442 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 10, 1888. 
Certainly just now the council finds plenty of critics 
and advisers, but I do not imagine any harm will result 
from that. What is so desirable is that from out of 
the criticisms and suggestions thus offered, the 
governing body should endeavour to see itself as others 
see it, and then it may gain wisdom, and possibly be 
spared many of those blunders which the former 
councils stumbled into. I am sure the bulk of the 
gardening community wish the society well, but a lot 
of headway must be made ere respect is obtained, and 
respect must be secured before confidence can be had. 
To that end we must have firm and combined action, 
none of those dissensions which have marked previous 
councils, no petty jobbery of offices, but every honest 
effort made to obtain the very best men which can be 
found and afforded. Whilst very doubtful as to the 
wisdom of the course the council have taken in going 
to Victoria Street, still, now that the step is taken, let 
it have a fair trial for a year at least, and if it then 
fails the sooner Chiswick is reverted to the better for 
all .—A Fellow. 
-- 
ORCHIDS AT HEXTABLE, KENT. 
At this distance from the metropolis we get a clearer 
air and an absence of smoke, even if we do not enjoy 
sunshine, which has been rather phenomenal in its 
occurrence for some time past. -The purity of the rain 
water, which is carefully husbanded at Mr. J. E. Bonny’s 
establishment here for watering the Orchids, also 
speaks of the absence of coal-soot on the glass. The 
water in question is retained in cemented tanks, one of 
which is built at the end of every house, outside, with 
one exception, where the water occupies a huge tank 
beneath the central stage of the East Indian house. 
The staging consists of slate covered with a layer of 
sharp or gravelly sand to retain the moisture ; and 
those Orchids that develop aerial roots largely, evince 
a great liking for this material, judging by the tenacity 
with which they cling to it. 
Of warm-house Orchids there is a considerable 
variety, including Vandas, Angrrecums, Aerides, Saceo- 
labiurn, Dendrobium and others, including flowering 
specimens of the beautiful V. cccrulescens, Angrrccum 
liyaloides and A. Leonis. The latter is not only an 
ornamental and sweetly scented species,-but botanically 
very interesting on account of the leaves being laterally 
compressed as if set on edge vertically. Flowering 
Dendrobiums are more numerous,, and include 
D. Wardianum, D. crassinode, D. Devonianum, D. 
Linawianum, D. nobile, D. infundibulum, D. aggre- 
gatum majus, and D. Pierardi. Many or nearly all of 
them exhibit great improvement on the last made 
pseudo-bulbs over those of preceding years, the stems 
of D. infundibulum being 2£ ft. in length or more. 
D. Falconeri also shows remarkably fine growth. A 
favourite with many Orchid growers is Ionopsis 
paniculata, here spreading out its graceful panicle of 
flowers of a pale blush tint, almost white, with a purple 
blotch at the base of the large lip. We were pleased to 
see our old friend Scuticaria Steeli in such splendid 
condition. The plants are grown in baskets, not on 
rafts, as Mr. Bonny considers they are liable to get 
starved on the latter. Dark green thong-like leaves, 
4 ft. or more in length, testify to their liking for the 
treatment. Several Cypripediums were in flower ; but 
we were struck with the healthy condition of a batch 
of C. caudatum—small pieces certainly, yet making 
rapid progress, while the flower-buds are also well 
advanced. 
Large batches of Cattleya Walkeriana, C. Dowiana, 
and 0. D. aurea, are now in various stages of advance¬ 
ment ; while, of course, C. Trianae is flowering in 
variety. Of the first-mentioned there are spathes and 
flower-buds developing on healthy pieces of this beautiful 
and most interesting species ; while there are also large 
quantities of Lslia prsestans and L. marginata. An 
Orchid that is very much neglected among growers at 
the present day is Phaius maculatus, interesting in 
this order on account of its golden blotched leaves and 
yellow flowers, the lip of which is curiously plaited, and 
striated with brown at the apex. Amongst a large 
batch of Lycaste Skinneri some attractive and rich 
colours are noticeable. A peculiarity ofthepseudo-bulbs, 
not only in this species but also in several species of 
Odontoglossum, is that they greatly alter in character, 
even after one season’s growth, from newly imported 
stuff. The old pseudo-bulbs were greatly elongated 
and comparatively thin, whereas the young ones are 
short, very broad and plump. The flowers of L. cruenta 
are mostly twin on a spike where we ordinarily expect 
but one. Ccelogyne cristata Lemoniana is still one of 
the best varieties. Some growers complain of the 
difficulty of growing Warscewiczella discolor, but a 
specimen that has been successfully grown for three 
years past is now bearing twin flowers on some of its 
scapes. 
A batch of small but thriving specimens of Odonto¬ 
glossum Roezli will be in full bloom in a week or two ; 
while its near relative, Miltonia cuneata, a showy but 
neglected species, seems to be flowering some months 
before its time. The flowers are about 4 ins. in 
diameter, deep chocolate-brown with transverse bands 
of yellow, while the lip is white with a violet blotch at 
the base. The flower scapes of the deliciously scented 
Odontoglossum citrosmum are sometimes branched. 
Charming little species are 0. Oerstedii, 0. pulchellum 
majus, and 0. blandum. Quantities of the best 
Oneidiums are kept in stock, such as 0. concolor, 
0. clieirophorum, 0. Papilio, and 0. Krameri. A 
pretty and attractive form of 0. Rhaloanopsis had pale 
violet-purple sepals and petals, -with a blotch of the same 
colour on the pure white lip. Some seven or eight 
branches besides the terminal one on the inflorescence 
of 0. Marshallianum will make a grand display in a 
week or so. Although a grand thing, comparatively 
few cultivators yet possess it. Considering that the 
flower stems of 0. sarcodes attain a length of 2 ft.-to-4it.. 
the plant is wonderfully neat in habit, and rather unique 
amongst Oneidiums, owing to the greatly elongated 
character of its pseudo-bulbs. Masdevallias are repre¬ 
sented at present by M. triangularis and M. ignea 
supeiba, a large-flowered and fine form. A showy 
though sometimes despised Orchid is Ada aurantiaca, 
here well grown, with flowers of unwonted size. 
-“>X<-=- 
THE FIRS, LAWRIE PARK, 
SYDENHAM. 
The noted collection of Orchids at The Firs, the 
residence of C. Dorman, Esq., is now exceedingly 
rich in various winter-flowering species and choice 
varieties which must have taken many years to accu¬ 
mulate. House after house is filled to overflowing, 
and every possible advantage seems to be taken of the 
small area at command on which glass structures could 
be erected with a proper degree of light, so essential to 
Orchid growing. One noticeable feature is that the 
plants are stood as near to the glass as possible in those 
houses that are higher than Orchid houses generally 
are built. The importance of this' need not be"dWelt 
upon, suffice it to say that the plants are in robust 
health, and everything is perfectly clean, reflecting great 
credit on Mr. White, the gardener, who has charge 
of the collection. 
We make no attempt to give a complete list or 
catalogue of all the kinds flowering at the present time, 
but merely intend referring to beautiful, valuable, and 
useful horticultural species and varieties. Cattleya 
Triansc is now the flower of the season, in endless variety, 
and as no room can be afforded for bad varieties, all 
are picked and choice forms. An exceptionally good 
one had a broad richly coloured lip, with a large well- 
defined, golden blotch in the throat; another was 
characterised by a distinct white margin. Some of the 
last blooms of C. Percivaliana displayed the rich 
crimson and gold, for which the lip of this Cattleya is 
admired. Another allied form that must be included 
in this group is C. chocoensis, with pure white flowers, 
except a soft purple tint about the middle of the 
labellum, and a yellow throat. The shortness and 
great breadth of the petals are peculiar marks of this 
Cattleya. 
A charming group of Oncidium cucullatum 
nubigenum, generally known in gardens as 0. Phalren- 
opsis, included some of the best forms of the species we 
have seen. The latter is really the alpine form of 0. 
cucullatum, and comes from a higher altitude. The 
form that struck us as particularly charming had un¬ 
usually large flowers, the sepals and petals of which 
were rich dark purple, with a few white streaks, and 
margin. The labellum for size recalled that of 0. c. 
giganteum, but was white, blotched with bright purple 
towards the base, with a golden crest. Other forms 
were paler, but beautifully marked with smaller purple 
spots on the same places as the above. 
Odontoglossums were both rich and varied, including 
many fine forms of 0. crispum, which will always be 
one of the most popular of Orchids. The reputed 
natural hybrids of this and 0. luteo-purpureum were 
rich and varied, and as puzzling to define as we usually 
find them in good collections, like that at The Firs. 
As garden plants, however, they are simply charming, 
with brown or chocolate markings on a yellow or white 
ground. Add to these the varied forms of 0. Rossii 
majus, the naming of which has been given up, although 
many of the unnamed forms are infinitely better than 
some of the early named kinds. The clouded 
Odontoglot (0. nebulosum) is also in fine form, together 
with the variable 0. maculatum, and the yellow-petalled 
form or natural hybrid, named 0. Donnianum 
Humeannm. Mr. White says the latter has been 
flowering for the past two months. The white flowered, 
sweet-scented, long-spurred Angrsecum Sanderianum is 
one of the recent additions to this wonderful genus, and 
is proving a useful and valuable garden plant. Blue is 
comparatively rare amongst Orchids, and Yanda 
coerulescens is consequently always welcome, even 
although the flowers are smaller than those of Y. 
coerulea. Out of the 350 species of Pleurothallis that 
have been described, very few are considered worthy of 
cultivation as garden plants ; but the new P. Roezlii is 
really an acquisition, and the well-grown specimen here 
bore nine flowers on a drooping or arching spike. They 
are much larger, with broader sepals and petals, than 
any other species we have seen ; but, of course, shorter 
and of the deepest purple-brown, almost black. With 
the exception of this plant and one at Burford Lodge, 
Dorking, no others have yet been flowered in this 
.co.qniry, _as. far as.we are at_present aware. 
The conservatory was gay with Camellias grown in 
pots, which were arranged on a semi-circular constructed 
kind of staging, so as to give the beholder the best 
view of the group possible. The plants were of medium 
or small size, so as to allow of a considerable amount of 
variety ; and being well furnished with buds and bloom 
at the time of our visit, presented a very attractive 
appearance. _ 
fjARDENING ffflSCELLANY. 
Emigration for Gardeners. 
In the present depressed condition of things and the 
overstocked state of the labour market in gardening 
communities, there are many who would, doubtless, 
prefer to emigrate if they knew where to go or where to 
find an opening, rather than wait in expectation of 
something to turn up at home. Gardening is making 
rapid strides in the United States, and places are 
frequently opening up for efficient men. Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, authorise us to state 
that they have instructions from the owner of one of the 
largest nursery establishments in the United States to 
send him men who have made themselves thoroughly 
conversant with the work that should be done in the 
garden, and who mean to make the most of their 
opportunities. To men of this stamp he would give 
immediate employment, and better situations are not 
difficult to secure when men have become acquainted 
with the climatal peculiarities of that country and the 
style of American gardening. 
Lilium Auratum as a Vegetable. 
A friend of mine has just informed me that a relative 
of his to whom he gave some Lilium auratum bulbs 
sent a few of them to his next-door neighbours, and 
to his surprise on visiting them a few days after, the 
lady of the house thanked him most cordially for “the 
nice present of Artichokes,” which they enjoyed so 
much for supper the same evening. The lady stated 
also that “ they appeared rather brown when cooked.” 
— T. C. IF. [We have no personal experience of Lily 
bulbs as a vegetable, but know of no reason why they 
should not be eaten by any one who may be inclined to 
try such an expensive luxury. All the Lily bulbs, we 
believe, are rich in nutritive matter, and it is well 
known that the bulbs of several species are regularly 
eaten by the natives in Kamtschatka, by the Cossacks 
in Russia, and by both the Chinese and Japanese.— 
Ed.] 
Crocus Sieberi. 
It is greatly to be regretted that these beautiful 
harbingers of spring are unable to battle with the 
severity and fickleness of our climate, for then we 
should have a succession of beautiful forms in a great 
variety of colours from autumn till late in spring. 
The species under notice flowers naturally from the 
latter end of February till well into March. Under 
the protection of a cold frame, however, it flowers 
much earlier. The commonest or typical form has 
bright lilac flowers, with orange base ; and a variety 
at Chiswick, in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, is lined with darker coloured veins; and 
Mr. George Maw, who monographed the genus, says 
that forms occurring in Crete and the Cyclades range 
from white to purple, and vary with intermixtures of 
these colours. 
