246 THE GARDENING WORLD. December 17, 1887. 
a most accommodating subject, and from the fact of its 
being a native of Chiloe, where the temperature is 
cool, it is so hardy as almost to endure any moderately 
severe winter in the open air in this country. 
-- 
OSWALD HOUSE, EDINBURGH. 
Orchids are the greatest feature at this place, the 
residence of Robert Buchanan, Esq., in the Oswald 
Road, Edinburgh, but they do not monopolise the 
whole of Mr. R. Grossart’s time, nor the whole of the 
gardens, which are moderately large for this part of 
Edinburgh, which is rapidly being appropriated, as in 
all similar places, by the builder. Beautiful open 
pieces of lawn stretch away in front of the mansion 
itself, which is pleasantly situated near the foot of some 
dark brown heath-clad mountains that run westward 
from the city, while hedges serve to conceal the kitchen 
garden and the hothouses behind and in the vicinity. 
At the time of our visit in September, late summer and 
autumn plants were still brilliant and gay, as if it had 
been summer. 
Mot only are Orchids a speciality, but the great size 
of many of them is particularly noteworthy, and speaks 
of the care necessary to keep them in healthy condition. 
Coelogyne cristata in a tub 5 ft. in diameter, had borne 
1,400 blooms, which must have been a grand sight. 
Thirteen spikes of bloom had been borne by Cymbidium 
Lowianum, Russell’s variety, - 'when it flowered last, and 
at present there are about sixteen leading growths upon 
it. A piece of Ccelogyne flaecida filled a basket 18 ins. 
square. A healthy piece of Cypripedium Stonei 
occupied a tub 2 ft. in diameter ; and a large piece of 
Lidia purpurata alba, 4 ft. to 5 ft. in height, had 
thirteen flower sheaths, producing in the aggregate 
thirty flowers. The curious Coryanthes macrantha 
flowered twice this year, bearing five and four 
respectively of its huge fleshy flowers, whose nectaries 
are comparable to a distilling apparatus or dripping well. 
Scarcely less important are the growths made by Den- 
drobium suavissimum, whose pseudo-bulbs are like 
soda-water bottles, owing to their size and swollen 
character. A magnificent piece of Nanodes Medusae 
filled a basket 18 ins. square. 
Amongst choice things in flower might be mentioned 
Cattleya speciosa Buchananiana, whose rosy sepals and 
petals were also furnished with a darker blotch on the 
tip of the latter. The lip, or rather its terminal lobe, 
was rich crimson. The lip of C. amanda was rosy 
purple reticulated with darker veins, while the sepals 
and petals were blush. There was a fine variety of 
C. Lawrenciana, as well as a deeply coloured form of 
C. Sanderiana with deep green and very healthy foliage. 
The flowers of C. Mendelii Thomsoni were very large, 
while the tips of the petals for an inch in length were 
very highly coloured. C. crispa Buchananiana was 
conspicuous by a fine blotch in the throat, while Laelia 
elegans Lowianum had purple sepals, darker petals and 
a rich amethyst-purple lip with a white tube. The 
specimen itself was large and in fine condition. 
Yandas included a new variety of V. teres, named 
Aurora, Y. suavis, Manchester variety, and Gortscha- 
coff’s variety, the stoutness of the stems of which 
and their dense clothing of recurved leaves down to 
the very base, tell very strongly of the close-growing 
and compact habit of the plant. A few Cypripediums 
■were flowering, amongst which we noted C. Lawren- 
cianum, C. Harrisianum, C. calurum and C. longifolium. 
Cymbidiums are also well grown, and included C. 
eburneum, grown in tubs, and C. Mastersi, in large pots. 
Odontoglossum coronarium, also known as S. brevi- 
folium in gardens, was represented by a large healthy 
piece ; while 0. Edwardi made itself conspicuous by 
the huge size of its pseudo-bulbs. IVhile on the 
subject of Orchids we cannot refrain from speaking 
of the frequent use made of glazed pots in which to 
grow the smaller specimens. This is not the first 
instance of the kind we have met with, and certainly 
healthy root action did not seem to be hindered in any 
way. The clean appearance of the shining brown pots 
compared favourably with those of the ordinary kind, 
so liable to become green, slimy and unsightly, while 
the saving in labour generally entailed in washing must 
be very great. 
Ferns, especially Adiantums, are grown to great 
perfection, and exhibited annually with great success. 
The fronds of A. fragrantissima are much divided, 
attain considerable size, and bear some resemblance to 
A. amabile. The latter forms masses from 4 ft. to 5 ft. 
in diameter, and Mr. Grossart believes he will get it 
even much finer with another season’s growth. A. 
coneinnum Flemingii, one of the finest varieties of this 
species, makes a bold and telling plant, as does A. 
excisum, A. cuneatum, and a form grown under the 
name of A. speciosum, which is characterised by the 
long, decidedly wedge-shaped character of the pinnre. 
A piece of Davallia fijiensis plumosa, in grand condi¬ 
tion, measured about 5 ft. in diameter. 
Stove bulbs were well represented by the beautiful 
blue-flowered Griffinia liyacinthina and Pancratium 
fragrans. The former presents us with a colour very 
far from common in the order to which it belongs, and 
merits more universal cultivation. The second named 
subject, from the enormous size of the bulbs, leaves and 
flower stems bore testimony to the treatment it received. 
One scape bore twenty of its large, pure white and 
deliciously fragrant flowers. Independent of the 
interest attaching to Utricularia montana as an under- 
ground-feeding carnivorous plant, it will always be 
popular in moist stoves from the ornamental character 
of the large white flowers with an orange palate. U. 
Endresii has pale blue flowers with a yellow palate, but 
is less fioriferous than its congener. 
The universally popular Primula obconica has found 
its way here amongst hundreds of other places, and 
new races or varieties of it are now very desirable. The 
Bottle Tree (Sterculia, also known as Delabechea 
rupestris) here does service as an ornamental-foliaged 
plant, the leaves being cut into five or seven long 
slender segments, similar to some of the Aralias. As 
the tree gets some age and size it swells out in the 
middle like a soda-water bottle, hence its popular 
name. A useful winter-flowering Heath was represented 
by a large specimen of Erica melanthera ; and Calceo¬ 
laria Burbidgei, also useful as a late-flowering subject, 
might, by some, be considered more interesting on 
account of its hybrid nature, its bold appearance, and 
from its being farle3s common. 
-- 
NEW PLANTS CERTIFICATED 
By the Floral Committee of the R. H. S. 
December 13 th. 
Calanthe sanguinaria. 
The flowers of this beautiful Calanthe resemble those 
of C. Yeitchii in structure, but with a much greater 
development of the lateral lobes of the labellum. As 
the name indicates, they are mostly of a deep blood-red, 
while the eye or throat of the tube, formed by the lip 
with the labellum, is intensified to a dark crimson. 
The upper sepal is shaded with white at the tip, while 
the lateral ones are so for half their length ; but owing 
to the peculiar manner in which they are reflexed, they 
lie almost under the upper one, and thereby concealed 
or almost so from the spectator, so that the general 
appearance and effectiveness of the flowers is in no way 
marred. The plant appeared of robust constitution, 
and when it attains full dimensions will, no doubt, be 
a great favourite and prove as easy of cultivation, 
and produce spikes as large as those of C. Veitchii. 
Exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (Mr. 
Bickerstaff, gardener), Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
Merine Mansellii. 
A fine umbel of this plant, mentioned by us last 
week, was shown bearing. about eighteen or twenty 
flowers-. The flower scape is very robust, and the 
individual flowers are borne on short pedicels, so that 
the whole forms a beautiful spreading mass. The 
segments are narrowly oblong, of good substance and 
spread out almost regularly, forming well-expanded 
blooms ; they are also conspicuously undulated at the 
margin, and of a deep rose suffused with lilac at the 
base. The leaves are strap-shaped, much broader than 
in N. curvifolium (generally known as N. Fothergillii), 
and more or less glaucous on both surfaces, at least in 
the young condition. It is a fine acquisition to winter¬ 
flowering plants. Exhibited by John L. Mansell, Esq., 
Somerset Terrace, Guernsey. 
Adiantum Regina:. 
IVe now reach another phase in the wonderful de¬ 
velopment of forms from A. scutum, which is already 
parent of several very fine garden forms, such as A. 
rhodophyllum, A. Yictorise, and A. Lathomi, all of 
which, as well as the parent, were shown by way of 
contrast. The whole plant was about 9 ins. high, 
which corresponds almost with the height of petiole, 
above which the fronds or leaves spread out horizontally. 
The pinnules are bluntly triangular and of great size, 
which is their distinguishing characteristic from all the 
other forms ; they are also of great substance and of a 
pleasing uniform light green, with a clean appearance, 
resulting from the free way the plants have been grown. 
It will, no doubt, prove a free-growing form, and, con¬ 
sequently well adapted for decorative purposes. Ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, 
Upper Edmonton. 
Pteeis Claphamensis. 
This plant has the habit and appearance of a dense 
dwarf-growing form of P. tremula, and is described as 
a hybrid between the latter and P. serrulate. At first 
sight, however, it is so distinct that it might well pass 
for a new species ; but on closer examination, however, 
its botanical characters would not warrant such an 
idea. The whole plant is only about 9 ins. or 10 ins. 
high, and to all appearance grows slowly, although, 
even in this respect, appearances might be deceiving. 
The fronds are small, with a triangular spreading 
lamina, twice pinnate at the base, but only once 
divided in the upper part into long serrate pinnae. 
The latter are undulated at their margins, which gives 
the whole frond a crisped or undulated and crimpy 
appearance not devoid of beauty. Being also of a beau¬ 
tiful bright green, it may prove a favourite in private 
establishments for decorative purposes. Exhibited by 
Y7. Soper, Esq., 307, Clapham Road, SAY. 
Primula sinensis, Bridesmaid. 
In this we have a distinct break, that is something 
new or novel in the way of Primulas, in respect to 
colour. The flowers are, for want of a better colour, 
definition, describable as rosy pink or salmon-pink, but 
of a shade that is difficult to describe, with a five-lobed 
deep yellow eye. The peculiarity about it is, that 
instead of opening white, as varieties of this kind nearly 
always do, the flowers display their peculiar tint from 
the first expansion of the bud. "When fully expanded, 
they are of great size and substance, with lobed and 
much imbricated but flat segments. The leaves are 
of the ordinary type, triangular and lobed, with blunt 
segments ; but the whole, even to the petioles, is of a 
robust character, and of good substance, deep green, 
but not stained with red in any way. Exhibited by 
Messrs. PI. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. 
Chrysanthemum, Lord Eversley. 
The more we see of this variety the better we like it; 
or in other words, seeing that it is naturally a very 
late bloomer, we can only see it at its best late in the 
season. By a matter of cultivation it could, no doubt, 
be had in flower earlier ; but one of its chief recom¬ 
mendations is that it flowers so late. Being a sport 
from Princess Teck, it belongs to the incurved section, 
and a very fine form it is. The head is from 3 j ins. to 
4 ins. in width, and about 2 ins in depth, but may be 
longer, and regularly incurved, so that it may be de¬ 
scribed as a good exhibition bloom. During expansion 
the florets are tipped with a peculiar pale green tint, 
giving the head a very characteristic appearance ; but 
when fully developed, the whole head is pure white.— 
Exhibited by Mr. George Stevens, St. John’s Nursery, 
Putney. -—-sXo- 
NEW PELARGONIUMS. 
In spite of dull dark daj’s, fog, and all their other 
undesirable accompaniments, we can still get flowers 
in plenty, not only of brilliant colours, but of great 
size, as we had ample evidence recently at a meeting of 
the National Chrysanthemum Society, when Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, exhibited a stand 
of twelve magnificent new Zonal Pelargoniums, that 
have not yet been offered to the public 
They were done up in bunches, which gave them a 
massive appearance, and added materially to the effect 
produced by the large size and rich colour of the flowers 
themselves. Owing to a miserable deficiency of light, 
it was difficult or almost impossible to distinguish the 
true shadings or tints of the flowers. It would also be 
difficult to pick out the most meritorious, as that would 
depend on individual taste and the purpose for which 
they were required. Swanley Gem Improved, which 
was certificated, was certainly fine, with rosy scarlet 
flowers of great substance. The darkest sort exhibited 
was H. Cannell, Jun., with maroon-crimson flowers. 
Lady F. Russell, rosy pink with a white eye ; Mrs. D. 
Saunders, rosy lilac with a white eye ; and Bridesmaid, 
which was white tinted with rose on the lower part of 
the petals, were all very choice. A white variety, 
named Lily, might be added to the list of paler-coloured 
sorts, as well as Countess of Derby, which was white 
and red. 
The blending and combination of shades would, no 
doubt, have appeared differently in a better light ; and 
the habit and appearance of the foliage would have to 
be taken into account in a full description of the kinds. 
J. L. Baldwin and Lovegold were two of the most 
intense scarlet varieties ; while Brilliant was scarcely 
paler. Melton and Rev. Harries were large and bold 
flowers of a deep red. 
