512 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 11, 1891. 
fronds, the terminal one of which is much the longest. 
In the crested variety under notice, the three primary 
or principal lobes are deeply fissured and crested, so 
that on superficial examination the plant hears a con¬ 
siderable resemblance to some of the dwarf and multifid 
forms of Scolopendrium vulgare. We noted the variety 
in the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
where it formed a spreading tuft of considerable beauty. 
The species is a native of South Europe, but in this 
country requires the protection of a greenhouse, from 
which the frost is merely excluded. It is often grown 
under the name of A. palmatum. 
The Joss Lily. 
On the 8th of December I put two large solid bulbs of 
this Narcissus in a tulip-3haped glass vase, using, as a 
rest for the bulbs, some pretty and fairly large-sized 
shells with a few pebbles at the bottom. There being 
plenty of room, I put in two little gold fish, and I must 
say the effect was very pretty ; but the idea was alto¬ 
gether too ambitious. First one, and then the other fish 
died. In the meanwhile the bulbs were in robust health, 
and shot up strong and vigorous. They have gone on 
growing, not spindly, but with a fine bush-like 
profusion of leaves, and about a month ago they showed 
bud. That, however, seems to be the end of their 
tether for this season, for I do not think they will bloom 
now. They have been in a room without fire, but free 
from frost, and have never flagged in any way. I come 
to the conclusion, therefore, that much water and a 
continuously low temperature is not the way to flower 
them. A friend of mine flowered a bulb in a little 
china bowl with 2 ins. of water, and a high temperature, 
and it was quite a success. 1 may say that my bulbs 
show not less than six or seven strong shoots from each 
bulb, and have been in the company of Hyacinths in 
glasses in a window facing north. The Hyacinths have 
flowered splendidly.— A. H. 
The Medland Compensation Fund. 
The many friends of this patriarchal florist and hy¬ 
bridizer will be glad to hear that the many spontaneous 
subscriptions already received amount to nearly a year’s 
pension of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
It will still be fresh in the minds of your readers that 
Mr. Medland failed at the last election of pensioners, 
so a compensation fund for him was inaugurated by a 
few friends, kindly headed by Mr. Harry Veitch and 
Mr. Wimsett, of Chelsea. The subscription list will 
soon be closed.— TV. R. TVoodman, Sl.D., lion, treasurer, 
28, Greville Road, Maida Vale. N. JV. ; TV. Napper, 
hon. secretary, 489, King’s Road, Chelsea, B. TV. 
Polystichum simense. 
The fronds of this Polystichum are of such moderate 
dimensions as to make the plant very suitable for pot 
culture. They are lanceolate, bipinnate, leathery, and 
dark green with bristle-pointed segments. The under 
surface is densely covered with sori, and if seedlings 
germinate readily, then the plants could be raised in 
any number and prove a useful subject for decorative 
purposes, as the leathery character of the fronds would 
enable them to stand a great amount of bad usage and 
a dry atmosphere. The plant is of close tufted habit, 
and will prove useful when it becomes better known. 
"We noted numerous plants of it in the nursery of 
Messrs. J. Veitch k Sons, Chelsea, grown in 48-sized 
pots, a size that is more popular than any other for 
market work. According to the botanist the Polysti- 
chums are now all classed under Aspidium. 
Antirrhinums. 
Named varieties of these are still to be met with. Not 
that they find their way largely into cultivation, but 
growers and raisers of these flowers select and name a 
few of the best and propagate them by means of 
cuttings for the sake of those of their customers who 
prefer something specially good, and it must be ad¬ 
mitted that Antirrhinums when well grown and cared 
for and at their best are exceedingly attractive flowers 
in the garden. The Antirrhinum is one of those flowers, 
however good in itself a variety may be, that long 
retains its distinctive name, because so prolific from 
seed, and good varieties being raised every year a new 
batch of named varieties is annually announced. No 
two catalogues would contain similar varieties, and if 
perchance the same name was repeated, the description 
might be altogether different. 
The Antirrhinum, though properly a biennial, can be 
made an annual by sowing the seed early in the year, 
and planting them out in the open as soon as ready. 
The seeds soon come up in a gentle warmth, and then 
the leading plants should be pricked off into boxes, 
pans, or pots, started into growth, and then hardened 
off to go into the open. In this way good strong plants 
are formed to stand the winter. Or seed may be sown 
in June or July, and put out in the open ground to 
stand the winter and flower as early as possible the 
following summer. 
Time was when the Old National Floricultural 
Society gave Certificates of Merit to Antirrhinums, and 
though Glenny scarcely classed it among florists’ flowers, 
it was practically recognised as such. The late Mr. 
John Riley, of Huddersfield, made a great pet of the 
Antirrhinum, and the first volume of the Florist for 
1848 contains a coloured plate of two varieties raised 
by Mr. Riley. So well did he cultivate them that I 
have heard of plants growing to the height of 6 ft. or 
more in his garden ; but it should be stated that the 
Antirrhinums of forty years ago were tall growers. In 
the Public Park at Wolverhampton Antirrhinums are 
used with great effect during summer, and are greatly 
admired for their superb beauty.— R. D. 
- •««* - 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
--- 
Dendrobium barbatulum. 
This pretty little Dendrobe ought to be cultivated in 
quantity where cut flowers are required for sprays. There 
are plenty of Dendrobes which are very useful for 
gentlemen’s button-holes, but this is the one for sprays, 
as the flowers are produced from the top of the bulb on 
an upright raceme with about twelve flowers of a blush- 
white colour, which are spread out on one side, making 
it very handy for placing upon the fronds of Ferns. D. 
Fytchianum and its variety roseum, figured in the 
Orchid Album, are very useful for the same purpose. 
Dendrobium barbatulum requires to be grown in a warm 
house, as it is one of those species which requires plenty 
of heat and moisture whilst in active growth. After 
it has made its growth it can be removed into a cooler 
and airier house. Its season of flowering is from 
January to February, and if grown well it will throw 
out a strong spray from the top of the bulb, and after 
this is cut, if not allowed to remain long on the bulb, 
it will throw out flowers from the side. We have had 
three sprays from some bulbs. It is a good plan to 
place the plant in a temperature of about 50° or 60° in 
January, as the flower stems are very fragile in a 
young state, and are easily checked by cold. It requires 
very little potting material, only the best peat fibre 
with all the small particles beaten out and a little 
fresh sphagnum moss. Hanging baskets or pans suit it 
best.— J. Godfrey, Bitterne. 
Miltonia vexillaria Leopoldiana. 
One of the finest and rarest varieties of M. vexillaria 
yet introduced is that above named, and which 
has teen dedicated to S. M, Leopold II., by the late 
Professor Reichenbach. It was received directly from 
M. Patin, the Belgian consul-general, at Antioque, in 
Columbia, by M. Ed. Pynaert-Van Geert, Belgium. 
The flowers are large, with brilliant lively rose sepals 
and petals. The lip is of the same Warm hue, and is 
furnished at the base with a large, triangular, extremely 
dark purple velvety blotch, giving off a few short rays 
on each side of if. This blotch varies in form and 
dimensions in different individuals, and sometimes 
becomes separated into distinct pieces, but is always 
very rich in hue, and the most characteristic feature of 
the variety. There is a beautifully-coloured plate of it 
in the Revue de IT Horticulture Beige for April. 
Odontoglossum mirandum. 
This plant has been referred to as 0. epidendroides by 
Lindley, but wa more recently described as distinct 
by the late Professor Reichenbach ; now it is classed 
as a variety of 0. Lindleyanum by still more recent 
compilers. From the latter it is considered to differ by 
its stiff one-sided raceme, the wings of the column, and 
its larger pseudo-bulbs. The sepals and petals are 
similar in size and form to those of the type, but the 
former are brown, with yellow margins and tip, while 
the latter are reddish brown, and have in addition to 
the yellow margin and tip a large yellow blotch at the 
base, along the centre of which runs a reddish brown 
line, affording one of the most characteristic and 
marked features of the flower from a horticultural point 
of view. The lip is narrow, but proportionate to the 
other parts of the flower, and brown, with a yellow 
tip and a two-lobed, diverging, and very prominent 
white crest. Taking all these characters into con¬ 
sideration, it is evident that this plant is much more 
ornamental than the type, and might be more often 
seen in cultivation. 
Harpophyllum giganteum. 
There are some six species of this genus, but few of 
them are cultivated to any extent, H. giganteum 
perhaps being the most common. We noted a fine 
plant of it the other day in the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. There were four spikes of bloom, 
each about 6 ins. in length, and the flowers, though 
small individually, were arranged in a dense spike, 
reminding us somewhat of those of our native Orchis 
latifolia. The sepals and petals are pale lilac, and the 
lip is of a deep rose, well marked from the rest of the 
flower. In a state of nature the flower spikes get 
longer, and the colour of the various organs of the 
flower also vary in the depth of their hue. The species 
is a native of Mexico, and enjoys a comparatively low 
temperature. The leaves are narrowly strap-shaped, 
and sometimes reach a length of 2 ft. 
H/EMARIA Otlet/e. 
In general appearance this reminds one of H. discolor, 
better known under the name of Goodyera discolor, 
that is, as far as the flowers are concerned, but the leaves 
are altogether different and very ornamental. The 
flowers are borne in a raceme, and are white with a 
yellow column, sufficiently large and prominent to con¬ 
stitute a feature of the flower. The leaves are not 
crowded in a rosette at the base of the scapes, but 
scattered along the latter, lanceolate, acuminate, 
five-nerved, and dark olive-green, with coppery red 
nerves, and red beneath. The species was sent from 
Tonquin by a French officer to MM. Linden, Parc 
Leopold, Brussels, where it flowered in the early part 
of this year. It is the third species of the genus now 
in cultivation, and if it proves as easily grown as H. 
discolor, it will be an acquisition to the Orchid grower. 
There is an admirable coloured plate of it in L’lllus- 
tration Horticole, pi. 124. 
-- 
c)UwIL I JLJcaxb* 
Liverpool Horticultural Association.— April Tth 
and 8th. —The eighth annual spring exhibition in 
connection with this society was held in the St.- 
George’s Hall in fine weather, after a postponement on 
account of the assizes. To the most agreeable surprise 
of the committee, instead of there being a falling off 
in extent, a display was made surpassing the most 
satisfactory of previous spring shows. The beautiful 
hall was furnished with the most charming specimens 
of flowering plants that have ever graced its floor. The 
Orchids were not only more numerous than usual, but 
were giants in their way, and of the finest quality. 
Rhododendrons and Azaleas were never seen in better 
form in Liverpool before. 
In the open classes, for a table of miscellaneous plants 
arranged for effect, Mr. A. R. Cox, gardener to W. H. 
Watts, Esq., took the lead with a ground-work of 
Panicum and Maidenhair Ferns, broken up with Palms, 
Orchids, bulbs, and other spring-flowering plants ; 
second, Mr. Jellicoe, gatdener to F. H. Gossage, Esq., 
with a flatter arrangement, very pretty, but wanting in 
brightness. For ten pots of hardy herbaceous and 
bulbous plants, Mr. J. Bounds, gardener to A. L. Jones, 
Esq., was first with well-flowered specimens of Spiueas, 
Liliums, Hellebores, Narciss, &c. ; Mr. J. Lowndes, 
gardener to S. S. Parker, Esq., was second. 
Amateur classes: For eighteen distinct Hyacinths, 
Mr. A. R. Cox was first with good spikes ; and Mr. 
0. H. Williams, second. For twelve varieties, Mr. 0. 
II. Williams turned the tables on Mr. A. R. Cox, and 
for six varieties Mr. Williams was again to the fore, 
followed by Mr. A. Earle. For six pots, three 
bulbs in a pot, Mr. A. Earle and Mr. Williams were 
placed in the order named. For six pots of Polyan¬ 
thus Narcissus, Mr. A. Earle and Mr. S. S. Parker 
were first and second. For twelve pots of single 
Tulips, Mr. H. G. Schinty had the finest, followed by 
Mr. S. Smith. For six pots of Tulips, Mr. Schinty 
and Mr. Tyndall Bright were first and second respec¬ 
tively. For six pots of double Tulips, Mr. S. S. 
Parker was first; Mr. A. Earle, second. For six pots 
of Datfodils, Air. Gossage was successful in gaining 
the first award. For six stove and greenhouse plants, 
three flowering and three fine foliaged, Mr. Gossage 
was to the fore, staging a grand selection, including 
Croton Queen Victoria, 6 ft. in diameter, C. Warrenii, 
Kentia Fosteriana, 8 ft., bright and fresh ; Rhodo¬ 
dendron Gibsoni, 6 ft. high, and nearly 5 ft. through, 
splendidly flowered; R. fragrantissimum, a lovely 
plant, and Anthurium Andreanum beautifully fresh. 
Air. Sutton Timmis, gardener to R. Cornwell, Esq., was 
second, staging a very fine Kentia Fosteriana, 8 ft. high, 
