524 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 14, 1888. 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Odontoglossum Cervantesi. 
Some Odontoglossums come to us from Mr. Robert 
Twiss, Bird Hill House, Birdhill, Limerick, including 
0. Cervantesi in excellent form. While one of the 
dwarf-growing forms, it is at the same time one of the 
prettiest of that class, and always commands attention 
in a collection from the attractive effect produced by 
the crimson-brown lines or bars arranged transversely 
along the concave or cup-like base of the perianth, 
with the exception of the lip which has only a few 
(1—3) bars as a rule. The rounded, fleshy and faintly 
spotted wings are very conspicuous in this species. 
0. membranaceum, under which name the plant is often 
grown in gardens, is synonymous. A large variety of 
0. crispum accompanies the other, and although 
vastly superior to many forms of 0. crispum that are 
grown, yet in the face of the numerous magnificent 
forms now in cultivation, we cannot say that the one 
under notice is a first-class specimen. Its size, however, 
indicates good cultivation, and Mr. Twiss attributes 
his success to the use of material of which he sends a 
sample. It is a kind of moss litter, composed in part 
or wholly of sphagnum, in a dry, brown and compressed 
state, and much resembling Trepho. 
Erratic Dendrobium Wardianum. 
A singular looking flower has just been sent us by 
Messrs. William Thomson & Sons, Clovenfords, Gala¬ 
shiels. It has only one petal and two sepals with a lip. 
The lateral sepals are, however, of a composite nature, 
the dorsal one having become split along its middle 
almost to the base, while one half becomes completely 
amalgamated with the two lateral ones — a fact 
determinable by the line of union being discernible 
throughout and by a narrow notch at the apex, as well 
as a slight union of the dorsal sepal at its very base, 
above the ovary and in the dorsal region of the flower. 
In like manner the solitary petal consists of the two 
that have cohered by their contiguous edges almost to 
the very apex, and occupy the upper side of the flower 
immediately in front of where we should have expected 
the dorsal sepal if it had been normal. The constancy 
and normal character of the lip has been greatly dis¬ 
turbed, being much larger than it should be propor¬ 
tionately to the other parts of the flower. The colours 
of the lip are also greatly disturbed, the yellow running 
in irregular masses or blotches almost to the tip, 
which is purple. Neither do the blotches at the base 
correspond in colour to one another. 
Odontoglossum Ruckerianum, Rosefield Var. 
A richly-coloured specimen comes from De B. 
Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Sevenoaks. Besides the 
usual rose colour suffusing the sepals and petals, and 
which is characteristic of this Odontoglot, the sepals 
are strikingly maculated with large reddish brown 
spots. The same might be said of the petals, where the 
spots are much smaller and more numerous ; and, on 
the whole, the variety may be classed amongst the best 
forms of 0. Ruckerianum. 
Odontoglossum Andersonianum. 
A magnificent variety of this Orchid also comes 
from Mr. Crawshay. Of the Odontoglossum Ander¬ 
sonianum type, we may say it is the finest we have 
seen. As yet no special name has been given to 
it; but it comes nearest to 0. A. lobatum, to which we 
may compare it. The sepals are heavily suffused with 
rose on both surfaces, and richly maculated with dark 
reddish brown, while the petals are equally attractive, 
with numerous spots on a white ground and edged 
with yellow. The lip is of unusual size, lobed and 
toothed all along the margins ; the ground colour is 
white, and more or less spotted, with a bright yellow 
disk. Across the petals the flower measured 4 ins., 
and rather more across the sepals. 
Orchids at The Glen, Innerleithen. 
This fine collection is the property of Sir Charles 
Tennant, Bart. Three houses are devoted to their 
culture—namely, warm, intermediate and cool. In 
the warm house there are some very fine specimens of 
Ccelogynes, Cymbidiums, Cypripediums, Lselias, Pha- 
laenopsids, Yandas, and various other good things, the 
most notable of which are Ccelogyne cristata (Chats- 
worth variety), a splendid plant, completely covered 
with its beautiful white flowers, of great size and 
substance, many of them measuring 5i ins. across ; 
Cymbidium Lowianum, with six fine spikes, averaging 
twenty flowers on each—a grand variety ; Phalaenopsis 
Schilleriana, with a branched spike of forty-three fine 
flowers ; and a splendid specimen of Odontoglossum 
vexillarium not yet in flower, but with about forty 
strong young growths. This fine Odontoglossum is 
seldom seen in such rude health as it is in this fine 
collection. In the intermediate house there was a very 
fine show of Cattleya Triame, Dendrobium Wardianum 
and Lycaste Skinneri, the most noteworthy being 
Cattleya Trian?e Lady Tennant, which was described 
in your columns lately—truly, a better variety is not 
often seen—and a very fine plant of Lycaste Skinneri 
with four flowers. There is a good show of Odonto¬ 
glossum spikes in the cool house, from which may be 
expected a good show of bloom. We noticed a very 
fine spotted variety of 0. Pescatorei with five flowers 
on a spike. This may be seen to better advantage 
when the plant gains strength, as at present it is a 
very small piece. The whole collection reflects great 
credit on the able gardener, Mr. McIntyre, who is 
himself a great Orchid enthusiast.— C. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Propagation. —Many kinds of greenhouse subjects 
may now be propagated with advantage, or even hardy 
plants that have been forced for winter flowering. 
This may be done by using the young shoots that have 
been made since the old plants after having flowered 
were cut down and put into heat. This would apply 
to Cytisus, Coronillas, Hebecliniums, Deutzias, Salvias 
if not already accomplished, and similar things. 
Cinerarias from which it is not intended to save seed, or 
which do not produce any, and which it is desirable to 
perpetuate should have the flower stems removed with¬ 
out defoliating them to a greater extent than can be 
helped, otherwise the plants are weakened. Young 
shoots will be developed from the basal part of the 
stem, and form useful material for propagation later 
on. Only exceptionally good things need be treated in 
this way, as young plants raised from a good strain of 
seed seldom fail to give satisfaction. 
Solanums. —One of the largest berried varieties or 
hybrids of Solanum capsieastrum, so useful for green¬ 
house or conservatory decorationds that named Empress. 
The berries of well-grown specimens are about the size 
of the ordinary one even under good treatment. Some 
cultivators have managed to raise them pretty true to 
name from seed, but this end will be most certainly 
secured by propagating it from cuttings. The old 
plants may now be cut hard back, and a few stood in 
a warm house, where they will soon produce an 
abundance of cuttings. Plants of different sizes prove 
most valuable in decorative work ; therefore, the old 
plants, after being cut back, may be placed in a cold 
frame till the weather becomes warm enough to have 
them planted out. 
Climbers. —As these commence to make growth 
rapidly, carefully attend to regulating and tying down 
the shoots in their proper places, so that no undue 
crowding may take place, nor the light obstructed to 
the disadvantage of other plants grown beneath them. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
The Vineries. —The continuance of cold and com¬ 
paratively sunless weather is very trying to all kinds of 
vegetation, whether under glass and rapidly making 
their growth, or out of doors, delayed by the cold, and 
dried up by cutting east winds almost as badly as 
during the drought of summer. Be careful that the 
inside borders of all early vineries where the Vines are 
in full growth are not allowed to get dry, as the 
rapidity of growth and consequent amount of water 
transpired by the leaves is considerable. In Muscat 
and other houses, where the Vines are now in full 
flower, maintain a dry atmosphere during the middle 
of the day, so as to ensure the dispersal of the pollen 
as the cap-like corollas fall away and expose the 
stamens. At this stage a temperature of 70° should be 
maintained at night, with a rise of 10° during the day 
by artificial heat; but if allowed to run up higher than 
this with sun-heat, especially at closing time, when the 
houses are thoroughly damped down, no harm will 
ensue. 
Peach Houses. —The trees in the earliest house will 
now have reached the stoning period, during which the 
fruit apparently remains for a long time stationary. 
Such may correctly be described as the case with 
regard to the exterior and fleshy portion of the fruit; 
but internally the stone is being formed by an enormous 
deposition of woody matter, nearly filling the internal 
cavity of the cells constituting the stone. After this is 
completed, a second rapid swelling of the fruit will 
take place. The process of stoning is very exhaustive 
to the trees, so that whenever it can be determined 
what fruits are going to pass through this period suc¬ 
cessfully, thin out all the superfluous ones, in order to 
relieve the trees as much as possible. Ventilate freely 
on all favourable occasions, so as not to reduce the 
temperature below 65° by day, and 60° at night. 
Continue the disbudding and tying in of trees in the 
later houses. 
Strawberries. —Great care is necessary during the 
prevalence of dry cold east winds in regulating the 
ventilation properly, so that the plants do not get 
checked or chilled, as it predisposes the plants to 
mildew. In watering, every individual plant should 
be carefully examined, so that the necessary and 
requisite amount of moisture may he given. If allowed 
to get dry at the roots the plants are very subject to 
red-spider, which extends its ravages to other occupants 
of the house if allowed to get a footing. As the fruits 
swell rapidly and approach the ripening stage the 
temperature may be gradually increased to 90° by day 
with sun-heat, but allowed to fall considerably by 
night. A lower temperature should, however, be 
maintained for some time previous to the perfect 
maturation and gathering of the fruit. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Potatos. — Notwithstanding the continued cold 
weather, the ground has become so dry and workable 
that the temptation to plant those things that are not 
likely to suffer from cold is very great. Many culti¬ 
vators have hesitated to plant their main crops of 
Potatos owing to the cold, wet and unsettled state of 
the weather, but with the advance of the season it may 
be as well to take advantage of the first opportunity of 
putting in large breadths of all main-crop varieties. 
Vegetables. —Growth is almost nil out of doors, 
and has been for some time, so that usable vegetables 
are getting rather scarce. Young or autumn-planted 
Cabbage made some advance for a time, but cold east 
winds setting in again they are getting sadly cut about. 
No advantage will be gained by planting out Cabbages, 
Cauliflower, Lettuce, or similar things, that have 
passed the winter in sheltered places or under glass. 
Give them abundant ventilation, to harden them as 
much as possible by the time the weather settles down, 
so as to encourage and not ietard or destroy growth. 
In the scarcity of vegetables of the commoner kinds, 
more of the gardeners in this country should be in¬ 
duced to try the Lamb’s Lettuce (Valerianella olitoria) 
or some of the Continental varieties, which have larger 
leaves, and even find their way into Covent Garden at 
the present time, where they are sold as a vegetable. 
-->*<-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
♦ 
Royal Horticultural.— April 10th. 
In spite of the raw cold weather on Tuesday last, there 
was an excellent exhibition of all the various subjects 
in season, with the exception of Orchids, comparatively 
few of which w'ere shown. Amaryllis, Roses, Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, Daffodils, hardy flowers, and various forced 
subjects were plentifully represented ; but, strangely 
enough, nobody seemed to have anything to send to 
the Fruit Committee in the way of fruits or vegetables. 
A Silver Gilt Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. 
B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, for a group of plants, 
including Palms, Ferns, Olivias, Amaryllis, Dracaenas, 
Crotons, Ochna multiflora in fruit, Yucca filamentesa 
variegata, Oncidium sarcodes, 0. concolor, Phaius 
maculatus, Odontoglossum membranaceum, Cypripe- 
dium Io, C. vernixum, the beautiful little Oncidium 
tetrapetalum, and Dendrobium Smillse, for the latter of 
which a vote of thanks was given. Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea, had a fine group of Amaryllis, several of 
which were certificated. They also showed Daffodils, 
as well as a fine bush of Spirsea confusa, Iris 
reticulata Krelagei, and a batch of forced plants of 
Chiouanthus virginicus, with panicles of white flowers, 
for which a Cultural Commendation was awarded. A 
Silver Gilt Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. J. 
Roberts, gardener to Messrs. Rothschild, Gunnersbury 
Park, Acton, for a group of greenhouse plants, the pro¬ 
minent feature of which was half a dozen plants of Rhodo¬ 
dendron Lady Alice Fitzwilliam trained in the form of 
globular bushes, and covered with their huge white, 
sweet-scented flowers. They were arranged with 
Epacris, Heaths, Ferns and Cyclamens. A pure white 
variety of the latter exhibited pink or pale purple 
flowers from the same corm. A similar award was 
made to Messrs. Paul & Sons, Cheshunt, who exhibited 
forced Laburnum, Amaryllis, and Roses. Amongst the 
