428 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 3, 1888. 
The Scotch Rose. 
In some quarters the notion seems to prevail that the 
Scotch Rose (Rosa spinosissima) derived its name from 
the wild plant being peculiar to Scotland. This notion 
is also strengthened by the statements of some, and the 
writings of others, that the species .is confined to the 
north of England and Scotland. From whence the idea 
has sprung I fail to perceive, as I have dried specimens 
collected in Kent, also from Ningwood Common in the 
Isle of Wight, and from the sandy wastes skirting the 
coast south-west of Tenby, in Pembrokeshire. At all 
of these places it was quite common, and either 
flowering or fruiting so abundantly in such situations, as 
to preclude the idea of its having escaped from culti¬ 
vation, or having been planted there. It is more than 
likely that the name, Scotch Rose, was originally given 
to the species from the fact that the Scotch nurserymen 
were the first to effect its improvement for garden 
purposes. At one time their catalogues contained the 
names of some 200 or 300 varieties, the greater part of 
which have probably now become lost to cultivation, 
owing to the neglect into which this beautiful and hardy 
Rose has fallen. It has also been called the Burnet 
Rose, from the leaves resembling those of Poterium 
sanguisorba, the garden Burnet. The French call it 
Rosier Pimprenelle, which is merely their rendering of 
Rosa pimpinellifolia, a synonym of R. spinosissima. — 
J. F. 
-—->3=o-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers 1 Calendar. 
Ant time after the cool house Orchids have been 
attended to from the middle of February throughout 
March, is the best time to re-pot the Aerides, smaller 
Vandas (the varieties of V. tricolor and V. suavis being 
done in autumn), Saccolabiums, Phalsenopsis, &c., 
which may require it; those which are firmly rooted 
about pots, sound baskets, or cylinders simply need to 
have all the old stuffthat can be worked out from between 
the roots removed, and its place supplied by fresh 
sphagnum moss. On no account should these plants 
be removed from the pots or baskets over which they 
are firmly rooted simply for the sake of giving them 
new ones, unless the condition of those they happen to 
be in demand it. It is impossible to remove such 
without breakage of roots, and there must therefore be 
a good reason for running that risk. Formerly all 
Orchids of this class with distichous leaves were grown 
in baskets, and I am convinced that where practicable 
this is the better plan, among other reasons, because 
when so grown a good number of them get the benefit 
of being suspended near the glass of the roof, a position 
which gives immense advantages, to the smaller growing 
ones especially. I have also found that Saccolabiums 
produce much longer spikes when suspended in baskets, 
and when so grown, the short, abruptly terminated 
spikes which is often the defect of S. Blumei when 
grown in pots is done away with, and the inflorescence 
assumes more the character of S. guttatum, while those 
of S. guttatum and others, when grown suspended over 
a tank or damp bottom, attain surprising length and 
beauty. 
Excessive heat in winter is the bane of what is called 
East Indian Orchids, but from this season onward 
many of them which should have been kept quiet 
through the winter will grow naturally, and will, 
therefore, be benefited by a fair amount of heat. 
Sphagnum moss and good clean crocks are the best 
mateiial for all this class of Orchids. Charcoal when 
properly prepared may be used, but it is risky work, for 
some samples of charcoal are very injurious to the 
plant. In all cases it should be borne in mind that it 
is the houses, their regulation as to ventilation and 
heat, the watering, and other details which are the 
important ones, and minor details of potting material 
secondary considerations, but, of course, worthy ones 
all the same. 
The Temperatures for the month of March 
should be:—Warm or East Indian house, 65° to 70° 
by day, 60° at night; Cattleya or intermediate house, 
60° to 65° by day, 55° at night; Odontoglossum or cool 
house, 55° to 60° by day, 50° at night.— James O'Brien. 
L/elia anceps Schroderiana. 
From Mr. Cowan, of the Liverpool Horticultural Com¬ 
pany, comes a flower of this pretty variety which, misled 
by a plant seen in flower at Baron Schroder’s, and 
which was bought as L. a. Schroderiana, but which 
bore flowers like a pale Dawsoni, I at first took for L. 
a. Stella. L. a. Schroderiana has pure white flowers 
much like L. a. William si, but with violet instead of 
chocolate lines in the throat. In view of the fact that 
the distinctness of “Stella” and “ Williamsi ” being 
in the minds of some a debateable point, it may be that 
to bring in a third is running it rather hard, but all are 
pretty and distinguishable if had true. At the same 
time came another fine white Lfelia anceps of their own 
importation from Mr. Cowan, and since that the same 
thing from E. Harvey, Esq., of Riversdale Road, 
Aigburth, Liverpool. Both were from plants imported 
last year, and Mr. Harvey’s flower was accompanied by 
some information,which, as he grows all the varieties side 
by side he is competent to give, and which I here append. 
“I send a flower of a pure white form of Laelia 
anceps from a plant imported only last year by the 
Liverpool Horticultural Co. (John Cowan), Limited. 
Other plants from the same importation have also 
flowered from the first seasons growth , from which it 
is evident that this particular strain of white L. anceps 
flowers much freer than the large-bulbed plants im¬ 
ported in 1884 and 1885 ; for the latter seem to require 
several years of cultivation before they can build up 
bulbs large enough to flower. It may be that when 
they are fully established, and have formed bulbs of 
the full normal size, they will prove equally floriferous ; 
but this remains to be seen. All of this importation 
of the Liverpool Horticultural Co. which have hitherto 
flowered have proved pure white, without any tinge of 
pink, either in the sepals and petals or on the lip ; but 
among the dried flowers sent with the plants were 
some closely resembling L. anceps Dawsoni, with 
bulbs also similar in shape to that variety, though they 
are larger, yet not so large as the 1884-5 importation. 
Tiiey also resemble the bulbs of that importation and 
of L. a. Dawsoni, having the band or mark in the 
middle, not low down close to the rhizome, as with 
the other varieties of L. anceps and the ordinary pink 
form. You will see that my flower is something 
similar to L. a. Dawsoni in form and the peculiarly 
elegant habit of the flower, and it is equally pure 
ivory-white. I consider it quite one of the best forms 
of the white L. anceps. It is time that the several forms 
of white L. anceps which have within the last few years 
been introduced should be more accurately distinguished 
and re-named, as confusion has already arisen among 
them as in some other genera. The original Lfelia 
anceps alba, imported by Mr. Bull many years ago, of 
which some were sold at the auction of Mr. Day’s 
plants, in 1881, is very distinct from the more recent 
importations. The bulbs are very short, broad, and 
light-coloured, and it flowers much more shyly even 
than the large-bulbed plants of the 1884-5 importation ; 
but when it does bloom it is one of the most beautiful 
forms. The diverse habits of these varieties seem to 
indicate different climates in their native habitats. 
Probably, the large-bulbed variety grows in a warmer 
and more genial climate, which has encouraged a 
vigorous habit of growth, rendering it slower in accom¬ 
modating itself to culture. This is confirmed by the 
fact that it throws out masses of new roots in the 
winter, two months earlier than the other varieties. 
Perhaps a little more warmth in winter, and an earlier 
encouragement of new growth, would be good culture 
for it.”— James O'Brien. 
Odontoglossum Uro-Skinneri. 
There is some affinity between this species and 0. 
bictonense ; but there is little comparison between the 
beauty of the two, as the present is by far the most 
conspicuous and ornamental, although a well-grown 
plant of the Bicton species is by no means to be despised. 
The sepals and petals are broad greenish yellow, mottled 
or freckled with brown, affording by contrast much 
greater prominence to the broad usually richly coloured 
labellum, which may be white, densely spotted with 
soft blue markings or, as in a specimen at Westwood 
House, West Hill, Sydenham, heavily and beautifully 
blotched with purple on a paler ground. The plant in 
question was in flower the other day, although the 
usual period for this species to bloom is in late summer 
and autumn. The flower stems are generally about 
3 ft. long, and arching, which shows off the flowers very 
effectively. 
The Old Man Dendrobe. 
It is seldom we have the pleasure of seeing this rare 
and singular species of Dendrobium, namely, D. senile, 
a native of Moulmein, from whence it was introduced 
in 1865. The pseudo-bulbs and leaves are densely 
clothed with long white hairs, not, indeed, rivalling 
those of the “ Old Man” Cactus, but sufficiently long to 
be conspicuous, and to warrant the application of the 
name. A fine old and healthy specimen is grown at 
Westwood House, West Hill, Sydenham, and continues 
to be a source of interest to those who know of its 
whereabouts, and who are continually asking after the 
health of the “ Old Man ” (we mean D. senile). The 
pseudo-bulbs range from 3 ins. to 6 ins. in length, are 
very stout and plump, showing that Mr. Churchneld 
understands its treatment, in which it is very par¬ 
ticular. It flowers regularly, and constitutes a pretty 
object, with golden yellow flowers about 1 in. in 
diameter, with reddish stripes on the labellum ; and 
two or three blooms are produced in clusters along the 
sides of the pseudo-bulbs. 
Odontoglossum crispum plaveolum. 
Great value is laid upon the pure white flowers of 0. 
crispum, when they are well formed, and those with a 
decided shade of rose are also very attractive. The 
present, whose ground colour is a clear sulphur yellow, 
is as decided as any, and is wherewithal very orna¬ 
mental. The sepals and the lip have occasionally a 
circular brownish purple spot, but with that exception 
the flower is of a uniform, clean, and attractive pale 
yellow. We noticed it the other day at Clapton, in the 
nurseries of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. 
Cattleya exoniensis. 
Considerable interest attaches to this plant as being 
one of the earlier hybrids, and if the colours are not so 
intense as in some of the fine Cattleyas now in culti¬ 
vation, the violet-like fragrance of the flowers them¬ 
selves speak greatly in favour of the plant. The parents 
of this hybrid are Cattleya Mossiee and Lfelia purpurata, 
both of which are discernible in the progeny. The 
pseudo-bulbs and general habit of the plants are those 
of C. Mossise, while the flowers are a compromise 
between that and Lfelia purpurata, the sepals and 
petals being blush-coloured, while the lip has a purple 
terminal lobe, margined with white, and the yellow 
throat is closely striated with brownish purple. We 
noticed flowering specimens the other day in the 
nurseries of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
Vanda Cathcarti. 
We have some magnificently-grown specimens of that 
grand Orchid popularly known as Yanda Cathcarti 
from Mr. F. W. Moore, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, 
Glasnevin. The individual flowers were of great size 
and substance, lasting in capital condition for more 
than a week without water. Unfortunately, however, 
we shall never be able to grow this Orchid regularly 
for cut flower purposes. The peculiar colours, or, 
rather, arrangement of colours—brown and yellow in 
regular transverse bands—will always invest this plant 
with a great amount of interest. The structure is also 
peculiar, inasmuch as both sepals and petals become 
somewhat incurved, and the labellum simulates in no 
small degree the lower jaw of an animal. This organ 
is also peculiar, from the slender character of the claws 
by which it is hinged to the base of the column ; and 
the spur, if we may so call it, runs perpendicularly 
along the centre of the lip towards its apex, so that 
the latter structure is really hollow, as well as being 
fleshy and upturned at the margins, so as to resemble 
the jaw of an animal. The species differs in these 
respects from a true Vanda, and is placed in the genus 
Esmeralda by Reichenbach and in Arachnanthe by 
the Genera Plantarum, with which latter genus it is 
connected by an intermediate form, namely, that of 
Vanda Lowii. 
Dendrobium nobile Cooksoni. 
I send you a bloom of Dendrobium, which appears to 
me to be very like D. Cooksoni, recently described in 
your journal. I have noticed this variety for some 
years, and looked upon it as a freak at first, the blooms 
being rather like monstrosities ; but they have now 
assumed a good shape, and I hope the sport is fixed, as 
it is a very interesting development.— Geo. Russell, The 
Gardens, Redlands, Glasgow. [There is no doubt that 
the flower you sent us is that of the variety D. nobile 
Cooksoni. It is not so large as some we have seen, but 
that is a matter of no consequence, as the sport is 
identical. "VVe should be glad to know how long ago 
it is since you first noted the freak, and, if possible, 
from what source it came, as it would be interesting to 
trace the exact history of the sport.— Ed.] 
Phal/enopsis and the Fog. 
We noted the other day at Messrs. Hugh Low & Co.’s, 
Clapton, a contrivance in the form of pruning, by which 
the evil effects of fog could be mitigated in a measure, 
even if it could not be avoided or altogether overcome. 
This consists in partly cutting back the flower spike 
should it happen to be too far advanced during a foggy 
time. If allowed to expend itself, it is probable that 
no flowers would ultimately be produced ; but by 
cutting it back at an early stage, or when seen thatjthe 
flower buds were destroyed by fog, one of the buds that 
would otherwise be dormant will develop from the axil 
