310 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 14, 1888. 
instrumentality of streams, rivers, and currents of the 
ocean, which play an important part in the dispersion 
of seeds and vegetables. Some seeds have various 
wing-like appendages, by which means they travel 
many miles. But this subject is one of geographical 
distribution, which it would be impossible to deal with 
this evening. Before leaving the question of propaga¬ 
tion by seed there is one point which deserves the most 
careful attention of the cultivator. When the object 
is to perpetuate the same kind, pure and unadulterated, 
which is often the case with the florist, every precaution 
should be taken to prevent them being impregnated 
with the fertilizing pollen of any other kind to which 
it may be allied. 
Cross-fertilization of Plants. 
But when the object is to increase the number of 
varieties, a considerable degree of judgment is required 
on the part of the cultivator—first that choice be made 
of two flowers, each partaking of certain properties, 
which, if combined in one, would make a hybrid 
possessing the wished-for merits. In such cases 
nothing should be left to chance. The male parts of 
the one may be carefully cut out with a pair of sharp- 
pointed scissors just before the pollen is ripe, and the 
pollen of the other plant brought into close contact with 
the organs of the flower to be operated on. A careful 
observation is necessary to perform this important 
office at that exact period when the flowers of both 
plants are in a proper state. If this be not attended 
to there is little chance of success. Many plants are 
propagated by means of germs. These are produced 
by the side of the parent bulbs, although sometimes 
above them, and are denominated radical or root-germs, 
to distinguish them from such as are produced on the 
stems of some plants, such as some species of Allium 
and Lilium, which are denominated cauline or stem- 
germs. Germs or bulbs, whether radical or cauline, 
should be immediately planted after being removed 
from the parent plant, as they are generally small, and 
are apt to be dried up and soon lose their living prin¬ 
ciple if left, long exposed to the air. Several alpine 
plants are increased in this way, and it has been 
thought to be an institution or resource of nature to 
secure the propagation of the kind in situations where 
the seed may fail to ripen. 
( To be continued.) 
-—- 
NEW PLANTS CERTIFICATED 
By the Floral Committee of the R. H. S. 
January 10 th. 
Angra:cum Sanderianum. 
The leaves of this species are narrowly obovate-oblong, 
bright green, and flat, bearing considerable resemblance 
to some species of Phaleenopsis. The flower-spikes are 
pendent, and bear from eleven to fifteen flowers, as 
shown by the specimen exhibited; but when fairly 
established and well grown, may develope a much 
greater number. The whole of the flower, with the 
exception of the straw-coloured ovary and pedicel, is of 
a pure white, and in size is somewhat smaller than that 
of A. caudatum, while the fragrance given off by it is 
delicious. Exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., 
St. Albans. 
Rhododendron, Primrose. 
Great improvement continues to be wrought in what 
are popularly known as hybrid greenhouse Rhododen- 
drons. The form under notice is remarkable for the 
size and peculiar colour of the flowers, which, although 
the variety is named Primrose, is a shade somewhere 
intermediate between the colour of that well-known 
flower and that of the flesh of an Apricot, and represents 
a shade of colour for which we have no popular English 
term. The male parent is a species named R. Teys- 
manni, with small red flowers, while the female parent 
is a hybrid named Maiden’s Blush. The result is a 
soft yellow of a very distinct and attractive kind, and 
quite new. There are about nine flowers in a truss, 
and the leathery, evergreen, elliptic leaves are also of 
large size for this group of plants, and arranged in 
whorls closely clothing the stem. Exhibited by Messrs. 
J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Cytripedium Tautzianum. 
Of the many hybrid Cypripediums recently put into 
commerce, this is, no doubt, one of the most distinct 
and beautiful. It is a hybrid between C. barbatum and 
C. niveum, showing the characters of the former in the 
foliage, which is of the same habit, deep green, and 
somewhat tessellated with darker markings. The 
large standard is pale rose and reticulated with darker 
veins. The petals are even a darker rose, ciliated on 
the upperedge, and marked all overwith small dark spots. 
The labellum is of a deep rosy purple, and nearly white 
at the lower end of the pouch. Exhibited by F. G. 
Tautz, Esq. (gardener. Mr. C. Cowley), Studley House, 
Hammersmith. 
Phal-enopsis F. L. Ames. 
As a hybrid this is both distinct and interesting, or 
even pretty. It was derived from P. amabilis of Blume, 
generally known in gardens as P. grandiflora and 
P. intermedia Portei. The sepals and petals are pure 
white, but the lip is coloured throughout its length, the 
terminal lobe being suffused rose on a white ground on 
its upper half, while the lower portion is suffused with 
rose on a yellow ground ; the lateral lobes are suffused 
and reticulated with rose, while at the very base they 
are spotted with purple on a white ground. The 
flowers are medium in size between the parents. Ex¬ 
hibited by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
L.ELIA ANCEPS SCHRODERAI. 
Cut flowers only of this fine new variety were shown, 
but they were sufficient to show that it is a particularly 
fine form of this useful Orchid. The sepals are 
uniformly pale rose, while the petals are darker, but 
especially so at the upper end. Its merits as a variety, 
however, reside in the lip, the terminal portion of which 
is of a deep velvety crimson or maroon. The medium 
ridge or crest is of a deep golden yellow, contrasting 
with the rest of the throat and lateral lobes, which are 
conspicuously striated with purple and pale yellow 
or white. Exhibited by Baron Schroder, The Dell, 
Egham (gardener, Mr. II. Ballantine). 
OXERA PULCHELLA. 
It seems strange that so little should be known of this 
magnificent stove climber, hailing from New Caledonia. 
The corolla is somewhat misleading at first sight, but 
the habit of the plant the opposite, oblong-elliptic, 
leathery evergreen leaves, and the inflated calyx all 
show an affinity with the Clerodendron, to which it is 
closely allied. The latter is white, slightly tinted 
with pale green, while the corolla is large, and from a 
narrow tube suddenly widens to a broad, somewhat 
funnel-shaped, five-lobed mouth. It is creamy white, 
and showy for its size, while the flowers are produced 
in massive axillary and terminal cymes. Figured in 
the Botanical Magazine, t. 6938. Exhibited by Mr. 
F. Ross, Pendell Court, Bletchingley. 
Primula sinensis, Miss Eva Fish. 
In a large group of the Chinese Primula representing 
both single and double types, this old variety was con¬ 
spicuous for its size and the massive appearance of 
its flowers, which are fully double, with flat imbri¬ 
cating petals, but not erect as in the semi-double 
varieties, with which we are more familiar. The 
number, size, and substance of the petals, taken 
together, constitute a variety of great merit. Con¬ 
sidering the size of the flowers a goodly number are borne 
in each truss. The plant is of robust and vigorous 
habit, and the foliage is of the ordinary, triangular- 
lobed and typical shape. Exhibited by Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. 
By the Fruit Committee of the E.H.S. 
Pyrus (Mespilus) germanica, The Medlar. 
The Medlar is stated to occur in a wild state in Kent, 
Sussex, Surrey and Cheshire, but is not indigenous to 
Britain. It was cultivated as early as 1596, probably 
for its fruit, but of late years has been greatly neglected. 
In former years a number of improved and other 
varieties were cultivated by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, at Chiswick, and seeing that it has now been 
certificated, its cultivation and improvement may be 
revived. Owing to its generally being regarded as a 
fancy fruit which is inedible till in a state of incipient 
decay, and of a peculiar flavour agreeable to the palate 
of a few only, it has not up till now been regarded with 
much favour. Exhibited by Messrs. T. Rivers & Sons, 
Sawbridgeworth, Herts. 
By the Committee of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society.— January 1 1th. 
Primula sinensis. 
Sutton’s Reading Scarlet. —Special value attaches 
to this variety as it is the first Fern-leaved form with 
intense red or scarlet flowers. The latter are large, 
well formed, flat and borne in good-sized trusses. The 
colour is uniform and contrasts well with the yellow 
eye ; the foliage is robust and healthy. 
Sutton’s Giant Red. —The foliage in this case is of 
the usual type, but very vigorous. The flowers are 
conspicuous for their great size and bold appearance, 
the limb of the corolla being broad, flat, and of a 
uniform deep red, contrasting with the five-lobed 
yellow eye. 
Picotee-edc-ed. —Although not the first year of its 
production, this is certainly a distinct thing and 
improves by selection. The ground colour is blush 
with a broad clear rosy margin, and the flower is 
certainly attractive. The leaves are comparatively 
small, pale in colour and finely cut at the edges. 
Exhibited by Messrs. Sutton k Sons, Reading. 
Miss Cannell. — The foliage of this form is of the 
ordinary type, but vigorous, with long red petioles. 
The flowers are broad, flat, finely fimbriated at the 
margin, pure white, with an orange-yellow lobed eye, 
borne in large trusses, and evidently will be valued for 
its robust habit and the purity of the flowers. Exhi¬ 
bited by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. 
Miss Eva Fish. —For description, see the pre¬ 
ceding column. 
Cyclamen persicum. 
Queen of Dwarfs. —The leading characteristic of 
this variety is its very dwarf and exceedingly floriferous 
habit. The flowers are pure white, produced on short 
petioles, and of good average size. The foliage is in 
keeping with the dwarf character of the flower-stems, 
and finely reticulated with silvery grey markings. 
White Butterfly. —The leading feature of this 
variety is that the flowers are pure white, and the 
segments of the corolla spread out more or less hori¬ 
zontally instead of being erect. They are, however, 
large and of good substance. The foliage is also very 
attractively reticulated with grey. Exhibited by 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. 
May Queen. —Both leaves and flowers in this case 
are of large size. The former is beautifully veined 
and blotched with silvery-grey markings. The seg¬ 
ments of the corolla are of great length, and assume 
a rigidly erect position; they are white, with the 
exception of a deep purple blotch at the base of each 
segment. Exhibited by Mr. J. May, Gordon Nursery, 
Twickenham. 
Chrysanthemums. 
W. G. Drover.— Probably this was the largest bloom 
at the Aquarium, where it has previously been shown 
of immense size. It belongs to the Japanese section, 
and has long spreading florets, incurved or slightly 
twisted at their tips, making a flattish head. They 
are further suffused and striped with pale purple on a 
white ground. Exhibited by Messrs. W. & G. Drover, 
Fareham. 
Governor of Guernsey. —The flower-heads of this 
new winter-flowering variety are of medium size, but 
deep canary-yellow or pale canary-yellow on the reverse 
of the florets. Many of the latter are closely incurved, 
but the variety is Japanese, and may be said to belong 
to the decorative class. The foliage shown was in 
excellent condition, and as a late-flowering variety it is 
certainly valuable, attractive, and bright. Exhibited 
by Mr. Thomas S. 4Yare, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham. 
-=»$<-«■- 
NOVELTIES OF THE SEASON. 
( Concluded from p. 298.) 
POTATOS. 
Bedfordshire Hero. — A very fine large white main 
crop kidney, between Myatt’s Prolific and White Beauty 
of Hebron. — Thomas La.xton, Bedford. 
Bouncer.* —A very large, handsome and prolific late 
round variety ; of first quality for winter use.— Thomas 
Laxton, Bedford. 
The Cobbler.—A second early variety ; round, 
white, with a finely netted skin, haulm dark green ; 
an immense cropper, and first class in quality of flesh 
and flavour. — T. Mcthven «fc Sons, 15, Princes Street, 
Edinburgh. 
Early Puritan. — A grand new American variety, 
described by the raiser as the earliest and best American 
white kidney Potato ever introduced ; of better quality 
than Early Rose or Beauty of Hebron, and producing 
much heavier crops.— James Vcitch <£• Sons, King’s 
Road, Chelsea; Watkins <L Simpson, Exeter Street, 
Strand. 
Early White Beauty*. —Of handsome appearance, 
with shallow eyes, and the superior of Beauty of 
Hebron both for productiveness and quality, whilst its 
dwarf robust habit and extraordinary quickness of 
maturation make it invaluable for early work. It has 
been tried on all kinds of soil with most satisfactory 
results, producing in each case a fine crop, entirely free 
from disease.— Hurst <6 Son, 152, Houndsditch, London. 
Epicure.—A new late variety with round tubers, 
exceedingly white and floury when cooked, and of the 
finest quality ; a seedling from Paterson’s Yictoria 
crossed with Woodstock Kidney ; of medium habit of 
