December 1, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
215 
Tillandsia Duvaliana. 
This pretty Bromeliaceous plant is, perhaps, better 
known under the name of Vriesia Duvalii, and is 
similar in general appearance to T. psittacina and T. 
brachystachys. It seems intermediate, in fact, between 
the two, and has the same neat tufted or vasiform 
habit, with short closely set leaves. The flower spikes 
are well borne above the foliage, and bear about twelve 
or eighteen flowers in a dense two-ranked spike. They 
are supported by large clasping or boat-shaped bracts 
of a bright scarlet almost crimson colour. The tubular 
flowers are yellow with a green apex, and although 
they add considerably to the general appearance of the 
plant, the bracts are the more conspicuous; and at the 
same time the more lasting part of the inflorescence. 
We noticed flowering specimens the other day in the 
nurseries of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
■ZEschynanthus speciosus. 
This is one of the finest species in cultivation, and is, 
at the same time, one of the most distinct. It is more 
adapted for pot culture than such species as M. Lobbi- 
anus, iE. pulcher, and /E. marmoratus, because the 
stems are far less inclined to throw out roots, and being 
stouter there is no difficulty in forming it into a bushy 
erect specimen. The flowers are large, curved, tubular, 
and produced in clusters at or near the apex of the 
shoots. The lower part of the tube is bright yellow, 
while the upper portion is rich orange-scarlet with very 
dark blotches in the throat. The leaves are of a thick 
and leathery character, smooth, and easily kept clean. 
Being a native of Java, it requires a stove temperature, 
but lasting a long time in perfect condition, it amply 
repays its house room at this season of the year. We 
noticed it flowering finely in Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons’ 
Chelsea nursery. 
Two New Nepenthes. 
Amongst the numerous Nepenthes which are now to 
be seen in excellent condition in the nurseries of 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, are two new ones of 
great merit. N. Dicksoniana is a hybrid between N. 
Rafflesiana as the seed parent, and N. Veitchii as the 
pollen parent. The result is a plant bearing pitchers 
already 10 ins. long, independently of the lid, having 
the colours similar to N. Rafflesiana, but with a more 
equal distribution of brownish crimson on a pea-green 
ground. The elongated and cylindrical pitcher takes 
after N. Veitchii, but is wider ; and the effect of the 
pollen parent is even more strongly seen in the broad 
annulus or collar of the pitcher, which is corrugated or 
ridged, and striped with yellow and crimson. The 
other new kind is N. rufescens, a hybrid between N. 
zeylanica rubra and N. Courtii, the latter being the 
pollen parent. At present the pitchers are from 6 ins. 
to 8 ins. long, are cylindrical, much narrowed at the 
neck, and heavily suffused with brownish red. Pitchers 
are produced in great abundance, and have in the 
aggregate a pretty effect. 
Columnea Kalbreyeriana. 
In general appearance this plant resembles Alloplectus 
peltatus, another Gesneraceous plant, and is entirely 
different from Columnea scandens, which is probably 
the most common of all the cultivated species. The 
species under notice is of shrubby, and, in the young 
state at least, of upright habit, and presents a rather 
striking and unusual appearance amongst a general 
collection of stove plants. The leaves are remarkably 
unequal in size, and the longer one of each pair is 
directed to one side, so that the plant, so to speak, is 
one-sided. They also attain a length of from 12 ins. 
to 14 ins., and assume the same position as some of the 
long-leaved Anthuriums. The upper surface is of a 
deep olive-green, while the under-surface is of a uniform 
deep claret-red. The flowers are produced in short 
racemes from the stems, but are almost wholly hidden 
by the foliage. The large ovate segments of the calyx 
are pale yellow and toothed at the margins, while the 
corolla is darker and striped with red internally. It 
was introduced only about six years ago, and a plant is 
now flowering in the stove at Kew. 
A G-ynantherous Wallflower. 
A singular monstrosity, as far as the flowers are 
concerned, occurs in the form of the common Wall¬ 
flower (Cheiranthus Cheiri), grown in the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Edinburgh, where the curator, Mr. Lindsay, 
preserves botanical curiosities of scientific interest. 
The whole flower is perfectly green and inconspicuous, 
and if not closely inspected would appear simply to be 
unexpanded flower buds, whereas, in fact, they cannot 
open. The calyx is reduced to narrow stripes or is 
almost obliterated, while the small green petals and 
the stamens are united to the pistil—that is, the young 
seed pod. From this it will be evident that for ordinary 
decorative purposes it is quite useless, but as a botanical 
curiosity or as a singular instance of teratology it is 
very interesting. 
ORCHID NOT ES AND CLEANINGS. 
Aerides suavissimum. 
Flowering as it does at this dull time, there is much to 
warrant the general cultivation of this fine species. The 
flowers are deliciously fragrant, as the specific name 
implies, and produced on long, drooping, sometimes 
branching racemes. The structure is similar to that of 
A. odoratum, where the three-lobed lip is closely pressed 
against the column. The colours of the different parts 
are very distinct from those of most species in culti¬ 
vation—a fact which adds greatly to the value of the 
species. The spreading sepals and petals are white, 
more or less suffused or merely tipped with lilac, while 
the lip is of a beautiful pale yellow colour, thickly 
studded all over with small purple dots. The spur is 
tipped with rose. A fine plant has been flowering in 
the nurseries of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for 
some time. 
Curious Freak of Odontoglossum crispum. 
A very singular specimen of this Orchid has been sent 
us by Mr. R. C. Fraser, gardener to R. B. White, 
Esq., Arddarroch, Garelochhead, Dumbartonshire. 
On close examination it seems to have resulted from 
the complete amalgamation of two flowers, in which 
some of the parts are suppressed. Instead of three 
sepals there are four, the extra one being placed 
immediately under where the lip should normally be ; 
but in this instance there are two lips right and left of 
the median line. They are rather small in comparison 
with the other parts of the flower, but are well formed 
with the exception of the crest, which is a little 
deficient on the right hand side of both lips. We 
should look upon all these as a separation of parts 
usually adnate; but the column also presents the 
appearance of being double on the anterior face, where 
there is a median ridge along its whole length, and 
terminating in a structure placed in close juxtaposition 
to the normal rostellum, which bears a gland, a pedicel 
and perfect pollinia. The projection in question is 
another rostellum, bearing a dark brown gland and a 
pedicel, but no pollinia. The two glands abut on 
one another with their under faces. All the flowers 
and buds on the spike are the same. 
A Miniature Catasetum. 
Compared with other species in cultivation, Catasetum 
Granettianum is indeed a veritable pigmy amongst 
Catasetums, and will form a suitable subject for culture 
in small baskets, which may be hung up out of the 
way of the curious who wish to investigate the mysteries 
of these singular flowers, and so hastening the decay or 
fading of the blooms by the removal of the pollinia. 
The species in question is a native of Brazil, and has 
small pseudo-bulbs and leaves, with flower-stems to 
match, about 3 ins. or 4 ins. in length, and three to 
four-flow 7 ered. The blooms are, however, comparatively 
large, having deep chocolate-coloured sepals and petals, 
nearly regularly barred transversely with yellow. The 
lip, as usual in this genus, is very singularly shaped. 
With the exception of some violet-tinted spots at the 
base, it is white, crested and fringed at the sides near 
the base, and again at the apex, recalling, in a measure, 
what is to be seen in C. scurra, although the latter is 
considerably larger in all its parts. A plant may be 
seen flowering in the Orchid house at Kew. 
L^elia anceps alba. 
Amongst the many good things in flower in Mr. 
Gaskell’s collection of Orchids, at Woolton 'Wood, 
Liverpool, is Lrelia anceps alba, and a real gem it is. 
The flowers are of the same shape, size, and substance 
as the typical L. anceps, but pure white, with the 
exception of the labellum, which is yellowish green. 
It is a charming, distinct, fairy-like plant, and is sure 
to become popular.— Rusticus. 
-►>*«-- 
The Gar deners’ Calendar, 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Flowers in Season. —Where a gay appearance has to 
be maintained at this dull season, there is now no lack 
of material with which to do it, provided means have 
been taken to cultivate a few of the various subjects 
at the grower’s command. Chrysanthemums will still 
constitute a prominent feature of the house, together 
with Heaths, Epacris, Chinese Primulas, Cyclamens, 
and zonal Pelargoniums, the brilliancy of the newer types 
of which is only exceeded by their great variety. Mar¬ 
guerites are also flowering freely, as also are Bouvardias, 
including the brilliant, free-flowering, and robust- 
growing President Cleveland. Other subjects are 
Roman Hyacinths, hybrid greenhouse Rhododendrons, 
Cytisus racemosus, Echeveria retusa, Azaleas, Serico- 
grapliis Ghiesbreghtii, Ageratum mexieanum album, 
Eupatorium odoratum, and others. 
Cinerarias. —The batch intended to flower in May 
should receive their final shift. A good size for large 
plants is 8^ ins., and the compost used should consist 
of, say, two parts good fibrous turfy loam that has 
lain in a heap to become mellow, and a half part each 
of well-rotted farmyard manure and leaf-soil, with the 
addition of as much sharp gritty sand as will render 
the whole sufficiently porous to permit of the escape of 
superfluous moisture, and allow free passage for the 
roots. Keep them close to the glass, otherwise the 
leaf-stalks will become drawn and weakly, and do not 
subject them to a dry arid atmosphere, or else the 
leaves get curled, and they become a prey to thrips and 
green-fly. They should never he allowed to suffer at 
the roots for want of water, otherwise the thin leaves 
flag to such an extent that the plant is permanently 
injured. An intermediate house is the best place for 
those that are wanted to come on quickly, otherwise a 
much lower temperature will be quite sufficient. They 
must on uo account, however, he subjected to frost, or 
the greater part of the foliage will be destroyed. Give 
plenty of room to allow of the full exposure of the 
foliage. 
Calceolarias. —These may still he potted on if the 
operation has not been already accomplished. The soil 
used should be rich and rather light, with ample 
drainage. A high temperature is very injurious to 
them, and they will even stand a few degrees of frost 
with impunity. Light is a most important matter at 
this season, and if not kept near the glass the leaves 
often assume a greenish yellow and sickly appearance. 
If kept moderately moist they will give greater satis¬ 
faction than on the dust-dry side. Except in very 
severe weather, a cold frame with a bed of ashes will 
accommodate them admirably. Should the grower, 
however, possess a frame furnished with hot-water 
piping, so that the heat may be turned on in the event 
of severe frost, they need not be transferred to the 
greenhouse till the approaching flowering period. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Early Peach House. —When the bloom-buds begin 
to swell after a course of gentle stimulation, whether 
by means of fermenting material or hot-water pipes, a 
higher temperature may he allowed by day during the 
prevalence of mild weather outdoors. In the absence 
of frost or cold biting winds the temperature may be 
allowed to run up to 55° or 60°, giving little ventilation. 
Care must be taken not to subject the trees to a dry 
fire-heat, otherwise the buds will be liable to drop. 
Well syringe the trees twice a-day, and examine the 
borders if inside to see that the tree roots do not suffer 
for want of moisture. If dry give a good watering 
with tepid water, and see that the latter does not 
escape without penetrating every part of the border. 
Strawberries. —Let the earliest batch have the 
lightest and warmest part of the house, and be very 
careful in the matter of syringing till the days lengthen 
and the sun begins to have more power. Remove all 
decaying foliage and anything that might give rise to 
mildew. 
Sea Kale, Asparagus and Rhubarb. —Succes- 
sional batches of these should be got ready and put in 
to supply the place of those that become exhausted. 
The two former quickly respond to the action of heat, 
but caution must be exercised in ventilating should 
very high temperatures be used, otherwise both shoots 
and leaves will get drawn and thin, materially spoiling 
their appearance when brought to table. Where 
Apples and Pears have been deficient this season, 
Rhubarb will do much to supply the deficiency. 
Manure for Forcing. —No time should be lost in 
getting a supply where new Potatos are required before 
the earliest supply can be obtained from the warm 
early borders out of doors. Where much forcing is 
done a supply of manure available for making up hot¬ 
beds should never be wanting. As old beds get worn 
out, and the various crops or forced subjects removed 
from them, have the spent material taken out, and its 
place supplied with fresh. Of course the less forcing 
done by means of hot-water pipes and properly con¬ 
structed forcing houses, the more will be required from 
fermenting material in pits. French Beans, Carrots, 
Radishes, and other subjects of this kind can with 
properly directed skill be obtained without hot-water 
piping. 
