June 6, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
641 
from one to four flowers of medium size, rather funnel 
shaped, and extremely pretty. Internally the flowers 
are wholly yellow, but the outer segments and the mid¬ 
ribs of the inner ones are red externally. The species 
has several synonyms, and being a native of the 
mountains of Persia, is known in some gardens as T. 
persica. So charmingly pretty is it, that its cultivation 
should be much more extended. All of the above have 
remained in perfection until June, and the last named 
will yet continue for some time. 
- *>$<- - 
BEG-ONIAS. 
Although to the regular frequenter of the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s meetings, flower shows, and 
nurseries there was nothing at all surprising in the 
really wonderful displays of the Begonia made at the 
Temple show by Messrs. Laing & Sons and Messrs. 
Cannoll & Sons, yet to myriads of the visitors to the 
show few groups proved more remarkable or attractive. 
To these the splendid collections of this marvellously 
developed flower put up by the firms named must have 
come as a revelation. There was much of crude truth 
in a remark made at the show that whilst one section 
produced single Dahlias, the other bore grand double 
Hollyhocks. Certainly the huge and beautifully- 
coloured blooms did bear some resemblance to these 
two garden flowers. Can it be possible that such 
bloom as we now see will bear improvement 1 If so, it 
is difficult to discern in what direction. 
The singles are already so large that further size is 
rather to be deprecated than encouraged, whilst they 
have fine form, great substance of petal, and colouring 
at once the most brilliant in many, and in others the 
softest and most beautiful conceivable to be found in 
flowers. As for the doubles, these are already really 
too big ; they are densely formed, perfect in outline, 
rich and varied in colouring, and abundantly produced. 
Where, then, can improvement come in ? Even 
raisers must begin to wonder where to look for de¬ 
velopment. 
The Begonia seems in a very few years to have leaped 
from the position of an almost commonplace green¬ 
house plant into that of the most beautiful, most 
popular, and most highly decorative of greenhouse 
flowering plants we have. Pelargoniums are nowhere 
in the summer season in comparison with Begonias. 
Even the beautiful Gloxinia, also a wonderfully- 
developed plant, cannot compare with the Begonia in 
colour production. It is just possible that at the 
Temple show some visitors may have thought that the 
groups exhibited wore a hard and formal aspect, but 
that was due rather to the exigencies of the position 
than to the nature of the plants. Given elbow-room 
and plenty of dressing material, we may rely upon 
either Messrs. Laing or Cannell creating decorative 
effects with Begonias of the most beautiful kind.— A. D. 
- »$<- - 
PEAS FOR PRESERVING. 
Green Peas, when shelled, are preserved in tins in 
such a way as to retain to a considerable extent 
their original flavour. This mode of preservation is, of 
course, not pickling ; for, after particular treatment, 
the peas are packed in tins or cans, and kept good by 
the exclusion of air, and not by the presence of vinegar. 
This business might well be extended, for compara¬ 
tively few housekeepers are aware what a valuable 
addition canned peas make to the vegetables available 
for winter consumption, although in hotels they are 
largely consumed. 
There is an old saying that “ a good crop of peas has 
often been the ruin of a farmer.” By this is meant 
that when a good crop of peas is grown, it proves so 
remunerative that the farmer is inclined to grow a larger 
quantity in future ; but it is such an uncertain crop, 
that years may elapse before he grows another profit¬ 
able one. Among the risks which have to be run, the 
worst is the damage done by the green-fly, which 
attacks the shoots at the top of the haulm, and sucks 
out the nutritive juice, so that the pods cease to form, 
and those already formed do not fill. Another is the 
mildew, which attacks the whole plant, and is known 
as the blight, for the crop is either partially or wholly 
ruined. Hail, again, is sometimes very destructive. 
There is, moreover, the risk during harvesting ; for in 
wet seasons it is a very awkward crop to gather in, and 
the peas may either germinate in the pods, or shell 
out during the frequent turnings necessary to dry 
them ; or they may be carted too soon, and rot in the 
stack. All but the last-named of these risks apply 
when the crop is grown for picking ; but the last is, of 
course, of less importance then, although there are 
generally a certain number of pods not gathered which 
have to run the risk. The haulm, or straw, is well 
worth careful harvesting, it being the most valuable 
straw we have for feeding purposes, especially for 
milking cows, as it imparts a more nutty flavour and 
a better colour to butter than any other food used in 
winter feeding. 
The green-pea crop is grown very largely by market- 
garden farmers ; but the earlier varieties for picking 
are, perhaps, chiefly grown by market gardeners. So 
far as peas for gathering for preserving are concerned, 
it is not important that the earliest varieties should be 
grown, as the aim is to obtain a heavy yield, rather 
than to get them into market early ; the heavy-yielding 
varieties are therefore chosen. 
In selecting varieties, it is necessary to favour those 
which are best suited to the soil naturally, and also to 
the same soil under different conditions of cleanliness. 
I have found that, among the shorter-strawed varieties, 
none of those commonly grown are superior in all 
points to the Dr. Maclean, a Pea of the Champion of 
England type, of which the Fillbasket is also a good 
representative. All of these generally find favour with 
the London market-gardeners. Among other medium- 
length varieties, Yeitch’s Perfection is a hardy sort, 
with very strong laterals, and is a good yielder. Lye’s 
Favourite is also found very prolific. Daniels’s Match¬ 
less Marrow, the Telegraph, and the Telephone, are 
among the most useful of the longer-strawed kinds. 
Of the longer strawed sorts, the Ne Plus Ultra is very 
reliable ; as is also the British Queen, which is much 
of the same, type, as well as the Tall Mammoth, which 
has proved itself very productive. Many other varie¬ 
ties might be mentioned ; but after considerable 
experience I find those named to be among the most 
reliable varieties as main croppers. Short-strawed varie¬ 
ties should never be grown on weedy land. 
Peas grown as a main-crop require richer soil than 
the earlier sorts, and the land should, therefore, be got 
into good heart by manuring, the dung having been 
put on in time to be well worked into the soil. 
Although in market-gardens they often follow a crop 
of winter greens, which necessitates the land being 
freshly stirred, it is generally admitted that Peas do 
best on a stale tilth, A well-prepared tilth is required, 
and this must be in readiness for drilling by -the 
beginning of April. It is not necessary to put the 
peas in before then, whilst, by waiting, the risk from 
frost is avoided. In field-culture, from 3 bus. to 4 bus. 
of peas are drilled per acre, and they are sown in rows 
from 1 ft. to 2 ft. apart. Occasionally they are 
dibbled, about three or four peas being dropped into 
each hole, and the holes placed a foot or more apart, 
when, of course, less seed is required. In field-culture 
no supports are used, the expense of sticking being 
thereby avoided. The crop is thoroughly hoed as 
long as hoeing is practicable. In June and July the 
picking for preserving takes place. Only young peas 
are preserved, as they turn out best, and are more 
like fresh ones when they are afterwards cooked. 
The later pods rarely contain so many peas as the 
earlier. 
From what has been said it will be understood that 
the average yield is rather difficult to ascertain ; but 
150 bus. of pods per acre may be considered a fair 
crop. This year (1890), indeed, I saw a crop of York¬ 
shire Hero Peas from which 300 bus. per acre were 
gathered, whilst there would most likely be from 
1J qrs. to 2 qrs. of seed left in the haulm. The price of 
pods would probably be about 2s. per bus., and this 
quantity might shell out ^ a peck or more of peas, 
according to the variety, season, and time of year.— 
W. J. Malden in the Journal of the Royal Agricul¬ 
tural Society. 
Frost and Azaleas. —The effects of the frost on the 
morning of the 17th ult. are not likely to be forgotten 
for some time, as its effect has been more severe and 
mischievous on certain plants than many would 
imagine. It came at a time when the flower buds of 
the hardy Azaleas in the open were swelling up for 
expansion, and were consequently very tender. The 
more forward buds were destroyed, while those which 
were later were so injured or crippled that all hopes of 
fully developed flowers was gone. The truth of this 
may be seen on examination of the collection in the 
pleasure grounds at Kew, and which is now in a sorry 
plight. A few of the very latest kinds may exhibit 
something approaching their wonted display, but with 
that exception, the whole collection will be an eye-sore 
till fresh growth is made to hide the injury. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
"** 9 * - 
Vanda parviflora. 
The flowers of this species are small, but very pretty, 
and the plant may be accommodated in the same space 
as some of the smaller species of Aiirides, and grown 
with the same cultural treatment, or even with less 
heat than is given to some of them. The sepals and 
petals are spathulate and yellow, while the three-lobed 
lip is parti-coloured, the lateral lobes being purplish, 
and the middle one bluish in the centre, sometimes 
fading almost to white, with a yellow margin of greater 
or less breadth. The species is a native of India, and 
has been hampered in books with a number of synonyms, 
such as Aerides Wightianum, A. testaceum, and Vanda 
testacea. It has been grown and flowered for some 
years past at Devonhurst, Chiswick, where it again 
commenced to bloom last month in company with 
Cattleyas and some of the Dendrobiums. 
Miltonia vexillaria. 
We have been favoured with a photograph of a very 
good specimen of this showy Orchid which flowered 
recently in the collection of H. J. Robinson, Esq., 
Aymestry Court, Woolton, Liverpool. The variety is a 
very rich, dark coloured one, and the plant bore 
fourteen spikes and a total of ninety-seven blooms, 
measuring 4 ins. to 4| ins. across—a fine variety and 
well cultivated. 
Cymbidium Mandaianum. 
The sepals of this Cymbidium are oblong-lanceolate, 
the posterior one being the broadest, and incurved over 
the column. The petals are somewhat narrower, and 
they as well as the sepals are yellow slightly shaded 
with green when looked upon under sunlight; but 
curiously enough, artificial light reflected upon them 
annihilates the yellow, and all then appear of a delicate 
and pleasing shade of green. Artificial light, when 
transmitted, restores the petals to a clear, soft yellow 
faintly suffused with green, while the sepals are yellow 
with green veins. The three-lobed lip is white with 
the exception of the middle lobe, which is clear yellow 
under any light ; there is also a deep yellow blotch on 
the claw. The column is pale yellow, and green at 
the apex. The whole flower is of great substance and 
durability, lasting in perfect condition for many days 
in a cut state. We received a flower from Messrs. 
Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley, who possess 
the only two plants known to exist in cultivation. 
Disa tripetaloides. 
The flowers of this species are very pretty, but relatively 
of moderate size when compared with other species. 
This is compensated for bv the number of flowers on a 
stem, as this varies from fifteen to twenty on well- 
grown plants. The lowest flowers commence to open 
first, and as the axis elongates, fresh ones open, and 
others die away, so that although there are never a great 
many open at one time, yet the display is continuous 
over many weeks. The lateral sepals are white, spotted 
with rose ; while the upper one is narrow, helmet¬ 
shaped, and spotted with deep purple. The small 
purple petals are partly concealed in the helmet or 
upper sepal. The lip is remarkably small, and white 
with a few transverse purple lines. The importance 
of the lip in most Orchids is here reduced to a minimum, 
and the upper sepal performs the more important 
offices of protection and aid to insect fertilisation. It 
may be seen in the cool Orchid house at Kew. 
Disa racemosa. 
The species of Disa are amongst the prettiest of the 
terrestrial Orchids. Few, if any of them, attain the 
size of D. grandiflora, yet the colours of the flowers are 
varied, and a larger number of flowers are borne upon a 
stem. In the present case about six flowers are borne 
in a unilateral or one-sided raceme ; hence the name of 
D. secunda sometimes applied to the species. The 
sepals are rosy purple, the upper one being hooded or 
slightly galeate. The petals are deep purple and striped 
with darker purple in transverse wavy lines. The 
stems are 16 ins. to 18 ins- high, and furnished with 
linear-lanceolate leaves on the lower part. 
Dendrobium hercoglossum. 
The habit and stature of this plant closely resemble 
those of D. uncatum, as do the structure of the flowers 
to some extent. The sepals and petals are of a pale 
rose, and the lip is white, saccate at the base, with a 
rosy purple tip to the middle lobe, which is small, 
pointed, and bent downwards. Between the latter and 
the throat of the saccate portion is a strong beard of 
hairs. The anther cap is purple. The species is a 
native of Malacca, from whence it was introduced in 
1886, and is by no means common. A plant has been 
flowering for some time past in the warm division of 
the Orchid house at Kew. 
