February 18, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
389 
that £21 6s. Id. had to be drawn from the reserve 
fund. Lord Radnor was again elected president, and 
Mr. W. H. Williams (Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co.) 
secretary. The chairman in eulogistic terms moved a 
vote of thanks to Mr. Williams for his past services, 
which was duty seconded and carried with applause. 
The date for holding the Annual Summer Show was 
fixed for August 25th. In the evening the annual 
dinner took place in the Banqueting Hall of the 
Council Chamber, the mayor, Mr. E. Waters, pre¬ 
siding. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—At a meeting 
of the General Committee, held on Monday evening 
last, the Tiverton, Faversham, Hinckley, and St. 
Neott’s Chrysanthemum Societies were added to the 
list of affiliated ones. The sub-commitee appointed 
to consider the question of holding a show next season 
in the provinces, unanimously agreed that it was advis¬ 
able to do so, and recommended that the invitation 
given by the Sheffield and West Riding Chrysanthemum 
Society to visit Sheffield next November be accepted. 
The Catalogue Sub-Committee also made a report, 
embodying a scheme for preparing and issuing a new 
catalogue. Both reports were adopted, and we shall 
give further particulars respecting them in our next 
issue. The election of members to serve on the Floral 
Committee then took place, and the following fifteen 
gentlemen were elected:—Messrs. Cannell, Gibson, 
Addison, Stevens, Bevan, Gordon, Wright, Owen, 
Dean, Kendall, Mardlin, Gilby, Castle, Swift, and 
Boyce. It was also agreed that the exhibitions of the 
society should be held on September 12th and 13 th, and 
November 7th and 8th next, and January 10th and 11th, 
1889, and that the Floral Committee should meet on 
September 12th, October 10th and 24th, November 
7th and 21st, December 5th, 1888, and January 9th, 
1889. It was suggested that prizes for fruit should be 
offered at the January show ; but as the committee 
could not see their way to entertain the proposal, on 
financial grounds, discussion of the subject was deferred 
till next year. A few alterations were made in the 
rules, the most important of which was the institution 
of a Silver-gilt Medal, to be supplied to the affiliated 
societies, and the adoption of a rale limiting the 
number of Medals to he supplied to affiliated societies 
to ten, except in special cases, where the committee 
may think fit to allow a larger number. 
--»5<-- 
CYPRIPEDIUM GRANDE. 
The subject of the above illustration is one of the 
grandest hybrids of this class of plants ever raised by 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, at Chelsea, and made a 
great impression upon those botanists at the Orchid 
Congress who had previously been unfavourable to the 
practice of hybridisation. It was raised from C. Roezlii 
fertilised with the pollen of C. caudatum, both, as it 
will be seen, species of Selenipedium, according to some 
botanists, on account of the three-celled as opposed to 
the one-celled condition of the ovary. In constitutional 
vigour the hybrid seems more robust than its parents. 
At all events the leaves are abundantly produced, of 
great breadth, deep green and vigorous, quite covering 
the pot in strong well-grown specimens. From among 
these the many-flowered scapes are produced, and keep 
up a succession of flowers for some time, as C. Roezlii, 
C. longifolium and hybrids of that class are known to 
do. The flowers measure some 6 ins. across the sepals, 
which are yellowish white, marked with yellowish green 
veins. The petals are over 1 ft. in length, somewhat 
twisted, and hang down perpendicularly, as we are 
accustomed to see them in C. caudatum, where they 
attain a maximum in this respect amongst all Cypri- 
pediums. They are pale purple or crimson, with a 
yellow portion at the base, veined with green. The 
lip is ample and greenish yellow, spotted wdth purple 
on the infoldedlobes. For the opportunity of illustrating 
the plant we are indebted to the Messrs. Yeitch. 
-►vX-o- 
STOVE PLANTS AND THEIR 
CULTURE. 
The return of the spring months again necessarily 
brings a return of work to be done, and now that the 
short dark days are a thing of the past, greater activity 
will prevail in every department. It is, however, for 
the stove, and a few of its inmates that these remarks 
are chiefly intended and visible signs can already be 
seen that the growing season has commenced, by the 
appearance of young leaves and shoots. It will also be 
noticed that they are somewhat earlier this year in 
starting, due, no doubt, in a great measure to the (so 
far) exceptionally mild winter we have experienced. It 
will readily be understood that preparations must be 
made now for potting and propagating, and must not 
be postponed indefinitely if good results are expected. 
It is imperative that the plants should have the full 
sersm’s sun and light to develop themselves, thereby 
making excellent plants ; and this end can only be 
brought about by commencing early in the spring. 
Again, they are now in a better state to bear the opera¬ 
tion of potting than would be the case if new and tender 
roots were allowed to develop in any quantity. The 
soil destined for their use should be allowed to get 
warm, so as to render it as near the temperature of the 
house as possible. 
Crotons and Dracaenas, generally comprising the bulk 
of stove plants, should be proceeded with first; but the 
stove contains such a multitude of species, that it 
would be impossible, as well as unnecessary, to notice 
them all, for many are but rarely met with, and only 
some of the most useful and attractive will be touched 
upon. 
Crotons. 
These plants are of comparatively easy culture, and 
few, if any, are more useful for decorative purposes 
than the varieties of this genus. The highly-coloured 
foliage, the graceful habit, and the curious forms of 
many of them, render them indispensable ; and no 
stove can be called complete without them. They are 
easily propagated. Take off the tops, place them singly 
in pots in a close frame with strong bottom-heat, where 
they will soon strike ; and after gradually exposing 
them they will grow freely. Plants from 1 ft. to 
18 ins. are by far the best for table work. If any 
become leggy cut them down, treating the tops as 
cuttings. 
Crotons delight in plenty of heat and moisture, and 
abundant sunshine is requisite for bringing out fully 
their gorgeous colours. Watering should be carefully 
done ; syringing also over and under the leaves must 
be constant and thorough. If this be neglected, red- 
spider and thrips, the worst enemies with which they 
have to contend, will soon make their appearance, and 
if not speedily checked, will commit great depredations 
to the ultimate disfigurement of the plant, which no 
after-treatment will remedy. Dipping in Tobacco- 
water will soon kill thrips ; while for destroying red- 
spider, sponging with soft-soap and water is the most 
effective means. 
The soil suited for Crotons is good loam, silver-sand, 
and a little peat; in this, with due attention, they will 
thrive admirably. Pinching is hardly required, as 
naturally their habit is bushy and regular, excepting, 
perhaps, those intended for exhibition, when as much 
growth as possible is wanted. Whether grouped together 
or mixed with other subjects, they always have a fine 
effect. The narrow-leaved varieties are decidedly the 
best for table work, amongst which the following 
can be recommended, and pre-eminence given to :— 
Angustifolium, Johannis, Interruptum, Weismanni, 
Aigburthense, Majesticum ; and for exhibition, Disraeli, 
Mortii, Queen Victoria, Williamsi, and Harwoodianum. 
CYPRIPEDIUM GP.ANDE. 
