470 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March. 24, 1888. 
schedules for the current year. It has again been 
decided to hold the exhibitions in connection with the 
Royal Horticultural Society ; but owing to the transition 
state of the society, the council are unable to vote the 
usual grant of £15 to each as heretofore. Under these 
altered conditions, the committee trust that members 
and friends will try to make good this amount, and 
suggest that if each member of either society would 
obtain another by personal solicitation, a great success 
for the ensuing year would be assured. 
International Meeting of Horticulturists in Ghent. 
—While the great quinquennial horticultural exhibition 
is being held in Ghent, from the 14th to the 22nd of 
next month, it has been resolved by the ‘ ‘ Chambre 
Syndicale,” in order to afford representatives of the 
horticultural industry of all countries an opportunity 
of extending their commercial relations, and to discuss 
questions affecting their common interests, to hold a 
second international meeting of horticulturists, to 
which all who are interested in the matter are cordially 
invited, and for whom interesting entertainments will 
be provided.. Those who are desirous of attending the 
meeting should communicate with Mr. Aug. Yan 
Geert, Ghent. 
The Ancient Society of York Florists.—Exhibitions 
are announced to be held by this society on the fol¬ 
lowing dates :—April 25th, June 6th, July llth, 
August 8th, and September' 5th; and the annual 
Chrysanthemum show on November 14th, 15th, and 
16th. At a recent meeting of the society, Mr. John 
Lazenby, the secretary, was the recipient of a very 
pleasing token of esteem and goodwill. Mr. G. Cowper, 
who presided, made the presentation (a purse of gold) 
in felicitous terms. He reviewed the honourable history 
of the society, and alluded to the great services which 
Mr. Lazenby had rendered in these its latter days, when 
its usefulness was very great. Mr. Lazenby suitably 
acknowledged this, kindly recognition of his services. 
Cause of Unsymmetrical Growth in Pears.—At 
the last meeting of the Scientific Committee the Rev. 
G. Henslow explained the cause of so many Pears being 
unsymmetrical about their axis. This was only the 
case when the stalk was not vertical, and the want of 
symmetry increased with its obliquity. He attributed 
the growth to the effort of the Pear to meet the strain 
imposed upon the stalk as the fruit increased in weight. 
The two forces to which it is subjected are gravitation, 
or the weight acting in a vertical direction, and the 
tension along the stalk. The resultant of these two 
forces tended to wrench the fruit from the latter at its 
point of insertion at the base of the Pear. To meet 
this strain, the fruit thickened in the opposite direction, 
so that the “ hump ” is always at the base, and on the 
outer or opposite side of the fruit. The effect often 
extends over the whole of the outermost half of the 
Pear, so that a vertical plane at right angles to the one 
in which the stalk lies cuts the Pear into two very 
unequal portions. When the stalk hangs vertically, 
as is more usually the case in Apples and in Oranges, 
there is little or no obliquity, so that the Pear grows 
symmetrically round all points of its axis, the radii of 
the circular transverse sections being all equal. 
-- 
PEA SUPPORTS. 
With the difficulty which exists in town districts cf 
getting Pea sticks at anything like a fair price, it seems 
obvious that some cheap and enduring form of support 
is needful, which should, if possible, be cheaper and 
less unwieldy than are the wire Pea hurdles occasionally 
advertised. The necessity of some substitute for 
ordinary sticks multiplies with the increased growth of 
Peas and the dwindling of woods within moderate reach 
of populous places. Those gardeners who are within 
easy reach of woods are, indeed, well favoured, and, on 
the whole, nothing created by man can probably ever 
excel in use and fitness the spray of Hazel for Pea 
supports. 
But whilst some sort of artificial support is thus 
needed, we may mitigate the difficulty somewhat by 
solving kinds which will not exceed 4 ft. in height. Of 
these we have plenty, and first-rate Peas too. Yery 
likely a few stakes driven in at intervals of 6 ft. or 8 ft. 
on either side of the rows, with a quantity of the cheap 
twist which is used by sack makers run from stake to 
stake at intervals of 6 ins., would do very well, and 
probably prove much cheaper than Pea sticks, and be 
quite as serviceable. The stakes should be 5 ft. long, 
and with care—being used in the summer only—would 
probably last three years, whilst the twist would be 
useful for two years. The storage of this material 
would give little trouble, whilst wire Pea hurdles would, 
if long enduring, be very dear at the first, and need 
ample storage room every winter. 
The difficulty, which is a growing one, needs facing. 
It is a poor substitute for sticks or supports of any kind 
to grow Peas on the ground. That is just what many 
a suburban gardener has to do, however.— A. D. 
-—- 
THE PARROT TULIP. 
The singular race of Tulips known under the above 
name are all believed to have originated from Tulipa 
Gesneriana, the parent of all the late-flowering varieties 
of the garden Tulip. The Parrot Tulips are classified 
under the variety T. G. Dracontia. As garden forms 
they are very old, some of them being known to have 
existed about 300 years ago, exhibiting all the singular 
and variable peculiarities of colouring and ragged 
character for which they are notable at the present day. 
■While in the hud state, and even till about to expand, 
they appear of a dull green, and are altogether un¬ 
attractive ; but after expansion they exhibit yellow, 
green, and scarlet in the most irregular blotches and 
stripes, while the margins are deeply cut and ragged. 
Owing to this latter peculiarity, probably, and unequal 
growth, the flowers for a long time seem to have a 
difficulty in expanding ; but as the weather gets warmer, 
and the growth of the segments becomes complete, they 
expand in all their beauty, and last for some time in 
perfection. Our illustration shows the ragged character 
of the flower. 
The Pap.eot Tulip. 
THE BARONS, TWICKENHAM. 
Having been removed from Hillingdon to Twick¬ 
enham, Mr. Henry Little’s plants are now in houses 
of a more or less temporary character, that in some 
cases do not show them off to the best advantage. 
Such as are seasonable, however, are flowering very 
freely. The Pelargoniums and Amaryllis, for which 
Mr. Little is now so well known, although requiring 
constant care at every period of the year, show nothing 
as yet in the way of flowers. Orchids and Cyclamens 
are the other specialities, and offer ample material for 
comment. 
There are now numerous growers in Twickenham and 
the neighbourhood who are specialists in Cyclamens, 
and cultivate them to perfection ; but Mr. Little was 
one of the first to excel, if not the prime instigator of 
the movement that has resulted in the great improve¬ 
ment that has been made in this now popular flower. 
He does not now grow them so extensively as formerly, 
but aims rather at perfecting and improving the 
qualities of particular types or strains. In the general 
batch of plants, however, shades and tints of all 
colours may be noticed ; but mere size of flower is 
regarded with indifference, the object being to get dwarf- 
habited plants, and a profusion of flowers ; and an 
examination of the plants prove that there has been a 
great amount of success, as the flowers literally form 
dense masses standing clear above the foliage, but 
requiring no support whatever. Mrs. Harry Yeitch, 
certificated some years ago, has large pure white flowers, 
with a deep purple mouth, and finely toothed at the 
margin. The habit is compact, but not so dwarf as 
that of Mrs. H. Little, a rich intensely crimson self- 
coloured flower of rare merit. In size and richness of 
colouring, however, it is even surpassed by seedlings 
raised from it, some of which are of a shade our language 
is too poor in terms to define. Other seedlings from 
Mrs. H. Little present colours of a burnt carmine, deep 
rose with a crimson base, besides violet and purple 
tints. Purple Gem has rich purple flowers and a 
compact habit, while in one instance a deep violet 
variety seemed verging towards blue. 
Of Cattleyas, the various forms of C. Trianoe are the 
only ones of this class flowering at present. The grand 
pieces of other species that frequently make their 
appearance at shows held during the summer, and 
which have gained many honours, although not in 
flower, are bristling with sheaths from which something 
fine may be expected later on. 
Cypripediums are well grown and profusely flowered, 
there being considerable variety even at this early 
season. Of the autumn-flowering C. Spicerianum some 
blooms still remain, and Mr. F. Hill, the enthusiastic 
gardener, says he has had nineteen twin-flowered spikes 
on it this season. At present C. Argus is bearing three 
twin-flowered spikes besides a number of single ones. 
The richly-spotted petals are the great feature of this 
species. Other kinds flowering at present are C. 
callosum, C. Warneri, C. Harrisianum superbum, a 
very rich dark-coloured variety; C. Boxalli, C. villosum, 
C. v. aureum, the yellow ground-colour of which is very 
pleasing and attractive ; C. Lowii, C. Haynaldianum, 
and C. hirsutissimum. A very distinct form of C. 
villosum was notable on account of the immense size of 
the pouch, the auricles of which spread upwards and 
outwards till they almost touch the petals, making the 
flower very compact. One spike of C. Lowii carries 
four fully-expanded blooms, the fifth one being over. 
Amongst the Dendrobiums in this house are D. Ward- 
ianum, D. Findleyanum, and D. crassinode giganteum, 
the latter being characterised by the great size of the 
flowers, the stout pseudo-bulbs, and the broad purple 
tips to the segments of the flower. The Phalsenopsids 
comprise P. Stuartiana, P. amabilis, and P. Schil- 
leriana, with branching panicles. Most of them are 
grown in teak cylinders, which they seem to enjoy, 
judging from the size of the leaves and the number of 
roots clinging to the wood. Near to these are sus¬ 
pended some baskets of well-flowered specimens of 
Angrieeum citratum. 
Many Odontoglossums are now flowering in the cool- 
house ; but the Lycastes constitute the most prominent 
and noticeable feature at present, on account of their 
variety. Of the former 0. tripudians, 0. Wilckeanum, 
0. gloriosum, 0. crispum, and 0. Pescatorei serve to 
give great variety. Oneidium Phalienopsis — now 
finding its way into every collection—can hardly 
escape notice wherever it opens its flowers ; and the 
singular Masdevallia chimsera has beauty in its great 
persistency of flowering, the blooms appearing at all 
periods of the year. 
A few of the varieties of Lycaste Skinneri have 
received special names, while the greater part—many of 
them strikingly distinct—are altogether unnamed. L. S. 
magnifiea is notable for the size of its flowers, which 
have deep rosy purple petals and lip. The petals of 
L. S. marmorata differ in being tipped with pure 
white, while L. S. gloriosum is characterised by having 
crimson petals and a white labellum, even including 
the tongue. The petals and lip furnish the greatest 
amount of variation, which practically seems limitless, 
the latter being crimson or spotted white, with purple 
side lobes, or white with a few lateral crimson blotches. 
Mr. Hill treats them liberalty, occasionally giving 
liquid manure, and the result repays the trouble 
incurred, many of the pseudo-bulbs carrying fifteen or 
sixteen flowers each. One plant with the former 
number has been flowering since November last, and 
will continue for some time to come, so that in all it 
will have given a succession of flowers lasting for six 
months. The size of the pseudo-bulbs also testifies to 
the high-class cultivation they enjoy, many of them 
being two or three times as large as those of previous 
years, while some of the spikes were carrying twin 
flowers. _»>££<.,_ 
BARVINS PARK, NORTHAW, 
HERTS. 
A good collection of plants is grown at this estab¬ 
lishment, but the bulk of them are confined to a 
few specialities such as Orchids, Chrysanthemums, 
Cinerarias, Calceolarias, with a collection of stove and 
greenhouse plants. Orchids and Chrysanthemums are 
the greatest favourites of Messrs. W. "Wood & Sons, and 
have by far the largest amount of space devoted to their 
cultivation. At present, however, the Chrysanthemums 
being in small pots occupy neither much time nor space. 
The cool conditions under which the Orchids are 
grown is very noticeable to those who are accustomed 
to the close steamy atmosphere in which we frequently 
