254 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 20, 1890. 
ORCHID NO TES AND GLEANINGS. 
Rare Orchids in Flower at The Dell. 
The following choice and rare Orchids are now flower¬ 
ing in the grand collection of Baron Schroder, at The 
Dell, Egham :—Dendrobium Macfarlanei, several 
spikes of flowers, pure white, - with the centre of the 
lip purple, very beautiful ; Cattleya Mastersonise, 
two flowers ; Lnfiia aneeps Hillii, a fine form, with four 
spikes ; Ltelia autumnalis alba, ten flowers, very large, 
pure white blooms ; Phaius Sedeni, a hybrid with fine 
spike, flowers white, with deep rosy lip ; Calanthe 
Alexandra?, hybrid, with deep crimson-purple flowers ; 
Vanda ccc-rulea, a splendid form, with two spikes of 
bloom bearing twenty-eight flowers ; Sophronitis 
grandiftora, flowers large, bright deep scarlet, twenty- 
four blooms; and Odontoglossum Chestertoni, the 
scarce original variety, with a fine bloom spike of 14 
flowers. In the Cypripedium collection the following 
are flowering:—C. Hiobe, two flowers; C. Germiny- 
anurn; C. Harrisianum superbum, splendid form; 
C. politum; Galatea, several plants, showing well for 
bloom ; C. purpuratum, fine variety, four flowers ; 
C. cenanthum superbum ; Charles Canham, three 
flowers; C. leucorhodum, specimen with five spikes 
showing for bloom ; and C. Sedeni candidulum reticu- 
latum, a very distinct imported species. Cypripedium 
Morganioe, the grand specimen which so recently 
flowered with five fine spikes of bloom, is again showing 
for flower.— R. B. 
A New Way of Growing Odontoglossum 
Alexandr/e. 
Youb. correspondent’s letter on the above subject, p. 
216 of the last issue of The Gardening World, 
furnishes matter for deep thought amongst the 
unsuccessful growers of this most beautiful of all 
Orchids. My experience teaches me that unless the 
atmospheric condition and temperature of the house 
in which they are grown is all that it should be, no 
special way of potting will be of any use. We pot 
ours in the recognised compost for cool Orchids, namely, 
two parts fibrous peat, one part sphagnum moss with 
a plentiful supply of charcoal. The pots are half 
filled with crocks, a layer of moss is placed over them, 
and the compost pressed rather firmly round the plant. 
When the plants are well established in the new 
compost, weak liquid manure is given about once a 
lortnight during the summer, but not so frequent 
duringthe winter months, the bestPeruvian guanobeing 
used. The result is fine growths, strong spikes, and large 
fleshy flowers. Is not Mr. Ballard’s system, feeding 
in another, and perhaps more dangerous form ? The 
way we grow ours, admits of a free use of the syringe, 
which we consider is essential in keeping the green-fly 
in check. Furthermore, novices can be set to syringe 
or water without any fear of damage being done by 
over watering, as the water .passes away more freely. 
However, not having seen Mr. Ballard’s Orchids before 
or since he has been growing them on this new system, 
I am not in a position to judge as to the results ; there¬ 
fore it must not be thought I have written this note in 
any hostile spirit, for whilst not agreeing with the 
system, I have no wish to throw cold water on the 
experiments of others.— Sidney Cooke. 
Cattleya maxima peruviana. 
The sepals and petals of this variety are of the usual 
lilac tint, but a distinction from the type is found in 
the lip, which is richly reticulated with deep, bright 
purple on a white ground, with a median yellow 
and white band; the tube is rosy purple exter¬ 
nally. There are several other varieties in cultivation, 
but we noted this the other day at Gunnersbury 
Park, Acton, where it was flowering. It is a n ative of 
Columbia, and although introduced in 1844, has never 
become so popular as any of the leading forms of the 
C. labiata group. This is due, partly, no doubt, to the 
absence of any very striking colours. The species is, 
however, very distinct, and some of the varieties are 
very pretty, including the present one. 
Cymbidium giganteum Tracyanum. 
The plant of this very distinct variety of C. giganteum 
(for so we consider it, despite numerous criticisms to 
the contrary), which was certificated last week at the 
Drill Hall, was put up for sale at Protheroe & Morris’s 
Rooms on the 12th inst., and sold for seventy-five 
guineas. It may interest holders of unflowered im¬ 
ported pieces of C. Lowianum, to know that Mr. 
Tracy’s variety was purchased with other supposed 
Lowianums in the same rooms, and it will be interesting 
to watch if any more plants of the same variety make 
their appearance out of the same importation. 
Odontoglossum Hrubyanum. 
This very scarce and beautiful Odontoglossum is now 
flowering in the Dell collection. The plant which is 
blooming has two elegant spikes ; one bearing twenty- 
four blooms, and the other having nineteen. So pure 
white are the flowers, and so free from spots, that one 
would take it at a distance for a pure white Odonto¬ 
glossum eirrhosum.— R. E. . 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, 
Cucumber Frame .—John Wiggins : The exact time at which 
you may make up the bed and plant the Cucumber depends very 
much upon the nature of the weather next spring. Should it be a 
cold, late spring, then we should advise you not to be in too 
great a hurry, but to wait till the weather improves. If you had a 
regular command of fire-heat by means of hot-water piping, of 
course you could be independent. In a general way the month 
of April would be soon enough to get the dung. Shake it up 
loosely in a heap for a day or two, and then turn the whole 
again, putting the ranker material in the centre of the heap. 
Then put it up in a square heap two or three days later, and put 
the frame over it. Make up some rich compost consisting of 
good fibrous loam, and a fair quantity of well-rotted manure; 
then place this on the hot-bed at once, near the top. If the 
manure is not heating too violently you may plant the Cucum¬ 
ber about two days after putting in the soil, so that the latter may 
have time to get warm. Cover the frame at night with mats, 
but if the manure is heating strongly you will have to leave a 
slight chink of ventilation to allow the heated vapour to escape, 
otherwise the leaves of the plant might get injured. Give a little 
ventilation during the day if the sun is powerful. 
Heating by Lamps. — Omega : The paraffin lamp will do no 
harm in your small greenhouse if there is a little ventilation, 
and you keep it clean and always burning brightly. It is when 
they are neglected and “ smoke ” that they become injurious. 
Lily of the Valley.— Two Questions : As the plants make 
no root-growth until after the flowering, and are of little value, 
if flowered under glass, for flowering again until the second year 
after being planted out, you should pot them in a light, sweet 
compost, but do not bury the crowns. Then, as you do not 
want to force them in strong heat, plunge the pots up to the 
rims in ashes in a cold frame, and over the tops put a layer of 
moss about 2 ins. deep to keep the light from the crowns until 
they make an inch or so of top-growth, when you can remove 
them to a warm frame or intermediate house. If you want a 
few early, put them into the warm frame at once, covering the 
crowns with moss, as in the case of the others, or with inverted 
pots if more convenient. Lily crowns very seldom come well 
if exposed to light from the first. If in a light, free soil they 
like plenty of moisture. Tour other question next week. 
Mignonette Failing. — Gardener , Co. Kildare: Judging from 
the appearance of the shoots sent, the plants do not get sufficient 
ventilation. A high temperature and a close, moist, and stag¬ 
nant atmosphere are detrimental to their well being. Another 
fact to be remembered is that the plants get too little light in 
winter, makiDg their culture extremely difficult. If you can 
manage it at all, we should advise you to place them on a shelf 
near the glass in a house that is well lighted, freely ventilated, 
and having a temperature from 50’ to 55°. But at this degree 
it must be well ventilated, otherwise failure is certain. The 
plants must now be of some size, and ought to he encouraged 
with a little manure given as a top-dressing. Another point of 
importance is that the soil in which they are potted should he 
made quite firm, and if you can. place ashes on the shelf where 
you stage them it will prevent them from getting quickly dry. 
Comparatively little water will he required during winter, hut 
they must not he neglected. The specimens that were spotted 
undoubtedly showed the evidence of thrip ; but we think that, 
on the whole, the chief points to he attended to are heating, 
lighting, ventilation, and a little feeding. We see no evidence 
of fungus. 
Name of Apple. — W. H. : Wareham Russet. 
Pansy Seed. — F. S. : Consult our advertising columns. 
Stock. — Flos: The Stock is cultivated to some extent in and 
around London, both in the open ground and in pots. The Ten- 
Weeks Stock is generally raised under glass, and planted out 
towards the end of May or the beginning of June in the open 
ground. Brompton and Intermediate Stocks are also sometimes 
planted in favourable positions out of doors. Another plan is 
to sow them in pans about August, and pot them off singly in 
small pots, giving them a few shifts into larger sizes as they 
l equire it during winter. They then flower finely in spring. 
Gilliflower is applied to several plants, including the Clove or 
Carnation, and is supposed to mean July Flower, because they 
1 come into bloom during that month. Thus the French name 
Girofle. Gilliflower and Stock-gilliflower are rendered Giroflee 
by those people, and the Wallflower is the yellow Gilliflower, or 
Giroflee jaune. 
Various. — Flos: The Blessed Herb is probably synonymous 
with Blessed Thistle, which is Carduus benedictus, probably 
from its supposed medicinal properties. Columbine is taken 
from columba, a dove, and has long been applied to the Aquilegias 
from the fancied resemblance of the flowers to five pigeons. The 
sepals represent the wings of the dove, while the petals repre¬ 
sent the body. True Love or Trulove is applied to Paris qnad- 
rifolia. The leaves and stem of it were formerly used in 
medicine, and the juice of the berry in inflammation of the eyes. 
There does not appear to be a plant named Venus’ Tree, but 
Venus’ Sumach is Rhus cotinus, otherwise known as the Smoke 
Bush from the appearance of the inflorescence about August. 
Venus' Comb is Scandix Pecten-Veneris, anUmbellifer, with long 
beaks to the fruit. The name Scandix was anciently applied to 
some now unknown edible plant. Venus’ Glass is Speeularia 
speculum, and speculum is the Latin name for a mirror, and was 
given in allusion to the brightness of the flowers during sun¬ 
shine. Devils’ Claws and Fool’s Coat seem to he local names, 
and are not recognised in botanical or gardening books. The 
symbolical application of the word “flattery ” to the Fennel is 
not described in such books. 
Communications Received. — M. — Amphibolus — W. C.— 
D. P. L.—W. W.—R. S. & Co.—S. P.—A. H.—T. Q 
--— 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
W. E. Boyce, Archway Road, Highgate.— Descriptive Cata¬ 
logue of Chrysanthemums. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading.—Amateurs’ Guide in Horticulture 
for 1S91. 
--- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
December 15th. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditcb, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, E. C., report no business 
doing at to-day’s market owing to fog. Alsike is dearer. 
White Clover, Bed Clover, and Trefoil unchanged. 
Bye grasses steady. 
GQVENT GARDEN MARKET, 
December- 16 th. 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. s.d. s.d. s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 3 0 6 0 Herb3 .... per hunch 0 2 0 4 
Asparagus-per 100 Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 5 0 
Beans, FTeneh, per lb. 1 0 Lettuces .. per dozen 16 2 0 
Beet .per dozen 2 0 3 0 Mushrooms, p. basket 13 2 0 
Cabbages_per doz. 1 6 2 0 Onions_per bushel 3 6 5 0 
Carrots_perbunch 0 6 Parsley_per bunch 0 6 
Cauliflowers, English, Radishes ..per dozen 1 6 
per dozen 3 0 6 0 Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Celery-per bundle 2 6 Spinach, per strike ..2 0 
Cucumbers _each 0 4 OS Tomatos _per lb. 1 0 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 3 0 Turnips _per bun. 0 6 
Potatos.— Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. s.d. \ 
Apples .. per J-sieve 16 6 0 
Cherries.i-sievc 
Currant, black,Asieve 
— red.4-sieve 
Grapes ...... per lb. 0 9 3 0 
s.d. s.d. 
| Kent Cobs ...100 lbs. 65 0 70 0 
Xovia Scotia Apples SS 0 30 0 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 
— St. Michaels, each 2 6 6 6 
Plums .... per 4 sieve 
Xo Alteration in Flower List. 
CONTENTS 
PACE 
Adiantum monochlamys .. 251 
Amateurs’ Garden. 250 
American Blight . 253 
Cabbage,cultivated races of 246 
Cassia corymbosa . 252 
Cattleya maxima peruviana 254 
Christmas fruits . 243 
Christmas trees . 243 
Chrysanthemum gossip ... 24S 
Cotoneaster frigida . 252 
Cymbidium giganteum 
Tracyanum . 254 
English names . 252 
Fogs . 244 
Fogs at Christmas . 245 
Gooseberry pruning. 251 
Herbaceous plants. 245 
Jasminum nudifiorum .... 251 
Mealy-bug. 251 
Medicinal Herbs.".. 24S 
PAGE 
Mistleto, then and now .. 248 
Mushroom growing . 250 
Mushrooms and Toadstools 245 
Xepeuthes O'Brieniana _ 245 
Orchids at The Dell . 254 
Peaches in the Xorth _ 251 
Pears for Christinas . 250 
Planting fruit trees . 252 
Polypodiumglaucophyllum 252 
Potatos, disease-resisting.. 245 
Potato,the Magnum Bonum 244 
Potatos, stored . 218 
Rose, Devoniensis . 245 
Sea-weeds . 246 
Sugar canes, seedling. 246 
T.odeas, giant . 251 
Tomatos and fog. 251 
Tree pruner, Coppin’s_ 245 
Tiuck gardening in Cali¬ 
fornia' . 246 
Wintry weather . 244 
INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS, 
Anthracite. page 
W. H. Essery. 256 
UnitedCollieries,Limited 256 
Auction Sales. 
Protheroe & Morris . 242 
Bulbs. 
Barr & Son . 241 
H. English . 243 
J. Peed & Sons . 241 
R. Smith & Co. 242 
R. Sydenham . 243 
Catalogues. 
Cannell & Sons . 256 
J. Carter & Co. 241 
Dobbie & Co. 241 
Kelway & Son. 242 
Sutton & Sons. 241 
Clirysanthemums. 
W. E. Boyce. 241 
W. Etherington. 241 
H. J. Jones . 242 
J. Laing & Sons. 243 
R. Owen . 241 
Pitcher & Manda . 242 
Reid & Bornemann . 241 
W. H. Thompson . 241 
Climbers. 
R. Smith & Co . 242 
Cut Flowers. 
H. English . 243 
Ferns. 
W. & J. Birkenhead. 242 
H. English . 243 
Liverpool Horticultural 
Co. 242 
P. B. O’Kelly . 241 
J. Smith. 241 
Florists’ Flowers. 
W. Dean . 241 
H. English . 243 
Fruit Trees, &c. 
G. Bunyard & Co. 242 
R. B. Laird & Sons . 241 
Hugh Low & Co. 242 
Fruit Trees anil Roses. 
•T. Laing & Sons. 242 
J. Le Cornu & Son. 255 
R. Xeal. 242 
T. Rivers & Son. 242 
R. Smith & Co. 242 
Garden Sundries, &e. 
G, Coppin & Sons. 241 
Hirst, Brooke & Hirst.. 241 
Longford Wire Co.255 
Ponkey Potteries . 255 
H. G. Smyth . 256 
“Stott’s". 255 
J. Taylor & Sons . 241 
C. J. Warne. 256 
Hardy Plants. 
Dickson . 242 
H. English . 243 
Lane . 241 
Heating Apparatus, page 
Thames Bank Iron Co.... 256 
C. Toope & Co. 255 
Horticultural Builders. 
J. Boyd & Sons . 241 
W. Cooper . 256 
C. Frazer’s Exors . 256 
J. Gray. 241 
Hayward . 241 
Mellowes & Co. 241 
W. Richardson & Co. ... 241 
J. Weeks & Co. 241 
Insecticides. 
Bridgford’s Antiseptic... 241 
Gishnrst Compound ...... 241 
G. Murray...... 241 
Xicotine Soap. 241 
Picrena. 256 
Manures. 
W. H. Beeson. 241 
W. Thomson & Sons ....... 211 
Miscellaneous. 
F. Carr & Co. 255 
Epps’ Cocoa. 255 
W. Foulsham & Co.. 255 
Gishlirstine. 241 
A. Outram . 255 
Smyth’s Orchid Baskets. 241 
Orchids. 
Horsman & Co. 241 
Liverpool Horticultural 
Co. 242 
P. McArthur . 241 
J. Stevenson...241 
Roses. 
G. W. Boothby . 241 
H. English . 241 
Liverpool Horticultural 
Co. 242 
S. Spooner <Ss Sons. 242 
J. & R. Thyne. 242 
Seeds. 
P. McArthur . 241 
R. Smith & Co. 242 
J. Veitch & Sons. 243 
R. Veitch if Sons . 242 
R. Sydenham. 213 
Stove and Greenhouse 
Plants. 
H. English . 241 
Liverpool Horticultural 
Co. 242 
Trees. 
R. B. Laird & Sous . 241 
R. Xeal. 242 
Vines. 
J. Laing & Sons. 242 
Liverpool Horticultural 
Co. 242 
SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS. 
Small Advertisements, solid type, 6 d. per line of about nine 
words. Displayed Advertisements, per inch, 6s.; per column 
(12 ins.long), £3 5s.; per half-page, £5 ; per page, £9. Special 
quotations given for a series. Gardeners and others Wanting 
Situations, thirty words for Is. 6 d., prepaid. 
Postal arid Money Orders to be made payable to B. Wynne, 
at the Drury Lane Post Office, W.C. 
Advertisements for the current week, and also 
"Stop Orders ,” must reach the office not later than the 
first post on Wednesday Morning. 
