October 6, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
89 
me I could see for myself, as anyone else can, their 
stock is in rude health, and never has been affected 
with any insect or mite. He believes, as does every 
member of the firm, that the mites observed in Eucharis 
bulbs, with or without the microscope, are owing to 
too much moisture, or too low a temperature, or both ; 
and that they, or similar, are found in all decaying 
bulbs and vegetable matter ; and further that they 
are the effect and not the cause of the disease. They 
think if the growing temperature is constantly kept 
over 70°, which these Lilies have in their native 
habitat, disease will not occur if healthy bulbs are first 
got.— W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
Acer colchicum rubrum. 
Both A. platanoides and A. Pseudo-Platanus have 
varieties with the under-surface of a purple colour ; but 
that under notice has both surfaces of a beautiful 
bronzy purple or crimson, which is especially fine -in 
the young leaves. In general appearance the foliage 
has some resemblance to that of A. platanoides Lobelii; 
but the latter is always of a stiffer and more erect 
habit, owing to which it would constitute a useful 
subject in landscapes. The tree under notice is a 
dwarf-habited one with a somewhat spreading head, 
and in its early stages at least grows rapidly. We 
noticed some fine young specimens of it recently in the 
Yineyard Nursery of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, just 
after a second growth had been made, and the bronzy 
purple and crimson leaves were very handsome. The 
typical form was first cultivated by Booth, of Ham¬ 
burg, in 1838, and was imported into England in 1840. 
The red-leaved variety was first described by that 
grower, and it would appear that it originated with 
him. It merits cultivation in our gardens and parks 
on a more extended scale than at present. 
Chrysanthemum coronarium, Cloth of 
Gold. 
There is something very striking about this single 
large-flowered variety of Chrysanthemum, which has 
all the brilliancy of our native cornfield weed, C. 
segetum. Whether the latter has anything to do with 
the parentage we cannot say, but should not be 
surprised if such were the case. The flower-heads are 
bold, and measure 3 ins. to 3J ins. in diameter, with 
the broad rays of a brilliant yellow, arranged in two 
series, and measuring from ^ in. to § in. in diameter. 
The golden yellow disk itself measures 1 in. across, 
and appears of an orange colour, owing to the quantity 
of pollen. These single yellow Chrysanthemums are 
generally known as yellow Marguerites, and are gaining 
in popularity, a fact which is not to be wondered at, 
seeing that they are so useful for cut-flower purposes. 
Grown in pots they may be had in flower at Christmas 
as we have seen them, and, indeed, may be had at any 
time of the year. The leaves are green, not glaucous 
as in C. segetum, and twice divided, with narrow acute 
segments. A specimen was sent us the other day by 
Mr. Robert Owen, Floral Nurseries, Castle Hill, 
Maidenhead. 
Lapageria rosea, Nash. Court Variety. 
The superiority of this variety over the typical form 
may be detected by the casual observer even if but 
little versed in the knowledge of plants. Those who 
have not yet seen it may refer to the figure given in 
The Gardening World, vol. iv., p. 185, where it 
will be noted that the flowers are of enormous length 
compared with their width, and that they incline to be 
tubular rather than campanulate. The segments are, 
however, of great substance, and of a deep rosy crimson 
without spots externally. The leaves are also of great 
size compared with those of the type, and the plant is 
a vigorous grower, as we noted recently in the nurseries 
of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, where 
shoots have been made this season measuring 16 ft. in 
length. Not only are the flowers of great size and sub¬ 
stance, but they are produced in great quantity, 
weighing down the shoots. It will be a grand subject 
for the conservatory when it becomes disseminated. 
Hypericum oblongifolium. 
A great deal more might be made of such half-hardy 
Hypericums as that under notice than is at present the 
case. An unheated frame or pit is all that is required 
to keep it during the winter, and when the weather is 
sufficiently mild it may he planted out again in spring. 
It is, however, so nearly hardy that although it gets 
more or less crippled in winter, it outlives all but the 
severest which we experience in the southern counties. 
The younger and more unripened shoots get killed, 
but the plant breaks out again freely, and having com¬ 
menced flowering, it continues to do so for a long 
time—practically, until the advent of severe weather 
prevents the buds expanding. It is strictly shrubby in 
habit, and grows rather erect, which might tell against 
it if located in a bed by itself; but if edged by 
H. patulum, a closely-allied species from Japan, a very 
pleasing combination is produced. Both are shrubby, 
and have smooth glaucous leaves and terminal clusters 
of large bright yellow flowers. The spreading, bushy, 
dwarf, and branching habit of H. patulum renders it 
very suitable as an edging, while both are quite distinct 
and pretty. H. oblongifolium is also known under 
the name of H. Hookerianum, which some authorities 
regard as the correct one. It may be seen in Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons’ nursery, at CoombeWood, Kingston- 
on-Thames. 
-->3E<-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
. ♦ 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
Night Temperature. —A word of warning against 
a too high night temperature is never out of place, but 
at this season it is especially applicable, as the fires not 
being wanted in the daytime are kept banked down 
until the afternoon, when they are started to keep 
going for the night. If incautiously done the night 
temperature will often be equal to or in excess of the 
day, and the most miserable results on the condition 
of the plant will be brought about. So destructive is 
a too high temperature at night on the occupants of 
the Orchid houses (and indeed all plant and fruit 
houses), that in more than one small amateur collection 
have I succeeded in tracing a wretched state of things 
to that cause alone, and by getting the proper lower 
night temperature observed, rapidly bringing about a 
better state in the plants. A moment’s thought will 
suffice to find the reason of this. In every country in 
the world the night temperature is lower than the day, 
and the hotter the country the more marked the 
difference; indeed, in the hot season in the tropics 
nothing else saves vegetation from utter destruction. 
The Orchid-grower should never lose sight of what I 
am convinced is the fact, that a fairly low night 
temperature, 5° or 10° Fahr. less than the day, is one of 
the cardinal points to be observed in successful Orchid 
culture. The ventilators afford a ready means of 
regulating the temperature, and the time-honoured chink 
of air left on at night on the bottom ventilators is a 
great safeguard. 
Disa grandiflora, D. racemosa, &e.—Now is 
the best time to re-pot all the Disas of the leafy or 
D. grandiflora section, using a good rough compost of 
peat and sphagnum moss, with a sprinkling of fibry 
loam and sand. Some also add charcoal or sandstone, 
but provided the plants be otherwise properly treated, 
any good material, with peat for a basis, does well. 
JDisa crassicornis, in its native habitat, generally grows 
in pure loam, and D. polygonoides in boggy peat. In 
re-potting, the old soil which can be removed without 
injury to the plants should be taken away, the stout 
pieces potted together for flowering, and the small 
growths placed in store pots, to be grown into future 
flowering plants. All are cold house or frame subjects, 
and in some places are grown well over pans of water, 
which also helps to keep back slugs and other things 
which are so fond of these plants. 
The Temperatures for the Month of October 
should be :—Warm or East Indian house, 70° to 75° by 
day, 65° at night. Cattleya or intermediate house, 65° 
to 70° by day, 60° at night. Odontoglossum or cool 
house, 60° to 65° by day, 55° at night. Degrees 
Fahrenheit .—James O'Brien. 
Orchids at Holloway. 
No one expects to see a blaze of bloom in the Orchid 
houses just now, yet in large collections there is always 
something to see and admire. In Mr. B. S. Williams’ 
nursery the other day we noted several interesting 
species in bloom, and first of all to attract attention 
was a spike of nine flowers of the deliciously Clove- 
scented Houlletia Brocklehurstiana. Its sienna-brown 
and purple-brown spotted flowers on a stiff erect spike 
are very pretty, and if only for its grateful odour should 
find a place in every collection. The lovely plum- 
purple of the sepals and petals of Callendar’s variety of 
Miltonia Moreliana also attracted attention. Showy, 
too, and not to be passed over was the rare Zygopetalum 
rostratum, with its fine white lip and radiating lines of 
light purple. Calanthe Texorei closely resembles C. 
veratrifolia, and differs only in having red instead of 
yellow anther caps. Arundina bambussefolia is sweetly 
pretty with its delicate pale rose sepals and petals and 
rich rosy red lip. The flowers resemble those of a 
small Laelia, and being produced freely iu autumn, are 
ever welcome. The new Burlingtonia coloplectron, 
which Mr. Williams is sending out this year, is also 
flowering in quantity. It is a pigmy rather than a 
giant in stature, but seems to bloom freely, and the 
small pale rose blossoms emit a pleasant perfume. 
Yery sweet at night, too, is the free-flowering Lycaste 
lanipes. 
PAPHINIA GRANDIS VAR. 
Mr. B. S. Williams has in flower at Holloway a very 
fine and distinct variety of this singularly striking and 
handsome Brazilian Orchid. It differs from the typical 
form in being larger—4| ins. long, and the sepals and 
petals 2 ins. wide in their broadest parts ; and in the 
lower half of the sepals and petals being white instead 
of cream or lemon-coloured. The rich chocolate-purple 
markings remain the same as regards their distribution 
over the sepals and petals, but seem more intensified 
in hue. The glandular hairs on the lip, which are 
such a prominent feature of the flower, are also white. 
The pseudo-bulb as in the type is small and angular, 
and it is remarkable that such a diminutive plant as it 
is altogether should throw such a large flower. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Gesneras, &c. —All the main batches of Achimenes, 
Gesneras, and Sinningias or Gloxinias should now he 
allowed to go to rest by putting them in a pit with a 
dry atmosphere, where they can be freely ventilated. 
Water should also be gradually withheld, so as to 
induce them to consolidate their rhizomes, corms or 
tubers in a slow and natural manner, which will in 
part be indicated by the natural decay of their foliage. 
Their removal from the stove will afford more room 
there, as well as allow those left more room for full 
exposure to light in order to ripen their foliage and 
wood. 
Syringing. —Much less moisture will now be re¬ 
quired in the stove, owing to the decline of the sun’s 
power ; but a greater propqrtion will always have to be 
kept up here than in other houses where less artificial 
heat is used. For the general health of the plants and 
in order to keep down insect pests, a certain amount of 
syringing will have to be done, but chiefly on fine days, 
when there is less danger of producing a stagnant 
saturated atmosphere. 
Temperature.— The night temperature during this 
month may range from 65° to 70° by night, with a 
rise during the day ; but when a temperature of 80° is 
reached by sun-heat, ventilation may be given, in¬ 
creasing it towards midday if necessary. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Heaths. —Where these have been stood in a shady 
place behind a hedge or a north aspect wall for the 
summer months, they would be all the better for it if 
stood in the full sunshine for a week or so before being 
housed, in order to harden and bring them into a 
flowering condition. Of course, the longer they can 
be kept out of doors with safety the better, except in 
the case of autumn and winter-flowering species that 
are wanted in bloom at an early date. The same treat¬ 
ment should be given Epacris for early flowering. 
Chrysanthemums.— See that these do not suffer 
for want of moisture, otherwise they are apt to lose 
their foliage in large quantities. This is more especially 
applicable to those which have been allowed to grow 
on without stopping, and are now very tall, which 
seems to be the case in many collections this year. 
Cut-back specimens retain their foliage much longer 
and better ; and for grouping or conservatory decora¬ 
tion the cut-back system of cultivation ought to be 
more largely attempted than it is at present. There is 
great reason to believe, moreover, that this will be the 
case as cultivators come to recognise the beauty of the 
dwarf habit of the plants, that require a little staking, 
but no special training whatever. As the pots are now 
well filled with roots, give frequent doses of liquid 
manure. Attend to disbudding whenever the buds 
can readily be laid hold of and removed by the finger 
and the thumb. 
Pelargoniums. —Showand fancy varieties thatare re¬ 
quired to be in flower by May should receive their final 
shift. Pot on young stuff as the soil becomes thoroughly 
permeated with roots. It is injurious to the well-being 
of the plants if too confined for root-room when they 
are required to be of a useful size for flowering in 
