704 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 4, 185)1. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid-Growers’ Calendar. 
During the present and the next two months the most 
important work in the houses consists of keeping the 
plants properly watered, for to allow plants in full 
growth to suffer from drought, often means that they 
will quickly become a prey to insect pests, and thus be 
robbed of some of their vitality. With free use of the 
bottom ventilators in all sections, and judicious use of 
the top ones, no fear of growths damping off need 
trouble us, though moisture is applied with a very 
liberal hand. Plants in pots too large for them, and 
such as have but few roots, will probably soon suffer 
from too much water ; but it is best, in all cases, when 
plants by anv reason have lost their roots to pot them 
back into smaller pots, and thus re-establish a more 
healthy condition at the root. Possibly nothing is 
a greater help than to plunge the plant, when re-potted, 
into a larger pot full of sphagnum, thereby preserving 
an amount of moisture for the plant’s benefit, without 
continual waterings, such as is the case when a small 
pot stands on an open stage. 
Every drop of rain water should be saved for watering 
the plants if the supply is limited, such being too 
often the case ; but though good supplies of hard water 
are a boon for many purposes, the rain water is what 
plants enjoy. 
A free use of the syringe amongst the growing Den- 
drobiums twice a day is very beneficial, the house 
being damped down frequently, while the cool house 
occupants will be all the better for a damping over¬ 
head twice instead of once a day, and the bottom ven¬ 
tilators left wide open at night. 
The bright sunny autumn we enjoyed last year has 
undoubtedly been the cause of the unusual freedom 
with which intermediate-house Vandas have flowered 
this summer, and it is now also seen in the freedom 
with which Cattleyas, such as C. Warneri, C. gigas, 
C. Sanderiana, and C. Dowiana aurea, &c., are pushing 
sheaths, even on small plants. Epidendrum Frederici 
Guilielmi, now flowering, does not compare favourably 
■with its more brilliant relation E. vitellinum, but is 
very pretty nevertheless, producing flowers of the 
colour of Odontoglossum Edwardii on the top of a stout 
bulb, 20 ins. high, and though by no means a new 
plant, it is, like great numbers of the Epidendrums, 
but seldom seen.— W. P. 
Cattleya Mossiae alba. 
One of the most attractive objects at the present time 
in Mr. AVrigley’s collection at Howick House, is a 
superb form of this grand variety with twelve large 
flowers. Our informant remarks “ It is a wonderful 
sight to an Orchid lover.” 
New Orchids Certificated by the R. H. S- 
Lacuna bicolor. —The pseudo-bulbs of this species are 
ovate, compressed, strongly ribbed and large, bearing 
at the apex about three lanceolate, strongly three- 
ribbed and plicate leaves. The raceme is naturally 
pendulous, and in this case bore twenty-six flowers. 
The sepals are ovate, spreading and creamy yellow, 
while the petals are much smaller, shortly clawed, with 
three lines of small purple dots along the centre, but 
otherwise coloured like the petals. The three-lobed 
lip has a creamy ground colour, but the lateral lobes 
are spotted with purple internally, and the rest is of a 
dull purple along the centre, and pubescent ; the 
clawed middle lobe is revolute ; and there is a curious 
purple crest between the lateral lobes. 
Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum illustbe. — 
This is a highly coloured form of the plant known in 
gardens as hystrix. The sepals are lanceolate, rich 
chestnut-brown, with a yellow tip, and a few wavy 
transverse leaves of the same hue. The petals are 
lanceolate-elliptic, deeply toothed at the widest part, 
and variously blotched with deep chestnut brown on a 
yellow ground. The lip is oblong-obovate, shallowly 
fringed at the margin, creamy yellow upwards, involute 
at the tip, and white at the base with purple blotches 
around the yellow crest, with a very large one in front 
of it. The column is creamy white. Both this and 
the foregoing were exhibited at the Drill Hall on the 
23rd ult. by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, and 
each received an Award of Merit. 
Dendrobium Phalrnopsis Statterianum. —This 
fine dark variety has been previously described. It 
was exhibited by Messrs. B. S. 'Williams & Son, Upper 
Holloway, and received a First Class Certificate. 
Thunia Bensonle Winniana.—T he stems of this 
variety, as shown, were about 2 ft. high, and well 
furnished with lanceolate leaves, deep green above 
and glaucous beneath. The sepals and petals are 
lanceolate, acuminate, and of a rich rose-purple. The 
lip is of a deep purple with a wavy and crisped 
rotundate lamina, and the copious fringes and lamelke 
are orange. An Award of Merit was granted it when 
exhibited by C.Winn, Esq., The Uplands, Birmingham. 
- »I<- - 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Aquarium, June 2Wi. —Cut flowers of hardy 
herbaceous plants were undoubtedly the great feature 
of the mid-summer exhibition of this society, for they 
were shown in the most extraordinary quantity. 
Tuberous-rooted Begonias and Roses came next in 
importance, the former being shown in very large 
groups. Roses, so late is the season, were not shown 
in great quantity, and a third prize only was awarded 
in the class for forty-eight kinds. The first prize for 
thirty-six distinct varieties was awarded to Messrs. J. 
Burrell & Co., Howe House, Cambridge. The Hybrid 
Perpetual kinds were moderate in size but fresh, and 
the same might be said of the Teas. The second prize 
went to Mr. George Prince, Oxford, who had some 
splendid Teas, but no Hybrid Perpetual varieties ; Mr. 
B. R. Cant, Colchester, was third, and his blooms were 
mostly Teas. Mr. George Prince was awarded the first 
place in the class for eighteen kinds, three blooms of 
each, of Tea or Noisette sorts. 
In the open class for twelve trusses of any yellow 
Rose, A. H. Grey, Esq , Beaulieu, Newbridge Hill, 
Bath, took the first place with fine samples of Marechal 
Niel ; Mr. George Prince was second with the same 
sort. The same order of merit was observed in the 
class for twelve of any white Rose, the former showing 
Souvenir d’Elise Vardon, and the latter having 
Souvenir de S. A. Prince. Mr. J. Bradbury, gardener 
to Dr. S. P. Budd, had the best twelve crimson Roses 
of one variety ; and Messrs. J. Burrell & Co. were 
second. In the amateurs’ classes A. H. Gray, Esq., 
had the best twelve Roses, three trusses of each, also 
the best twelve Tea or Noisette sorts, and the best 
thirty-six, distinct. 
The premier award for tuberous Begonias was carried 
off by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. They 
formed a large, undulating bank, high at the back, and 
mixed with Palms and Ferns. The second place was 
accorded to Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, who had a 
very tastefully arranged, but smaller group. Pyrethrums 
were shown in considerable quantity, and the first 
award was made to Messrs. Collins Bros. & Gabriel. 
Mr. T. S. Ware had the best herbaceous Paeonies, and 
Messrs. Barr A Son, Covent Garden, were second. The 
latter had the best collection of Irises, and by far the 
largest; but they were second in the class for cut 
flowers of hardy Perennials. Mr. T. S. Ware was first 
in the latter class, showing different sorts in masses of 
a kind. Some special prizes were offered by Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons ; and the first award for a brace of 
Cucumbers was made to Mr. S. Cook, gardener to J. B. 
Yule, Esq., Holmewood, Hendon ; Mr. T. Lockie, 
Oakley Court, Windsor, coming in second ; and Mr. 
G. Collins, gardener to Mrs. Anderson Rose, Wands¬ 
worth Common, third. Mr.W. Palmer, Thames Ditton, 
was awarded a first prize for Sutton’s Triumph Melon. 
A number of prizes were offered for Pinks, by the 
National Pink Society (Southern Section), but owing to 
the lateness of the season very few flowers were shown. 
First prizes for a single bloom, for six blooms, and 
for a bunch of white Pinks were awarded to Mr. F. 
Hooper, Widcombe Hill, Bath. Mr. R. Dean, Rane- 
lagh Road, Ealing, was awarded a first prize for six 
bunches of border Pinks. Small collections of Pinks 
were shown by Messrs. Laxton Bros., Bedford, by Mr. 
J. Gibson, Erleigh Road, Reading, and Iver White 
Carnation by Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
In the miscellaneous class a large collection of 
tuberous Begonias, arranged with Palms and Ferns, 
was shown by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Messrs. 
Kelway & Sons, Langport, Somerset, had a large 
collection of cut flowers of Pseouies, Delphiniums, &c. 
A bank of Spiraea was shown by Mr. Ware. Pyre- 
thrums, Poppies, Irises, Persian Ranunculus, and other 
hardy flowers were shown by Messrs. Laing k Sons. 
A beautiful collection of florists’ Tulips was exhibited 
by Samuel Barlow, Esq., J.P., Stakehill House, 
Castleton, Manchester. A collection of garden Roses 
was shown by C. E. Cuthell, Esq., Chapel Croft, 
Dorking ; and another very interesting lot was shown by 
the Rt. Hon. Lord Penzance, Eashing Park, Godaiming. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Balsams.— S. C.: We fear your efforts so far will not result in 
lunch success this season. By syringing them well, to keep 
down red-spider, and watering with liquid manure twice a week 
you will, however, do them much good. Fine plants can only 
be grown with the aid of glass, a strong moist heat, and rich 
feeding. We seldom see them grown now as in years gone by. 
Canker in- Apple Trees. — An Amateur: What is called 
canker is the result of a fungus named Neetria ditissima. The 
causes that lead to canker are various. Some of them are due to 
frost, others by injury from hail, others to severe and untimely 
pruning. In all these cases the stems and twigs are so injured 
as to allow the spores of the fungus to gain an entrance, so that 
the wounds, instead of healing up, become cankered. If the 
trees are caused to start into vigorous growth late in the season 
the wood cannot possibly get ripened, consequently they are 
cut away or left, and in either case are liable to canker. Wet, 
undrained soil is another fertile cause of the mischief; and it 
would seem that trees on a thin, gravelly soil also get badly 
cankered in some gardens. You are therefore to avoid all these 
causes as much as possible by planting in a good, fertile, well- 
drained soil, and by judicious pruning. Diseased branches may 
be clean cut away and the wound dressed with quicklime, so as 
to cauterise it and prevent the growth of the fungus spores. 
Successful results have been obtained by drainage, by lifting the 
trees and replanting in good soil, and also by taking out the old 
soil to the depth of 2 ft., and replacing with fresh material from 
a pasture, all of which encourage healthy growth, and prove an 
antidote or prevention to canker. 
Double White Daisies. — T. J. Reed: The double white Daisy 
is never perfectly full in the centre, and is liable to deteriorate 
in poor soil, and if not transplanted at least every other year. 
If you plant them in a rich moist soil they will keep true to 
character. 
Elementary Botany. — A Beginner: Dr. Masters' Botany for 
Beginners (Bradbury, Agnew & Co.), 3s. 6d.; or Oliver’s Elemen¬ 
tary Botany (Macmillan), 4s. Od. 
Gloxinias. — Foreman: l T ou did wrong in potting them firm, 
and that accounts for their want of freedom of growth. They 
like a compost of peat, loam, leaf-soil, well-rotted manure, and 
sharp sand in about equal parts, and to be potted light. Liquid 
manure in mild proportions when flowering greatly helps them 
to prolong their blooming season. 
Lantanas .—Sugden : They are plants which an amateur can 
grow easily, and which will give him a good return in the way 
of pretty flowers for any trouble he may take with them. A 
compost of loam, peat and sand in equal portions suits them 
well. They grow quickly, and require plenty of water in that 
state, but must be kept on the dry side during the winter. 
Loam.— Is the enclosed good loam, and under what head of 
loam would it be described? Will it grow Carnations well.— 
Picotee. [A very good brown loam, but would be better still it 
it contained a little more fibre. With a suitable amount of sand, 
leaf-soil, and well-decayed manure, anything but peat-loving 
plants should do well in it.] 
Mustard and Cress. —A'. Y. Z.: 1, They are not usually 
grown in the punnets ready for market, on account of the extra 
weight ; but are sometimes so grown to meet a small local 
demand. An inch of soil would be plenty for the punnets. 
2, It is much the best in a large way to sow in boxes, or on beds 
in a frame, remembering that light, heat and moisture are 
required to promote a quick growth. To aid this, many growers 
also soak the seeds in water for a few hours, then spread them 
over the soil with a flat trowel, and give a good watering, which 
should carry them through until the crop is cut. 3, They should 
not be washed before being marketed. 4, Five ins. by two ins. 
is the common size of the punnet in use now; in winter a 
smaller size is sometimes used. Rape is often used instead of 
Mustard, being less pungent. 
Names of Plants. — E. K.: Fabiana imbricata. D. id. : 1, 
Paradisia Liliastrum ; 2, Ranunculus amplexicaulis ; 3, Rhodo¬ 
dendron ferrugiDeum var ; 4, Mimulus cupreus. E. G. : 1, Aris- 
tolochia Sypho ; 2, Fraxinus ornus ; 3, Spiraea filipendula flore 
pleno; 4, Polemonium Richardsoni; 5, Campanula persicifolia ; 
6, (Enothera rivularis: 7, Lychnis diurna flore pleno ; S, 
Centranthus ruber ; 9, Santolina Chamaecyparissus var. incana. 
Pansies and Violas. — E. D. : September is the best month to 
increase the stock, and you will be more successful if you take 
what are called slips, as distinguished from cuttings. The 
former are those shoots which have thrown out a few roots 
at the end of the stem, and grow away at once ; whereas cuttings 
are only part of a shoot, cut clean off, and have all their roots to 
make. The beginning of August is the best time to sow seeds, 
which, being very small, must only be lightly covered. 
Show Pelargoniums. — Constance: Prune the plants close 
down to the old wood now, place the stools on a bed of ashes in 
a sunny place, and give but little water for a fortnight or three 
weeks until young shoots form, or “ break," as gardeners say. 
Then shake them out of the old soil, reduce the roots, 3nd put 
into smaller pots. Rich loam, well-decayed manure and sand 
make a good compost. Cuttings put into a light, sandy compost 
will strike most easily now in a cold frame, or in a sheltered 
position in the open air. 
Tomatos. — A. B. C.: You should stop the damping down, 
and be careful to keep them on the dry side rather than too wet 
at the roots. You should endeavour also to set all the first 
blooms with a feather or camel-hair brush, devoting as much 
time as you can spare to this work in the middle of the day. 
When you have set the first blooms those which follow generally 
set freely enough without assistance. 
Truffles. —N. C. Russelt: The introduction of the Truffle into 
new districts has been accomplished, but at the moment we only 
rememberone instance. The late Mr. William Tillery for several 
years planted all the over-ripe ones he could get in a young Oak 
plantation at Welbeck Abbey, and by means of the squirrels in 
due time discovered that he had established a colony; but 
whether it exists now we have no means of knowing. Truffle 
dogs are required to scent out the ripe ones. 
Communications Received.— A. A. B.—H. F. M,—J. T.— 
K, G. W.-C. B. G.-W. D.—J. S.-C. H. A.-W. T. 
