October 27, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD- 
137 
ORCHID NO TES AND GLEANINGS, 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
In view of the approaching winter it will be well now 
to take a look through the plants in the Orchid houses 
to see that none of them are too near the glass. For 
those suspended from the roof 1 ft. from the glass is a 
safe limit, but at the sides where the heat from the 
hot-water pipes gets free passage at the backs of the 
side staging, a less distance will do. Small-growing 
Orchids as a rule like to be near the glass of the roof, 
and especially so in winter ; it will be well therefore to 
now accommodate as many of them as possible in that 
way, observing that none of them be placed nearer than 
10 ins. or 1 ft. to the glass. Weak unhealthy pieces 
in pots should be placed on rafts or in small baskets to 
re-establish, as they can when so grown be much more 
conveniently brought up to the light than when in 
pots .—James O'Brien. 
Cattleya, Lamberhurst Hybrid. 
Although not particularly showy, this is an extremely 
interesting hybrid produced between C. intermedia and 
C. citrina. The short pseudobulbs are fusiform, and 
those bearing flowers project horizontally from the pot 
in which they are grown. The sepals and petals are 
blush-coloured, and of a fleshy or wax-like consistency. 
The three-lobed lip has a long, narrow, pale-coloured 
tube, and a light purple lamina. Two flowers were 
borne on a drooping spike on a plant exhibited on 
Tuesday last, at the Drill Hall, Westminster, by Mr. 
Ballantine, gardener to Baron Schroder, The Dell, 
Egham. The flowers possess the agreeable fragrance of 
C. citrina, but not so strongly. A First Class Certifi¬ 
cate was awarded the plant by the Floral Committee. 
Phaius callosus. 
This new species may rightly be called beautiful, as 
the specific name implies ; and it is one of the most 
distinct. The leaves are from 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, 
elliptic, plicate, and from 6 ins. to 8 ins. broad in the 
middle, and of a light shade of green. They arch over 
in such a way as to leave the flower scape (which is 
about 18 ins. long) free and conspicuous. The sepals 
are oblong, the petals spathulate oblong, all spreading 
at right angles, and of a rich chestnut-brow'n on the 
inner face. The lip is tubular, and pure white with 
the exception of two small faintly brown blotches, one 
on each side of the throat; the lamina is comparatively 
small, and the spur short, stout, decurved, and white, 
but becoming pale yellow as the flower expands. The 
scape is many-flowered, and the habit is precisely 
similar to that of P. grandifolius or P. bicolor ; but 
the contrast between the lip and the other parts of the 
flower is very striking. Jt was sent from the Botanic 
Gardens, Java, to Kew, where it is now flowering. 
Epidendrum polybulbon. 
This grows in Blue Mountain Valley, at an altitude of 
about 2,000 ft., and is called by the negroes “Snow¬ 
drop Flower,” probably on account of the comparatively 
large white labellums which its pretty short-stalked 
flowers bear. A compact mass of it is very handsome, 
as it is so floriferous. I have seen it doing equally well 
on the ground and on the limbs of Mango and Cedar 
trees, but always in a moist district. It is an Orchid 
which would well repay the cultivator’s skill, and so 
would the best varieties of that variable plant, Epi¬ 
dendrum fragrans, some of which are really large and 
handsome, as well as delightfully fragrant.— W. £?., 
Kingston, Jamaica. 
Oncidium Mantinii. 
The sepals of this Orchid are of a deep chocolate-brown, 
while the petals are broader, bifid, and marbled with 
yellow at the margin. The lip is the largest organ, 
and is yellow, richly spotted or blotched all over with 
deep chocolate-brown. It is believed to be a natural 
hybrid between 0. Forbesi and O. Marshallianum. 
Plants were exhibited at the Drill Hall, Westminster, 
on Tuesday last by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
and by Mr. E. Crook, gardener to G. H. Baxter, Esq., 
Hutton Park, Brentwood, and in both cases were 
certificated by the Floral Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society. 
Cattleya Harrisi. 
Being the result of a hybrid between C. Mendelii and 
C. Leopoldi, this plant exhibits intermediate characters 
between these two. The sepals are rose, the petals 
darker and much broader ; the three-lobed lip has a 
white tube, and the terminal lobe is deeply bifid, 
transversely broadest, and recalling that of c! 
Leopoldi. It received a First Class Certificate from 
the _ Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on Tuesday last; and was exhibited by Mr. 
Ballantine, gardener to Baron Schroder, The Dell’ 
Egham. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar, 
THE STOVE. 
Hedychiums. —Where these have been grown in a 
moderately high temperature, or purposely kept back 
in the early part of the season, they will still be 
affording a considerable quantity of bloom. If these 
are not required for cut-flower purposes, the flower- 
spikes—at least, of H. Gardnerianum—should not be 
cut, but the best of them allowed to ripen their fruit, 
which is of a showy and ornamental character after the 
seed-pods have become mature and burst. The seeds 
are blaek, densely packed, and covered with a brilliant 
scarlet lacerated aril, rendering them not only highly 
ornamental, but most interesting. Other ornamental 
and highly fragrant species are H. coronarium, with 
pure white flowers, and H. flavescens, with pale yellow 
flowers in long spikes. Feeding is not necessary after 
this date ; but in the absence of a tank in which to 
allow the pots just to dip into water, they should be 
stood in pans of it until flowering is over. After that, 
with the exception above mentioned, water should be 
gradually withheld to induce the plants to go to rest. 
Draclenas, Crotons, and Pandanus. —To enable 
these to retain their high colouration throughout the 
winter, they must now receive a maximum of light by 
placing them in the most favourable positions near the 
glass, and they must not be crowded if it can be 
avoided. Cleanliness with these subjects—as, indeed, 
with all other occupants of the stove—is a most im¬ 
portant matter. Thrip and bug are their inveterate 
enemies, and should find no quarter. Carefully sponge 
both surfaces of the leaves with soft soap, Gishurst 
Compound, or Fir Tree Oil and water, removing all 
bugs that may be detected in the axils and sheathing 
bases of the leaves by means of a blunt-pointed piece of 
wood. 
Ferns. —No shading should now be required if the 
plants have been properly exposed to light during the 
growing season—that is, should they not have been 
unduly shaded. Stove Ferns will not now require a 
warmer temperature than 55° at night, with a rise 
during the day, especially in bright open weather. 
The atmosphere of the house should be kept much 
drier, to a degree corresponding to the reduction of the 
temperature. Thrips and other insect pests will be 
likely to put in their appearance, owing to the drier 
condition of the atmosphere ; but the diligent and 
careful cultivator will make the most of wet or frosty 
days, when work out of doors cannot be conveniently 
carried on, to examine his plants carefully. Ferns 
with fronds of a leathery texture can readily be sponged 
if not finely divided and liable to damage, but other 
kinds will require to be dipped in tobacco water or Fir 
Tree Oil diluted to such an extent as not to injure the 
more delicate kinds. Much less moisture in the cases 
containing Filmy Ferns is most desirable, owing to the 
damage they suffer in a moisture-laden and stagnant 
atmosphere upon the reduction of the temperature 
during the winter months. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Pelargoniums. —Shift on young stuff as the pots 
become crowded with roots. By prompt attention in 
this way very useful plants for the decoration of the 
conservatory in spring and early summer can be 
obtained. Old plants to flower in May should now 
receive their final shift, so that the pots may be well 
filled with roots. Feeding may then be resorted to ; 
but in the meantime watering operations should be 
carefully conducted, inasmuch as the plants must not 
suffer from want, nor should the soil be sodden till it 
becomes sour, and therefore injurious to root action. 
Ventilation. —In the crowded state of the green¬ 
house at this season, more than usual attention should 
be given to ventilation to prevent damping. The least 
possible quantity of water necessary should be given, 
and that in the mornings, so that all superfluous 
moisture may be dried up before the ventilators are 
closed. Should the weather be foggy it will be neces¬ 
sary to light fires in order to create a good circulation 
of air in the house. This is most necessary should fog 
gain admittance to the house. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Peach Houses. —Prepare the early house or houses, 
as the case may be for early forcing, cut away as much 
of the old wood as can be dispensed with, and wash 
the branches if need be with a brush, using Gishurst 
Compound dissolved in water, or a mixture of 4 ozs. 
of soft-soap, and two handfuls of sulphur to a gallon of 
warm water. Wash the glass and woodwork of the 
houses, and whitewash the walls with lime, to which 
a quantity of sulphur has been added. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Asparagus. —Cut down the old stems and mulch the 
beds with a good coating of farmyard manure. Keep 
a few of the best-fruited stems for seed. The berries 
can be rubbed down and washed or otherwise cleaned 
during wet weather. 
Beet. —Lift Beet-root very carefully, so as to avoid 
damaging it, either by bruising or breaking. It is 
better to twist off the leaves than cut them, as there is 
much less risk of their bleeding. Store in moderately- 
dry sand in a cool place out of the reach of frost. 
-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural.— October ‘LZrd. 
The meeting on Tuesday was the poorest that has been 
seen since they have been held in the Drill Hall. The 
absence of hardy plants, and the occurrence of cold, 
f°g§y weather no doubt accounted for this, many 
exhibitors being afraid to expose their plants to the 
cold. There were a few Orchids, but the largest 
exhibits consisted of October-flowering Chrysanthe¬ 
mums and fruit. 
Mr. William Holmes, Hackney, exhibited two baskets 
of Chrysanthemum plants, and some stands of cut 
blooms. Amongst the former were Feu de Bengale, 
reddish brown, for which a vote of thanks was given ; 
Macbeth, bright yellow; O. J. Quintus, lilac ; M. 
Chretien, reddish purple ; Martinay, lilac-pink ; and 
Lincoln’s Inn, all of which were Japanese. There were 
cut flowers of Sunflower, Nelson, M. Charles Souchet, 
Sabiul, and 0. J. Quintus. Certificated varieties are 
described on another column. Cut blooms were also 
shown by Mr. George Stevens, St. John’s Nursery, 
Putney, including Wagstaff, white ; Edwin Molyneux, 
brilliant crimson and nankeen-yellow reverse, both 
Japanese. Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead, exhibited cut 
flowers of Comte Horace de Choiseul, Miss Burgess, 
Magieienne, Thomas Stevens, pink ; Lincoln’s Inn; 
Madame Charles Souchet, purple ; Mons. Charles 
Souchet, crimson; and Bocacce, a semi-double red. 
All were Japanese varieties, and some were certificated. 
Blooms of Japanese kinds were also shown by Messrs. 
J. R. Pearson & Sons, Chilwell, Notts, including 
Othello, bronzy orange ; Charles Demas ; Charlotte de 
Montcabrier, pink ; and Madame Louise Leroy, white, 
with the petals slightly crested. Mr. Ballantine, 
gardener to Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, ex¬ 
hibited two hybrid Cattleyas, which were certificated. 
A vote of thanks was awarded to Messrs. Seeger & 
Tropp, East Dulwich, for Cypripedium Seegerianum, a 
hybrid between C. Spicerianum and C. Harrisianum. 
Odontoglossum Insleayi splendens and Oncidium 
Mantinii were shown by Mr. E. Crook, gardener to G. 
H. Baxter, Esq., Hutton Park, Brentwood, and the 
latter by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. The 
latter also exhibited some fine hybrid greenhouse Rho¬ 
dodendrons, including Brunette, salmony yellow ; and 
Yellow Perfection, clear light yellow, the latter being 
certificated. An Anemone Chrysanthemum named 
Gladys Spaulding, and a Japanese rosy lilac variety 
were also shown by the same firm, as well as Alocasia 
Chantrieri, with rich dark green leaves, banded with 
silvery veins. Mr. H. W. Wright, gardener to 
J. A. Whittard, Esq., exhibited Adiantum Wrightii, 
with large, finely-divided fronds. A small spray 
of Lapageria rosea alba bearing twenty flowers, 
densely crowded together, was shown by Mr. H. Jack- 
son, gardener to S. A. Ralli, Esq. The white flowers 
were slightly tinted with blush. A vote of thanks 
was awarded G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., Weybridge 
and Wisley, and who exhibited Primula capitata 
and P. c. alba, a pure white variety. He had also 
flowers of Colchicum autumnale flore pleno, and C. a. 
album plenum. 
At a meeting of the Fruit Committee Mr. J. Crook, 
Farnborough Grange, Hants, exhibited a collection of 
hardy fruit, including Reine Claude de Bavay and 
Coe’s Golden Drop Plums. Pitmaston Duchess, 
Duchesse d’Angouleme, Louise Bonne of Jersey, 
Doyenne du Comice and Marie Louise Pears were 
excellent samples of their kind ; while Marechal de la 
Coeur, Beurre Clairgeau, and Beurre Diel were also 
good. He also showed good specimens of Barker’s 
Seedling, Alfriston, Blenheim Orange, Cox’s Pomona, 
and Ribston Pippin Apples. Damsons were shown 
by Mr. Smith, The Gardens, Mentmore, Leighton 
