March 28, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
481 
centre of his group, which was otherwise composed of 
Crotons, Azaleas, and other spring-flowering plants. 
The majority of the non-professional visitors seemed to 
admire the second and third groups most. There were 
only two exhibitors of groups in the nurserymen’s class, 
Mr. Payne being first and Mr. Spelman second, but 
neither were so good as we have seen on former occa¬ 
sions. Mr. Spelman had two or three plants of a new 
white, scented Azalea, but it was not named. These 
two exhibitors were first and second respectively with 
six Azaleas. In the corresponding class for amateurs 
Mr. Dixon was first with good plants of the standard 
form ; second, Mr. C. Lamb, gardener to R. Smith 
Longridge, Esq. ; Mr. Dixon was also first for three, 
and in the class for three foliage plants the same 
exhibitor had two splendid Palms and aCycasrevoluta, 
which gained him the first prize ; Mr. Frisby was a 
good second, and Mr. Lamb third. With exotic Ferns 
Mr. Beddoes was first, Mr. Lamb second, and Mr. 
Dixon third. For six Roses Mr. Beddoes was first and 
Mr. Stott second. For three Deutzias, with plants 
which are acknowledged to be the finest in the country, 
Mr. Dixon gained the first prize and was very highly 
complimented. 
Mr. Starkie, Preston, offered a special prize for a 
basket of plants, 4 ft. in diameter, but only two 
contested—Mr. Frisby and Mr. Williams—and they 
took the prizes in the order named. The first prize 
basket contained Dracaenas, Amaryllis, Deutzias, a row 
of a crimson Primula sinensis, and a border of small 
Maidenhair Ferns, Panicum and Lycopods mixed, which 
was very much admired. Mr. R. Sydenham, of 
Birmingham, offered prizes for bulbs, and Mr. Dixon 
was first in the four classes, as he was indeed in most 
of the other classes for bulbs, taking in all thirty-one 
firsts, nine seconds, and three thirds. Mr. Beddoes 
secured fifteen firsts, and Mr. Frisby, nine firsts, eight 
seconds, and two thirds. There were 248 entries, and 
the exhibits showed a marked improvement on previous 
years, except as regards the Hyacinths, which were not 
so good. The bouquets of Mr. Beddoes were really 
superb. Mr. W. E, M. Tomlinson, M.P., the 
president of the society, opened the show on Wednesday, 
and subsequently entertained the mayor, several 
members of the committee, and judges at luncheon. 
Royal Horticultural of Perthshire.—The ordinary 
monthly meeting of the literary branch of this society 
was held in the Hall of the National Science Society, 
Tay Street, Perth, on Wednesday, the 4th inst., Mr. 
Galloway, Ballindrick, presiding. There was a good 
attendance of members, and Mr. Ellis, Bridge of Earn, 
read a paper on soils, which proved exceedingly 
interesting, and contained a great deal of very useful 
information. After the reading of the paper a dis¬ 
cussion took place amongst the members as to the 
effects of artificial manures on ground which had 
become exhausted, and on the value of chemistry 
applied practically in gardening. 
Mr. Neillor, Errol Park, exhibited three very finely 
grown specimens of Primula sinensis, which were much 
admired, and for which he was awarded the society’s 
Cultural Certificate. Mr. Stenning, of the Hatton 
Nurseries, also exhibited a peculiar specimen of the 
Arum Lily, the leaf of which showed a tendency to 
take the shape and colouring of the spathe, showing 
how nearly the two parts of the plant are related. At 
the close a hearty vote of thanks was awarded Mr. 
Ellis for his excellent paper, and the chairman 
announced that the next paper would be contributed by 
Dr. Robertson Errol, whose subject would be “Does 
fruit growing pay?” 
Woolton Mutual Improvement.—The last meeting 
of the session was held in the Mechanics’ Institute on 
the 19th inst., the Rev. G. H. Spooner presiding. It 
was announced as the intention of the committee to 
open the next session in October with an exhibition, 
which will embrace literature, pictures, dried flowers, 
Ferns, skeleton leaves, novelties, rarities and mon¬ 
strosities of plant life, models, plans and designs of 
gardens and garden structures, collections of hardy 
fruits, vegetables and flowers, &c. Lectures will also be 
given, and will be illustrated with lime-light views, &c. 
Mr. A. Kime read a paper on hardy fruit culture 
suitable for cottage gardens, and Mr. A. Griffiths 
contributed one on hardy border plants suitable for 
cottage gardens. These were the successful essays for 
the prizes that were offered to the under gardeners 
among the members of the society. They were 
practical, clearly written, and gave details of successful 
culture. A discussion followed on some few of the 
points raised, and at the close a vote of thanks was 
tendered to the chairman for presiding. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
-«*■- 
Odontoglossum Edwardi. 
The plants of this in cultivation differ considerably in 
the depth of colouring of the flowers. The paler forms 
have light purple or rosy purple flowers, suffused with 
violet, but the darker ones are of a beautiful deep 
violet, almost like the Victoria Violet. This latter is 
the most ornamental, but evidently the least common 
amongst those which we have seen. The sepals and 
petals are wavy, and small, yet larger than the diminu¬ 
tive labellum. The latter is of the same general 
colour, with the exception of the crest, which is pale 
buff-yellow, surrounded by a pale yellow line. In 
colour this species differs from any others in the genus, 
and on this account deserves a place in a collection. 
The behaviour of the lip at the base and the crest upon it 
reminds one of the old genus, Cyrtochilum ; and theshape 
and small size of that organ reminds one of the small 
lipped Oncidiums belonging to the section Microchila. 
The flowers, moreover, are fragrant, and produced in 
great abundance on long panicled scapes. The more 
typical form of the species has been flowering for some 
time past in the collection at Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
Phal>enopsis speciosa. 
This lovely Phalaenopsis is grown in quantity at 
Spetchley, Southampton, in General Berkeley’s col¬ 
lection, and at the present time there is quite a forest 
of spikes gradually unfolding their petals. Many of 
the plants are remarkably strong, having three and 
four fine leaves each. This grand lot was collected and 
brought home by General Berkeley, who knows their 
exact requirements, having seen them in their native 
habitats. His glowing account of how he found them 
was most interesting to me.— -J. McNab. 
Catasetum tridentatum. 
The lip of this species is rather remarkable for size and 
its fleshy consistency, otherwise it is not very con¬ 
spicuous, owing to its pale, greenish yellow colour. 
The sepals and petals are very broad, particularly the 
latter, which are beautifully spotted internally with 
purple. Owing to the way in which they are incurved, 
however, making the flower almost globular, their 
beauty is greatly hidden. Catasetums are reviving in 
popularity, which they seem to have lost on account of 
the difficulty experienced in cultivating them suc¬ 
cessfully for any length of time ; but with increased 
knowledge as to their requirements the difficulty will 
no doubt be overcome. This species, of which several 
varieties have been cultivated from time to time, has 
been grown at Devonhurst, Chiswick, for a number of 
years, and no difficulty is experienced in getting it to 
make good growth every year, and to flower it provided 
the slugs can be kept away from the fleshy young 
flower scapes, of which they are very fond. At present 
there are thirteen flowers on a scape, aggregated in a 
short raceme. 
ClRRHOPETALUM MASTERSIANUM. 
The flowers of this species are arranged in a curious, 
one-sided umbel. The lateral sepals are 1 in. to 1J in. 
long, orange tinted with buff and united by their con¬ 
tiguous edges as to appear like one piece. The upper 
sepal is very short, and hooded or concave. The petals 
are even smaller and brown, and the lip almost black. 
The oblong leathery leaves are borne singly on the apex 
of the pseudo-bulbs. A piece of this plant was exhibited 
at the Drill Hall, on Tuesday last, by Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (grower, Mr. White), Burford 
Lodge, Dorking, when a Botanical Certificate was 
awarded. 
ClRRHOPETALUM PICTURATUM. 
The lateral sepals of this species are about 1J in. to 
2 ins. in length, united by their edges, and are straw- 
yellow, with numerous small, purple markings arranged 
more or less in lines along the nerves. The upper sepal 
is oval, very short, but similarly coloured to the others. 
The miniature petals are almost covered with purple 
blotches, and the lip is deep purple. The solitary leaf 
is oblong, leathery and terminal. The flowers are 
borne in one-sided umbels on arching scapes. A 
Botanical Certificate was awarded the species when 
shown at the Drill Hall, on Tuesday last, by Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., M. P., Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
Dendrobium melanodiscum pallens. 
This is one of numerous hybrids which have been pro¬ 
duced between D. Ainswortliii (itself a hybrid) and D. 
Findlayanum ; the hybrids, because so closely allied, 
show considerable similarity to one another, yet the 
differences are generally greater than occurs amongst 
varieties of variable wild species. The pseudo-bulbs 
in this case are jointed and slightly compressed. The 
flowers are borne along the sides of the stems in clusters 
of one to three. The sepals are lanceolate, the petals 
ovate, and all are white with pale rosy purple tips. The 
lip is almost white, slightly tinted with yellow at the 
base, and has a pale purplish tip. An Award of Merit 
was granted it when shown by Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P. (grower, Mr. White), Burford Lodge, 
Dorking, on March 24th. 
Dendrobium melanodiscum, Rainbow. 
The hybrid here noted was derived from the same 
parentage as D. m. pallens, and is similar in habit. 
The sepals are oblong, the petals are ovate-oblong, and 
all are white with a clear purple tip. The lip is large, 
expanded and white, with a large maroon-crimson 
blotch having radiating streaks from it on the disc, 
and a velvety appearance. The form and colour of this 
blotch on the lip no doubt suggested the name Rainbow. 
The upper portion of the lip may be slightly tinted 
with yellow, and the tip is pale purple. A plant was 
shown at the Drill Hall on the 24th inst., by Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M. P., Burford Lodge, Dorking, 
when an Award of Merit was accorded it. 
Odontoglossum odoratum hebraicum. 
Amongst the many forms of 0. odoratum now in cul¬ 
tivation, that under notice is very attractive. The 
flowers are of good size, with segments about the same 
width as those of the type. The sepals and petals are 
of a clear, soft yellow, beautifully marked with reddish 
brown spots, more or less numerous in different indivi¬ 
duals. It is on this account that the name hebraicum 
has been applied, because the spots, stripes and 
markings are supposed to bear some resemblance to the 
Hebrew characters. They are most developed upon the 
petals, especially the lower half. The lip is of a deeper 
yellow on the disc, and there is generally a large blotch 
in front of the crest. A specimen was flowering finely 
when we saw it a short time ago in the nursery of 
Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth & Co., at 213, Park 
Road, Clapham. 
Dendrobium albo-sanguineum. 
The flowers of this Dendrobe are of great size, and 
from their peculiar combination of colours, are very 
striking. The sepals and petals are pale buff or 
creamy yellow, bordering upon white, and the lip is of 
a similar hue, with the exception of two very large and 
conspicuous maroon-purple blotches near the base. 
These beautiful flowers are produced in clusters from 
the sides of the p3eudo-bulbs, which are remarkable for 
their stoutness. They are sub-cylindrical, and range 
from 6 ins. to 12 ins. in length, although 9 ins. may be 
described as the average. We noted a number of 
specimens, however, in the nursery of Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co., at Clapton, where the pseudo-bulbs made in 
the nursery were two to three times as long as the old 
ones which had been grown in their native habitat, at 
Moulmein. Judging from this, we should think that 
there would be no difficulty in growing the species 
satisfactorily in this country. 
Oncidium curtum. 
The habit of this species resembles 0. crispum and 
0. prretextum. The flowers are similar in size to those 
of the latter, but much brighter and richer in colour, 
and arranged in branching panicles. The sepals are 
crimson-brown, barred transversely with yellow ; but 
the lateral ones are partly hidden by the large petals 
and lip. The petals are brownish crimson, with a line 
of irregular yellow blotches round the margin. The 
large lip is bifid, more or less undulated round the 
edge, and bright golden yellow, with a band of more 
or less confluent blotches of brownish red just within 
the margin. We noted a recently-imported piece of it 
flowering in the nursery of Messrs. Charlesworth, 
Shuttleworth & Co., Park Road, Clapham, with a 
broad-headed panicle about 18 ins. high. 
Four White Orchids. 
The other week, amongst others, we noted four white 
varieties of Orchids in the nursery of Mr. P. McArthur, 
4, Maida Vale, and which are by no means plentiful. 
These were Vanda teres Candida, V. Amesiana alba, 
Cattleya intermedia alba, and C. Gaskelliana alba, all 
very choice in their way. The first named is very 
distinct, and forms a conspicuous contrast with the 
type and other vaiieties of it in cultivation. Vanda 
Amesiana is now in flower, and as usual exhibits a 
considerable amount of variation. Some of them are 
pure white, with the exception of a rosy tint upon 
the lip, and some are without this latter shade of 
colour. Cattleya intermedia alba was prominently in 
sheath when we saw it, and with the continuance of 
fine weather will soon unfold in all its purity. There 
is a large plant of it in a pan, and the vigorous growths 
of last year are those carrying the flower sheaths. 
