12 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 1, 1888. 
syllabus will direct tbe attention of students to another 
useful class of plants, such as the Lungworts, Comfreys, 
Forget-me-nots, Eehiums, and Gromwells (Litho- 
spermum). In the Monocotyledons, Amaryllidacese 
has replaced the Orchid family. The former natural 
order is an important group of plants to horticulture, 
amongst its chief genera being Galanthus, Leucojum, 
Narcissus, Amaryllis, Olivia, Agave, and Hfemanthus. 
There will be no danger of the Orchidaeeie being 
neglected, because in the second stage students will 
still be required to know the character of that curious 
and popular family. The changes in the syllabus are 
certainly an improvement, and should encourage in¬ 
tending students. Gramme® has long been a stumbling- 
block for students in the first stage, the dissection of 
such grasses as are in bloom early in the spring being 
a matter of difficulty for students of that stage to suc¬ 
cessfully accomplish. — John W. Odell. 
-->X'-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND CLEANINGS. 
Freak of Cattleya crispa. 
From Mr. R. C. Kingston, gardener to Christopher 
Sykes, Esq., M.P., Brantingham Thorpe, East York¬ 
shire, comes a very fine form of Cattleya crispa, 
with a velvety crimson lip freely reticulated with veins 
of a darker colour, and which ape rendered the more 
conspicuous towards the margin and apex by the 
paler almost white groundwork of those portions. The 
white portion is carried all around the margin, which 
is beautifully crisped. The rest of the flower was 
white, with the exception of a blush tint, especially 
towards the base, and one of the lateral sepals, which 
was abnormal. That half next the lip was coloured 
exactly like the latter organ, the basal portion having 
longitudinal deep purple and parallel lines, such as 
occur in the throat of the lip, while the upper part was 
dilated, crisped all along that side, and of a rich 
crimson, with forked and reticulating veins on a white 
ground towards the margin as in the lip. The 
occurrence is all the more singular, seeing that the lip 
is normal in shape and size. From whence then this 
extra portion ? 
New or rare Orchids Certificated, 
From among the few Orchids shown at the meeting of 
the Floral Committee, on Tuesday, the following were 
selected for the award of certificates : Odontoglossum 
Karwinski, which in general structure resembles 
Miltonia Clowesii ; but is quite different, producing its 
flowers on a branched stem 4 ft. in length, and having 
the chestnut-brown sepals and petals transversely 
barred with yellow. The lower portion of the lip is 
violet, and the upper portion broad and rose-coloured 
(Exhibited by Mr. Eobbins, gardener to W. Manner, 
Esq., Camden Wood, Chislehurst). Disa lacera, a 
very interesting species, with the flowers produced in 
a lax raceme on the top of stems about 18 ins. or 20 ins. 
in height. The flowers are small compared with most 
species in cultivation. The sepals are blue, the upper 
one being spurred and hooded after the manner 
of an Aconite. The lip is proportionately large and 
more conspicuous than in most species, lacerated or tom 
at the margin, as the specific name implies, and suffused 
with blue and purple. Botanical Certificate (Exhibited 
by Mr. G. W. Cummins, gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., 
The Grange, Hackbridge). Trichocentrum Ella, an 
American Yandaceous Orchid, with oblong, fleshy, 
solitary leaves springing from very small pseudo-bulbs, 
and bearing a solitary flower on each peduncle. The 
sepals and petals are broad and white, spotted with 
rose. The lip, which is spurred, is adnate to the 
column, forming a cup, and has a large golden yellow 
blotch on the base. The short column has purple 
wings. Botanical Certificate (Exhibited by Mr. G. T. 
"White, "Winchmore Hill). 
Cattleya Dowiana aurea. 
This, the only known variety of this magnificent 
Cattleya, is a stronger-growing plant than the type, 
and comes from a different part of the country, namely! 
near Frontino in the State of Antioquia, whereas the 
specific form is a native of Costa Rica. The sepals and 
petals are of a nankeen-yellow, while the lip is of the 
richest crimson-purple with a velvety appearance, and 
is characterised by the more numerous and broader 
orange lines and reticulations on the lower part of the 
lamina and throat. It is now flowering in several 
collections. Some authorities classify it as a variety of 
C. labiata, from the numerous forms of which it differs 
markedly in colour. The lip of C. Percivaliana, how¬ 
ever, shows some approach to it. 
Odontoglossum Oerstedi majus. 
The variety to which this name is given can be 
distinguished from the typical form, whether in flower 
or not, by the dark green colour of both pseudo-bulbs 
and leaves, whereas those of the type are uniformly of a 
light green colour with smaller flowers. The sepals 
and petals of the variety in question are pure white at 
first, but ultimately change to a dusky colour before 
they fade. The lip seems to retain its purity to the 
last, and is furnished with a characteristic orange 
blotch on the crest. Both forms may be seen in 
Messers. John Laing & Sons’ Nursery at Forest Hill. 
Figures on Odontoglossum crispum. 
A spike of this Orchid has been sent us by Mr. David 
Wilson, Westmount Gardens, Kelvinside, Glasgow, 
bearing some curious markings on the labellum. With 
the exception of the markings on that organ, the 
flowers were white, tinted externally with rose. "We 
give an illustration of one of the flowers, bearing the 
figure of a lady dressed in the modern style,- even (dare 
we say it ?) to the dress improver, which will be readily 
recognised. What economy such figures serve in the 
life history of the Orchid does not appear; but we are 
more inclined to consider that they are the result of 
accident rather than that they should take any definite 
shape for a purpose. The mimicry, if such we may 
call it, owes its importance more to the imaginative 
brain of man than to any real good it may serve the 
plant. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Shading. —As a rule, shading is superfluous after this 
time of the year, and the present season is no exception, 
seeing that we enjoy very little bright sunshine. All 
the light and exposure possible will now be needed to 
thoroughly harden and ripen the young wood. Where 
there are roller-blinds they need not be immediately 
taken away, but retained rather in case of any sudden 
burst of sunshine, which is liable to do a considerable 
amount of injury after a dull sunless time. Where a 
shading of paint or whitewash has been used, it may 
now be dispensed with, and any plants that might be 
liable to suffer from exposure to sunshine removed to 
another house, where the danger could be obviated. 
Climbers. —For cut-flower purposes the Allamandas 
and Dipladenias are very useful, and may be expected 
to yield a large return for some time to come, but in 
order to ripen the wood and keep them healthy and 
robust, they should receive all the light possible. In 
fact, other conditions being equal, A. Schottii should not 
be shaded at any time of the year, as many thousands 
of blooms were obtained from a single plant last year, 
and no shading had been used even in the hottest 
weather. Clerodendrons that are trained to the roof 
and have now finished flowering may be cut back. 
Later-flowering kinds will yield a supply for some time 
yet. _ 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Celosias. —The show-house or conservatory may be 
rendered gay for many weeks to come by the use of the 
various species and varieties now in cultivation, the 
names of which it is unnecessary to add. Of course, 
under this heading is included all the varieties of 
Cockscomb, the dwarf strains of which, such as Tom 
Thumb, are specially to be recommended. When the 
pots have become filled with roots after the final shift 
give weak liquid manure about twice a week, but do 
not over-water them at any time. Earlv-flowering Chry¬ 
santhemums that have been grown out of doors may 
now be lifted and potted up if it has not already been 
done, and those in flower may be taken at once to the 
conservatory. Campanula pyramidalis and its variety 
alba are also very serviceable at this season. Fuchsias 
will furnish a great quantity of bloom for some time to 
come. 
Winter-flowering Pelargoniums, &c. —The 
plants that have been grown on for this purpose may 
now be housed in a suitable structure where ample 
ventilation can be given. They should also be en¬ 
couraged to grow by keeping them rather warmer 
than the outdoor temperature. Salvias, Begonias, 
Bouvardias, and Carnations may be put indoors also 
to hasten the flowering period. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peaches. —Those trees intended for starting towards 
the end of November should now be preparing to go to 
rest for a month or two, and if they have been thoroughly 
ventilated, either by the removal of the sashes or by 
keeping them wide open, the leaves will soon show 
signs of falling. They should not be starved, however, 
for want of water, and if necessary apply a little fire- 
heat to hasten the ripening process. Any trees that 
require lifting should have the operation performed 
during the early part of this month before the leaves 
have fallen. 
Vines. —In order to induce pot Vines intended for 
starting early to go to rest, have the laterals removed, 
and the ^ ines taken out of doors, placing them under 
the shelter of a south wall. Cover the pots with Fern 
litter or some similar material, to prevent their roots 
from getting dried up. Indoor Vines should also have 
the laterals removed, preserving the large leaves, 
however, in the axils of which the fruiting buds of 
next year are seated. The latter will derive great 
advantage from the proximity of such, and plump up 
considerably. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Cabbages. The main crop of these for early spring 
use should be planted as soon as possible on rich well- 
manured land, as all plants of this class are gross 
