November 10, 1888. 
THE GAKDENING WORLD. 
169 
grown and fruited for many years at Syon House, 
Brentford, and at present the crop seems as good, that 
is, in as great a quantity as in most years. The long, 
pendent rod-like pods are borne in large clusters, and 
although somewhat similar to French Beans, are round 
instead of being flattened. Some growers cultivate 
either this species or V. aromatica, but they seldom 
obtain any fruit. There is some difficulty in fertilising 
the flowers artificially on account of their structure, 
while if left to themselves they never set at all. At 
Syon House they occupy the middle partition and back 
walls of two houses kept at a high temperature for the 
growth and ripening of the Musa Cavendishii. The 
plants are bulky and evidently old, and if wanting in 
ornament, the fruits are most useful for flavouring 
purposes. 
SOPHRONITIS GRANDIFLORA. 
Everywhere is this beautiful Orchid showing its 
bright flowers, both the plants and blooms being greatly 
improved since strictly cool culture has been adopted 
for them. There is great variety in the tints of the 
flowers, some being of the scarlet of the Vesuvius 
Pelargonium, others crimson, and rarely clear pink. 
A very richly-coloured variety is now in flower with 
F. J. Pullar, Esq., at Ettrick House, Bridge of Allan. 
Its large well-formed blooms are brilliant scarlet tinged 
with cerise, the whole surface of the flower being darker 
in the veining. The lip is bright yellow, with a few 
scarlet lines. 
Houlletia odoratissima antioquiensis. 
This handsome species now bears a fine inflorescence in 
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. Its 
flowers are nearly 4 ins. across, the sepals and petals 
shining reddish chocolate, the column and curiously- 
formed labellum white and pale yellow, the erected 
horns of the labellum being of the same rich tint as the 
petals. The curious Catasetum fuliginosum, the hand¬ 
some Stanhopea Wardii, and other good things are 
also in flower at Glasnevin. 
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The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
New Holland Plants. —During wet weather, or 
when the ground is too damp for outdoor operations to 
be conveniently carried on, the time might be profitably 
spent in re-staking and tying all trained specimens of 
Dracophyllum gracile, Boronia, Tremandra, Darwinias, 
Pimeleas, Heaths, and similar subjects which have now 
ripened their wood for the season. In doing so, 
however, be careful to use as few stakes as possible, 
because when the surface soil in a pot gets (literally 
speaking) packed full of stakes the fibrous roots of 
the plants themselves must to a great extent get 
injured, independently of the damage done by the 
rotting of the stakes. Training, however, becomes 
indispensable in the case of large exhibition plants, 
especially slender twiggy kinds like the Dracophyllum 
and some Heaths. Rigid-branched and dense-growing 
kinds, such as Erica affinis, E. depressa and E. 
Cavendishii, require no staking. While going over 
the plants in this way carefully note whether they 
are perfectly free from insects or fungoid diseases. 
Many of the hard-wooded New Holland and other 
plants are particularly liable to white scale, which are 
best removed with a small hard brush dipped occasion¬ 
ally in some insecticide. 
Cinerarias. —Wherever these are housed, they now 
require increasing attention to guard against attacks of 
green-fly, which readily find a secure retreat on the 
underside of the leaves or amongst the advancing flower 
buds, much to their injury. Fumigate lightly on 
successive nights to keep the pest in subjection. The 
plants should also be kept near the glass. Heated 
frames are eminently suitable for the housing of them 
till they come into flower ; but in the absence of such, 
the shelves of any cool and intermediate house will 
answer, provided they are properly attended to in the 
matter of ventilation. 
Lachenalias. —Avoid if possible the keeping of 
these in close ill-ventilated houses, where the leaves get 
drawn and weakly, as good flower spikes then 
become an impossibility. A shelf near the glass in a 
cool house with plenty of ventilation will favour the 
proper development of the foliage and a vigorous 
growth generally. 
Freeslas. —Treatment similar to that given Lachen¬ 
alias will also suit these as well as others of the more 
popular Cape bulbs, which continue to find favour in 
private establishments, including such as Ixias, 
Sparaxis, Babianas, Watsonias, &c. 
FORCING AND FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peach Houses. —OwiDg to the lateness of the season 
generally, the trees in the late houses still retain their 
foliage, and a little artificial heat must be given with 
abundant ventilation to induce a thorough ripening of 
the wood. We have still an occasional fine day or 
two, but the sun has now infinitely less power than 
in the earlier days of autumn. See that the borders 
inside are not in an over dry condition, otherwise the 
roots, which should still be active, will be liable to 
injury, and a wholesale dropping of the buds may be 
expected in spring, even before their expansion. 
Clean, prune, and re-tie the trees in the early house 
preparatory to the closing of the latter towards the end 
of this month. If disbudding and pruning has been 
properly attended to during the growing period very 
little will now require to be done in that respect 
unless the shoots are crowded, in which case remove 
where possible the oldest wood, and that which has 
already borne fruit. 
Cucumbers. —Plant successional batches according 
to requirements, and train the shoots thinly over the 
trellis-work or wires as growth proceeds. Much 
depends upon the free admission of light at this dull 
season, or in other words, upon a full exposure of all 
the foliage possible to light. Ventilate on favourable 
occasions, and close early so as to retain sun-heat. 
Maintain a temperature of 65° at night, with a rise by 
day. 
Asparagus, Rhubarb, French Beans, &c.— 
Introduce batches of Asparagus and Rhubarb to the 
forcing pits if that has not been already done. 
Asparagus coming through the soil should be shaded, 
but at the same time ventilation should be given, to 
prevent the shoots from getting drawn and spindly. 
Rhubarb may be placed in the Mushroom house, or, in 
the absence of that, a position may be found for it in 
the forcing pit, where it can be kept shaded to blanch 
it. Remove pods from the French Beans as they 
become fit, and store them in a room where they can 
be placed with their ends in water till sufficient is 
obtained to make a dish. Those left will then make 
more rapid progress. Osborn’s Prolific is a useful kind 
for this purpose. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Fruit Tree Planting. —Now that the trees are 
rapidly losing their foliage, planting of Apples, Pears, 
Plums, Cherries, Peaches, and similar subjects should 
proceed rapidly, provided the soil is not in a saturated 
condition. Some growers plant largely even before the 
leaves drop, and no harm will result if the weather be 
cool and moist; but should warm dry days occur 
during or after the operation the leaves part with a 
greater quantity of moisture than the roots can supply, 
consequently the young shoots especially cannot be so 
plump as they would be if planting were deferred till 
the leaves have fallen naturally. 
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HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
National Chrysanthemum.— Nov. 7 th and 8th. 
“ Finer than ever,” was the verdict of the majority of 
the visitors to the Royal Aquarium on Wednesday 
morning, and a truer statement was, perhaps, never 
made. The display in all departments was unusually 
good—the trying weather notwithstanding. As to 
the trained plants, we have never seen finer examples, 
or so many of them at any previous National ; and the 
cut blooms, the fruits, and the vegetables made up a 
display that will not be approached anywhere this 
season. 
Messrs. Davis & Jones, Lilford Road, Camberwell, 
carried off first honours for the group arranged in a 
space not to exceed 100 sq. ft. The blooms were very 
numerous and of good average size. Pompons occupied 
the front. Mr. J. Hudd, gardener to F. W. Prior, 
Esq., Gordon House, Blackheath, was second with a 
good group also ; and Mr. J. Townsend, Gardner’s 
Lane, Putney, third. There were four competitors. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill, secured the first 
prize for a group of plants not to exceed 4 ft. in height. 
The blooms were numerous, of wonderful size, and some 
of the plants were only in 6-in. pots. Mr. J. H. Witty, 
London Cemetery Company, Highgate, was second in 
this class with a good group ; and Messrs. Davis & 
Jones came third. The best nine trained specimens, 
large-flowered, including Japanese, were shown by Mr. 
J. Brooks, gardener to W. Reynolds, Esq., The Grove, 
Highgate ; Margot, William Robinson, Bouquet Fait, 
Lady Selborne, and James Salter were his best plants, 
and were dwarf trained. Mr. Edward Casey, gardener 
to J. W. Jones, Esq., The Grange, 23, Highbury New 
Park, was second with standards ; and Mr. W. Davey, 
gardener to C. C. Paine, Esq., Cedar House, Stamford 
Hill, was third with standards. There were three 
entries for the prize offered by the Proprietors of this 
Journal, and Mr. F. E. Wright, gardener to Miss Oxley, 
The Lawn, Upper Clapton, carried off the prize with 
fine pyramidally-trained specimens of L’lledesPlaisirs, 
Bouquet Fait, Source d’Or and Margot. 
The Challenge Trophy and £10, oeffred for com¬ 
petition among recognised Chrysanthemum or horti¬ 
cultural societies, brought out admirable collections 
from the Weald of Kent, Wimbledon, Highgate, South- 
gate, and Bristol, and the prize was carried off by 
the Weald of Kent Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Society. Some of their finest blooms were Belle Paule 
Carew Underwood, Criterion, Bertier Rendatler, Grandi- 
flora, Madame de Sevin, and Madame C. Audiguier, 
representing the Japanese kinds ; while the incurved 
kinds included fine blooms of Bronze Queen of 
England, Lord Alcester, Golden Queen of England, and 
Golden Empress of India. The first prize for forty- 
eight incurved varieties was won by Mr. J. Doughty, 
who had certainly a very fine lot, including Golden 
Empress of India, Emily Dale, Lord Alcester, Empress 
of India, Alfred Salter, Jeanne d’Arc, Prince Alfred, 
Alfred Salter, White Venus, and Jardin des Plantes. 
Mr. J. Horsefield, Heytesbury, Wilts, was second. 
Mr. Sullivan, gardener to D. B. Chapman, Esq., 
Downshire House, Roehampton, took the first prize for 
twenty-four incurved varieties, showing good samples 
of Empress of India, Lord Alcester, Golden Empress, 
Lord Wolseley, Emily Dale, and Alfred Salter. Mr. 
J. Doughty, gardener to Mr. M. Tomlin, Angley Park, 
Cranbrook, Kent, was second. 
The first prize for forty-eight Japanese blooms 
was taken by Mr. J. McKenzie, gardener to T. S. 
Cornwallis, Esq., Linton Park, Maidstone. Some of 
his finest blooms were Edwin Molyneux, Ralph Broekle- 
bank, Soleil Levant, Baronne de Prailly, Mrs. H. 
Cannell, Mons. Bruant, F. A. Davis, Thunberg, 
Criterion, Comtesse de Beauregard, Elaine, Maiden’s 
Blush, and Val d’Andorre. Mr. W. Packman, 
gardener to C. C. Shea, Esq., The Elms, Foot’s Cray, 
Kent, was second ; and Mr. J. Munro, gardener to E. 
J. C. Paul, Esq., Cambridge House, Twickenham, was 
third. The winner of the first prize in the class for 
twenty-four blooms was Mr. C. Cox, gardener to J. 
Trotter, Esq., Brickenden, Herts, who had some good 
blooms. In the amateurs’ classes, Russell Bradburry, 
Esq., Wealdstone, Harrow, took the first prize (a 
Silver Medal) in the class for twelve incurved blooms, 
in which the leading varieties were dominant; 
Mr. W. G. P. Clarke, 9, Fishpond Road, Hitchin, was 
second. Mr. F. Glasscock, Bishops Stortford, took the 
first prize (a Bronze Medal) for six blooms. In the 
classes for amateurs and single-handed gardeners, Mr. 
A. Emery,'gardener to'R. W. Tweedie.Esq., Eastbourne, 
had the best lot of twelve incurved blooms, which were 
very meritorious ; Mr. T. Todd, gardener to Dr. 
Southey, Staplehurst, Kent, was second. Mr. A. 
Emery was again first in the class for six incurved 
varieties. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons offered prizes for collections 
of vegetables, and Mr. S. Haines, gardener to the Earl 
of Radnor, Highworth, took the first ; Mr. C. J. 
Waite, gardener to the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Esher, was 
second, and Mr. W. Pope, gardener to the Earl of 
Carnarvon, Newbury, third. Mr. E. S. Wiles, 
gardener to R. A. Cartwright, Esq., Banbury, took 
the first prize for three dishes of Potatos, offered by 
the Messrs. Sutton ; Mr. G. Goldsmith, gardener to 
Sir Edmund Loder, Weedon, was second. Mr. J. 
Hughes, gardener to Colonel Cartwright, Byfield, took 
the first prize for the collection of vegetables, offered 
by Messrs. Webb & Sons ; Mr. R. Lye, gardener to 
W. H. Kingswell, Esq., Newbury, was second ; and 
Mr. J. May, gardener to Captain Le Blanc, Barnet, 
third. Mr. C. Fidler, Reading, offered prizes for 
a collection of vegetables, and Mr. L. Harris, High 
Wycombe, Bucks, took the first prize ; Mr. R. Lye 
the second, and Mr. W. Pope the third. Mr. E. S. 
Wiles took the first prize offered for nine dishes of 
Potatos. 
Mr. H. Deverill, Banbury, offered several prizes for 
vegetables, and Mr. C. J. Waite took the first. He 
also offered prizes in several other classes, and W. S. 
Portal, Esq., Malshanger Park, took first for Onions; 
and Mr. T. Doherty, gardener to the Right Hon. Lord 
North, Banbury, took two first prizes for Onions in 
other classes. 
The collections of fruit and vegetables, both in 
competition for prizes and not for competition, were 
very extensive and meritorious, but space forbids detail. 
Mr. Thomas Bunyard, Ashford, Kent, exhibited a fine 
group of Apples in splendid condition and very highly 
coloured. Warner’s King, Beauty of Kent and 
Blenheim Orange were good. Messrs. Charles Lee & 
Son, Royal Vineyard Nursery, Hammersmith, exhibited 
Apples and Pears, including many fine samples of each 
kind. Messrs. T. Rivers & Sons, Sawbridgeworth, 
also showed a collection of Apples, including very fine 
samples of King of Tomkins County. Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, occupied a long table with 
Apples and Pears in excellent condition ; of Apples 
there weie 110 dishes, and 65 dishes of Pears. Mr. 
Butler, gardener to Mr. A. J. Thomas, Sittingbourne, 
exhibited a large collection of Pears. Messrs. John 
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, showed a collection of 
Apples in clean and good condition. Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, exhibited a collection 
of very highly coloured Apples and Pears. 
Amongst miscellaneous exhibits, Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, Reading, occupied a whole table with Potatos, 
consisting of 130 varieties, of which 70 are unnamed 
