure, and the colour of their flowers, and that 
D. Phalienopsis is a geographical representative from 
the neighbouring island of Timor. The cultural treat¬ 
ment required is similar to that of the other upright- 
habited and deciduous species, that do most satisfac¬ 
torily in a temperature corresponding to that of the 
East Indian house, at least while making their growth 
and flowering. The sepals and petals are of an 
attractive rosy purple colour, varying sometimes with 
a lighter shade towards the base. The lip, on the 
contrary, is several shades darker than it is in 
D. bigibbum, forming a lively contrast to the other 
parts of the flower. The blooming season extends 
from now onwards till spring, a succession being formed 
where a number of plants are grown. 
Platyclinis (Dendrochilum) Cobbiana.— 
Notwithstanding the small size of the flowers of this 
genus there are several species, such as P. glumacea 
and P. filiformis, that enjoy a considerable amount of 
popularity amongst gardeners, on account of the 
number of their flowers, and their graceful appearance 
as they hang suspended in arching or drooping, slender 
racemes. This is especially noticeable in the latter 
species, whose myriads of flowers are remarkably 
small, but densely arranged along a thread-like 
pendent spike. The flowers of the present variety are 
larger than those of P. glumacea, and rendered very 
conspicuous on account of their fan-shaped orange- 
coloured labellum, the remainder being of a uniform 
pale sulphur-yellow. Platyclinis is the more correct 
botanical name, but the species are best known in 
gardens under the title of Dendrochilum, which they 
are likely to retain for many years to come. In their 
native habitats they are epiphytic on trees, but under 
cultivation accommodate themselves readily to pots or 
pans, and seem quite contented and happy. The 
species under notice is grown very satisfactorily by 
Mr. C. Cowley, gardener to F. G. Tautz, Esq. 
Twin-flowered Cypripediums. — In con¬ 
firmation of your view that the production of twin 
flowers by Cypripediums is merely the result of culti¬ 
vation, I may mention that we have at this moment 
plants of C. insigne, C. Lawrencianum, and C. Spicer- 
ianum, each bearing blooms in pairs ; and have also 
had the same thing occur with C. niveum, none of 
these being special varieties, nor have they in previous 
years produced more than one flower on a spike. We 
have not yet succeeded in producing C. barbatum 
biflorum from the ordinary type, but hope to do so 
some day ; as also twin inflorescences on C. Harrisianum, 
C. venustum, C. villosum, and others.— B. D. Knox, 
Caversham, Reading. [C. venustum frequently produces 
twin flowers, and a few years ago we noticed two and 
three flowers on a spike, in the gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, Chiswick.—E d.] 
FLORICULTURE. 
The Fern-leaved Primula sinensis. —Upon what 
theory is the origin of the Fern-leaved Chinese 
Primrose accounted for ? Some have thought it to 
have been the result of careful selection in times past. 
I have always thought the Fern-leaved type of foliage 
to be caused by a mere seminal division ; that it first 
came among a batch of seedlings, being presently 
noticed, and the character permanently fixed. I am 
inclined all the more to this opinion from what I saw 
a few days since, when I called upon Mr. E. Fountain, 
the gardener at the Elms, Hanger Hill, Ealing. Mr. 
Fountain has grown a good strain of plain or palmate- 
foliaged Chinese Primroses for years. Saving his own 
seeds, and by means of careful selection he has some 
fine types of flowers. Among a batch of seedlings 
raised in 1885 is one of a Fern-leaved character; and 
Mr. Fountain states this is the first time he has seen 
this character of foliage among his Primulas for many 
years. But the origin of the Fern-leaved Primula is, 
probably, a large question—not to be settled in an off¬ 
hand manner. But there is one thing in which we shall 
all be agreed, and that is, the wonderful improvement 
seen in the character of foliage of the Fern-leaved 
Primulas. I remember the first types, with their long, 
erect leaves—erect rather than horizontal, and hiding 
the flowers from view. It was soon seen that this 
character needed modification, and it has been brought 
about ; indeed, there are now substantial differences in 
the Fern-leaf, as the}' vary in length and shape. Some 
are of a pale green, and some of a black colour ; others 
have their lobes handsomely crisped, while some are 
intermediate between the Fern-leaf and old or palmate 
type. 1 could not help being greatly struck with the 
marked difference in the Fern-leaved foliage of P. 
sinensis, when looking through the fine collection of 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, at Reading.— R. D. 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
NATIONAL .—December 7 th. 
The exhibits were decidedly less numerous than on 
previous occasions, as might naturally be expected, but 
none the less interesting as showing what might be 
done in the way of Chrysanthemum growing, at this 
season especially. An interesting feature was the 
changes effected in the growth and shape of some 
particular varieties, and also the paler colour assumed 
by some well-known forms in the dullest light of 
winter. 
Mr. Robert Owen, Castle Hill Nursery, Maidenhead, 
was awarded a Silver Medal for a stand of Chrysanthe¬ 
mum blooms, some of the best of which were Ralph 
Brocklebank, Alcyon (rose), Mawett Postula (rosy lilac, 
spotted white), and Mrs. Castle (bluish lilac), all 
Japanese kinds ; while Putney George represented the 
reflexed ; and Mrs. Norman Davis, a golden sport from 
Princess Teck, the incurved types. The latter was 
particularly fine, and the white Japanese Lady Cave 
was commended. Mr. George Stevens, St. John’s 
Nursery, Putney, was awarded a Bronze Medal for a 
stand of blooms containing fine specimens of Mr. H. 
Williams, Lady Lawrence, John Stevens, Lady Emily, 
Ralph Brocklebank, and Putney George. The florets 
of the latter are now nearly erect. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Taylor, 
gardener to Sir John Lubbock, Bart , M.P., for a large 
and interesting stand of blooms, containing, amongst 
others, two very striking and distinct sports, or rather, 
inconstant states of Madame C. Audiguier, both with 
reflexed florets, in one case broad and in the other case 
narrow. Ethel was also fine, as were Timbale d’Argent, 
blush instead of pure white, and Golden Queen of 
England, much paler than usual, but pretty. Mr. J. 
Guyton, Station Road Nursery, Belton, Great Yar¬ 
mouth, was accorded a vote of thanks for a stand of 
Jubilee, a pink and white sport from Princess Teck ; 
he also showed a stand of singles. Messrs. W. & G. 
Drover, Fareham, again showed a number of kinds, 
including the huge W. G. Drover, Mrs. D. B. Chap¬ 
man, lilac - purple, and H. Waterer, all Japanese 
varieties. Governor of Guernsey, a yellow Japanese, 
Gloriosum, and a white sport from Princess Teck, were 
exhibited by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham. Mr. J. Hamlin, Bletchley Park Nursery, 
Bletchley, Bucks, exhibited a sport from Meg Merrilies, 
with florets split nearly to the base. Mr. Robert 
Miller, Southdown Nursery, Shoreham, exhibited 
Lizzie Miller, a bronzy red sport from Peter the Great. 
