654 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 9, 1888. 
which was white, and the lamina a rich warm purple, 
beautifully undulated and fringed, with the side lobes 
white. The collection included a large and richly 
coloured variety of Dendrobium nobile, the petals and 
the upper sepal being particularly fine. The lip is also 
of great size and beautifully formed, with a heart-shaped 
lamina. The flowers of D. Gibsoni resemble those of 
D. fimbriatum oculatum in miniature, but have two 
black blotches on the lip instead of one, and the latter 
organ is curiously plicate longitudinally. What a 
contrast to the latter is the charming fringe-lipped D. 
Devonianum, with its two golden blotches on the lip, 
three purple striated blotches at the base, and one at 
the apex of the same organ, all arranged on a white 
ground. The fringing alone is exquisite. Few succeed 
in flowering D. Falconeri, which may therefore be 
considered as one of the rarer ones. The sepals are 
tinted with rose, and tipped with amethyst-purple, 
while the broad white petals are also tipped with the 
same colour. The lip has a large maroon-purple blotch 
at the base, surrounded with golden yellow, and then 
again with white, while the tip is amethyst-purple, all 
constituting a beautiful combination indeed. 
-- 
CERCLE DES ORCHIDOPHILES 
BELGES. 
Although the weather was very hot, and especially in 
the early morning, the first June meeting of our 
“ Cercle ” was like its predecessors—a complete success. 
Nothing but choice selected plants were brought to the 
meeting, which was held as before in the large dining 
room of the Royal Hotel, Ghent. The collections of five 
amateurs and four nurserymen were represented, and 
the jury was composed of six members of the society, 
who made their awards on the plan described by me in 
your columns at p. 606. Their awards gave complete 
satisfaction, some nine plants being silently and quickly 
selected for the honour of certificates recording their 
merits. 
Mr. J. Bray’s beautiful plant of Cattleya Reineckiana, 
carrying six spikes of two blooms each, received an 
unanimous vote. Mr. Hye’s Cypripedium Godefroyse, a 
fine large flower, had five votes. The other certificates 
went to Mr. Hye for Cypripedium Boxallii Lezanse, an 
exceedingly fine variety ; to Messrs. Yervaet & Co. for 
Trichopilia crispa marginata, with ten fine flowers, and 
which was much admired ; to Mr. Yan Noten, an 
amateur from St. Nicolas, for a finely grown Mas- 
devallia Chimerse, with five grand blooms and buds ; 
to Mr. Metdefenninghe, of Ghent, for a large plant of 
Oncidium erispum, with seven spikes, and over 200 
flowers ; to Mr. Louis Yan Houtte for Masdevallia 
Harryana, Yan Houtte’s var., with eight or nine large 
handsome flowers, which can nearest be described as a 
splendid bright red in colour ; an extra fine Leelia 
purpurata, with six immense flowers of the best 
description ; and a beautifully flowered specimen of 
Odontoglossum citrosmum from Mr. Hye. 
The last-named plant, and another of the same 
species from Mr. Meulenaere perfumed the whole room 
during the meeting, much to the pleasure of the 
visitors. Among the remaining plants were over a 
dozen well-cultivated Odontoglossum erispum, numerous 
Cattleyas, &c., and also a fine light-coloured variety of 
Odontoglossum Harryanum from Mr. Pynaert. Seeing 
this made one think that surely a white one will be 
found soon ; at any rate, all who have any of this plant 
in their houses should watch them carefully, for there is 
much reason to hope for novelties .—A Member. 
-- 
flHE 
Doubling. —To obtain surplus run honey this is no 
doubt one of the best means of doing it, and also with¬ 
out destruction to the bees. To be successful the stock 
must be strong, for it is no use trying doubling with 
weak hives. "Where swarms are not required, and how 
to obtain the largest amount of honey is the first con¬ 
sideration, that object will be obtained under this 
system of management. Suppose we have a strong 
stock that we want set apart for this purpose, before 
there are any signs of swarming and the stock hive is 
well filled with honey, that is the best time for 
operations. The hive I have described in a previous 
article takes ten standard bar-frames. We shall require 
another hive of the same size to place on the top of the 
one we intend doubling, but instead of putting in 
comb-foundation we would take three or four combs 
jrom another hive, brushing all the bees back, and 
filling the place of the combs taken with thick comb- 
foundation. Place the combs taken in the empty hive, 
and take the three combs from the one we are about 
to double and place along with the other three or four, 
as the case may be, putting in comb-foundation in 
their stead, also as many as are required to fill the hive 
that is to go on the top. 
The hive will now be ready for placing in position on 
the top. See that there is no space for the bees to 
escape where the hives are joined, place a quilt on the 
top, and cover over with two or three folds of flannel 
to keep them warm. The hive is then ready for work, 
and with the young bees hatched out from both hives, 
will soon be in a strong condition and ready to take 
advantage of the flow of honey. Some, again, take all 
the combs and young brood out of another hive, 
brushing back all the bees into the empty hive, and 
replacing the combs taken by comb foundation. The 
combs containing the brood are then placed in an 
empty hive and put on the top of the stock selected for 
doubling. By uniting two strong hives in this way, 
they are prepared to take full advantage of fine weather, 
and their number enables them to store large quantities 
of honey. 
As the combs become filled, they are uncapped and 
placed in the honey extractor, the honey run out, the 
empty combs put back to be refilled, and emptied again 
and again according to the season. Bees will generally 
store their surplus honey in the top hive, or at the 
greatest distance from the entrance. When the honey 
harvest is over, all the combs can be emptied, and the 
top hive removed. The Bee-keeper will now be busy, 
swarming taking up a part of his time ; supering will 
also require attention, and should not be delayed a day 
after the hive is well filled with bees. At^this time the 
bee-keeper is often at a loss what to do when two 
swarms come off at the same time, and unite in one. 
If they are put into one hive fighting will generally 
begin, although sometimes they will separate themselves 
the next day. If it is known that two swarms have 
united, spray them over well with scent before putting 
them in the hive. Should fighting commence after 
they are hived, remove the quilt and spray the bees and 
hive over, also the entrance of the hive. This will 
generally stop fighting, giving the bees all the one 
smell, so that they are not able to distinguish one from 
another. 
I saw a swarm the other day treated like this. They 
were hived, and next morning they began fighting in a 
most alarming manner. I advised that they should be 
sprayed over with scent, when the fighting soon stopped, 
and in a short time a dead queen was thrown out. 
Evidently there were two swarms united, and had they 
been left to themselves, they in all probability would 
have killed half the bees in the swarm.— A. TV. 
Wright. _- 
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS. 
Vervain and Evebright.— Good Luck: Vervain (Verbena 
.officinalis) and Eyebright (Eupbrassia officinalis) are both British 
■ plants, and non-poisonous. Both are recorded in the old Herbals 
as possessing medicinal properties (more imaginary than real), but 
they are not cultivated in the trade; indeed, the Eyebright 
would be a difficult plant to grow in gardens, as, being semi- 
parasitical, it must be sown on turf. 
Cucumbers.— S. Hood: Gumming in Cucumbers is a disease, 
the originating cause of which has not been clearly traced, but 
in many cases of a similar nature to yours, the roots have been 
found to be much injured by a minute nematoid worm, which 
in turn has reduced the natural vigour of the plants. Examine 
the roots, and if you find them clubbed, you may conclude that 
you have the Cucumber disease, and may pull up the plants at 
once, for they will do no good. We would also advise you to 
burn the plants, roots, and compost, and start afresh with a 
change of seed. If the roots are healthy, cut off all the fruits, 
top-dress the bed with some sweet material, and try again. 
Papaver. — TV. Caudwell : A good form of Papaver orientale 
bracteatum, but certainly not sufficiently distinct to warrant its 
being given another name. The colour is good, but it is not a 
novelty. We should like to see a bunch of flowers of the Chry¬ 
santhemum. The Pansies are a very pretty lot. 
Mildew.— A. Z.: The preparation you inquire about is very 
probably the Sulphide of Potassium manufactured by Philip 
Harris & Co., Bull Ring, Birmingham. 
Pandanus Veitchii Becoming Green.- A. Sendai: —This 
occasionally happens when the plants are grown vigorously, in 
shady places especially. In order to obtain -well-coloured plants 
we should advise you to propagate from the shoots that have 
retained the -white variegation. No good results would be 
derived by rooting the green ones, as when they revert to the 
normal green colour they generally remain so afterwards. 
Expose the plants after being rooted to a moderate amount of 
light and do not over-water them. A high temperature has also 
the effect of bringing out the colour to best advantage, so that 
you would obtain more satisfactory results by attending to these 
matters of detail. 
Rose Leaves Disfigured.— G. Henderson : The disfigurement 
of the leaves of your Roses is due to the larvse of some of the 
smaller moths belonging to the Tortricina, which feed on the 
young leaves. The latter they roll up and fasten together by 
means of silken threads. After the larvae attain some size they 
either become pupae in the rolled-up leaves or let themselves 
down to the earth, and often when disturbed you may see them 
hurriedly covering themselves in this way. The only remedy is 
to go over the Roses carefully and remove the grubs by hand, or 
kill them by squeezing the leaves between the finger and the 
thumb. 
Alpines. — A. G. : It is hard to draw an exact distinction 
between hardy herbaceous and Alpine plants, as the latter are, 
in the botanical sense of the term, mostly herbaceous, although 
shrubs occur amongst them. The simplest description of an 
Alpine would be one that grows at some considerable elevation 
above sea level. In gardens, however, plants in general that 
are of dwarf habit are grown associated together under the 
name of rockery or Alpine plants, while at exhibitions consider¬ 
able latitude is often allowed in the showing of groups of Alpine 
plants. "When this is the case, plants that are not strictly from 
Alpine habitats are allowed to pass unquestioned. 
Heliotrope and Mignonette. — Llewellyn Jones: — The 
specimens you sent us are good samples of cultivation. One 
branch of the Mignonette, bearing three racemes, had the 
middle one over 12 ins. in length, while the lateral ones 
were from 6 ins. to .nearly S ins. Of course we must make 
allowance for their having partly gone into a seed-bearing 
condition, when the flower-bearing axis naturally becomes more 
elongated. The inflorescence of Heliotrope White Lady must 
have been fine when fresh. The leaves themselves were 
unusually large, and the inflorescence of handsome proportions, 
all of which speak of suitable treatment. 
Orchids. — J. Routledge: The Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum 
var. hystrix is a very good form indeed. 1, is simply an ordinary 
form of O. Alexandra; 2, is 0. cordatum. The other Odonto¬ 
glossum is O. triumphans, with a peculiarly elongated and 
pointed labellum. 
Names of Plants.— G . TV . G .: Dendrobium transparens. 
T. J. B ..- Aquilegia vulgaris variety ; 2, Silene pendula; 3, Iris 
Germanica, a fine dark variety; 4, Geranium Robertianum; 
5, Muscari botryoides probably; 6, Megasea crassifolia; 7, 
Berberis vulgaris; S, Alyssum saxatile; 9, Saxifraga hypnoides 
variety; 10, Euonymus Japonicus variety; 11, Hypericum 
calycinum; 12, Cratiegus pyracantha. David WUson: The 
flower of Cattleya gigas Sanderiana is a very fine one; 1, Vanda 
Denisoniana ; 2, Odontoglossum cristatum ; 3, Odontoglossum 
sceptrum. Constant Subscriber: 5, the yellow composite is a 
species of Odontoglossum, and although nearly hardy, is seldom 
grown in this country. 
Communications Received. —A. O.—J. H.—C. G,—A. H. B. 
—IV. W. & S.—S. & 8.—E. P.—Anon. 
-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
E. H. Krelage & Son, Haarlem, Holland.—Catalogue of 
coloured plates of plants, flowers, fruits, &e. 
John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, London, S.E.—List of 
plant novelties. 
-- 
THE WEATHER. 
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean reading 
of the barometer during the week ending June 2nd 
was 29'78 in. ; the lowest reading was 29 '55 in. on 
"Wednesday morning, and the highest was 30 '07 in. on 
Friday evening. The mean temperature of the air was 
55 '8°, and 1 '3° below the average in the corresponding 
weeks of the twenty years ending 1868. The mean 
showed an excess on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 
but was below the average on each of the other days of 
the week. The direction of the wind was variable, 
and the horizontal movement of the air averaged 111 
miles per hour, which was 0 '9 mile above the average 
in the corresponding weeks of sixteen years. Rain 
fell on "Wednesday, to the amount of 016 in. The 
duration of registered bright sunshine in the week was 
43'8 horn's, against 55‘2 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. 
-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
June 6th. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152," Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report a small 
attendance at to-day’s market. Trade continues slow. 
There is but little speculation in Clover seeds, though 
reports from growing districts state crops do not look 
well. Rape and Mustard meet a steady sale. Bird 
seeds dull. __ 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
June 7 th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Apples, i sieve. 2 0 5 0 
Grapes .per lb. 3 0 5 0 
Kent Cobs.... 100 lbs.40 0 45 0 
Melons. 10 3 0 
Peaches.perdoz. 4 0 12 0 
Pine-apples, St. 
Michaels, each_ 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 
Strawberries .. per lb. 
t.d. s.d. 
2 0 5 0 
10 2 0 
16 5 0 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 2 0 3 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 3 0 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 3 0 
Cabbages_perdoz. 2 0 2 0 
Carrot s.per bun. 0 6 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 40 60 
Celery, per bundle ..20 
Cucumbers, each_0 9 10 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 3 6 
Herbs, per bunch.... 0 2 0 4 
s.d. s.d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 5 0 
Lettuces .. per dozen 20 30 
Mushrooms, p. basket 0 9 13 
Onions, per bushel .. 7 0 9 0 
Parsley, per bunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen.. 1 6 
Sea Kale.. per punnet 16 2 0 
Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb. 2 0 2 6 
Turnips.... per bun. 0 6 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys. 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
