838 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 31, 1889. 
chances too that others may yet be formed in their 
place, but yet in an incipient condition, and so pass 
the winter to be developed in spring, with the chances 
of ripening into useful fruit later on. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
There is, perhaps, no Orchid in general cultivation 
grown in such great numbers as Odontoglossum 
crispum (Alexandra), for it appears to be a general 
favourite, and certainly deserves that distinction, as it 
is a plant which may be grown to perfection by many 
who make but a sorry hand at cultivating a miscel¬ 
laneous collection ; and considering the reasonable 
price at which either imported or established plants 
may now bo procured, it is no wonder that it is grown 
so largely. 
The bulk of the plants of this species having flowered 
in the spring (say between the end of February and 
the end of June) will now be started into growth again, 
and if they require re-potting, the present time is a 
convenient one for the operation. Some growers 
prefer re-potting early in the year, and certainly there 
are many of 0. crispum then which are just right for 
shifting, but the bulk of them are showing flower 
spikes by the end of January, and I prefer the month 
of September for re-potting, as the plants get over the 
shift more quickly when there is no fire heat on the 
cool house ; and acting on the maxim of potting plants 
just when they indicate by the state of their growth 
that they are ready, it will be found that in ordinary 
collections about 75 per cent, of 0. crispum are started 
well into growth by the first week in September. The 
plants should be sponged over whether they require 
re-potting or not, for thrips have been unusually plen¬ 
tiful this season, and the washing of the pots when 
going through the plants is also conducive to the health 
of the plants, which enjoy sweet and clean surroundings. 
Good brown fibrous peat and sphagnum moss is still 
the best compost that can be got in which to grow the 
plants, being careful that the pots are well drained by 
being two-thirds full of clean crocks. Any plants 
which are not growing in a satisfactory manner would 
be benefited by being turned out of the pot and having 
all the old compost washed clean away from the roots, 
and then being put in a pot only just large enough to 
contain the roots comfortably until thoroughly estab¬ 
lished again, when, of course, it must be potted on 
into a larger pot.— IF. P. 
Vanda Sanderiana. 
"While being conducted through the Orchid houses of 
C. L. Wood, Esq., Freelands, Perth, a few days ago, 
by Mr. Sharp, who is the gardener in charge, I noted 
an exceptionally well-flowered plant of Vanda Sander¬ 
iana, with an aggregate of twenty-three splendid 
flowers of the most magnificent colours, the individual 
blooms measuring 4 ins. in diameter. Cattleya 
Dowiana is a great favourite at Freelands, and 
there are at present there several fine examples 
blooming with great freedom. Oncidium Jonesianum 
is another subject that is well done here, one plant 
noted having a fine spike with thirty fully expanded 
flowers.— J. McNab. 
L/Elia elegans, Duchess of Marlborough. 
The sepals of this beautiful variety are oblong and rosy 
purple, while the petals are broader and darker. The 
tube of the lip is whitish externally, and tinted with 
pale purple ; the lateral lobes are rather large, and pale 
purple internally ; the lamina is of a warm purple, with 
a rich dark purple blotch lying transversely to the 
orifice of the tube, which is golden yellow internally, 
with three purple lines running down it from the dark 
blotch above. The large column is pale purple. A fine 
piece was shown by the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim, 
Woodstock, at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on Tuesday last, and was awarded a First Class 
Certificate. 
L/ELIA ELEGANS, COOKE’S VAR. 
Altogether this is a curious but a pretty variety. 
The sepals are very narrow, or even linear and purple. 
The petals are very much broader, but short, oblong- 
ovate, rosy purple and whitish towards the base. The 
tube of the lip is short, rose-coloured, and forms a ridge 
over the column ; the lamina is rounded, slightly 
undulated, and of a rich crimson-purple. In habit 
the plant is similar to the type but dwarfer. The 
specimen was exhibited at the Drill Hall, on the 27th, 
by Malcolm Cook, Esq. (gardener, Mr. D. Cullimore), 
Kingston Hill, and received a First Class Certificate. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
--—- 
Royal Horticultural.— August 27th. 
The most prominent features of the meeting on Tuesday 
last were hardy or out-door plants, such as Dahlias, 
Gladioli, hardy herbaceous plants generally, China 
Asters, Pansies, ornamental trees and shrubs, stove 
plants, such as Crotons, Ferns, Bouvardias, Anthuriums, 
and hardy fruits. There were also small groups of 
Orchids, the greater number of which consisted of Laelia 
elegans and its varieties. 
A Silver-gilt Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
Kelway & Son, Lingport, for a large group of 
Gladioli, consisting of some thirteen large stands. 
They had also three stands of exhibition Dahlias. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was accorded to Mr. T. S. 
Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, for a group of 
Dahlias and herbaceous plants. Similar awards were 
also made to Air. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane, Upper 
Edmonton, for a large group of foliage plants ; 
and to Malcolm Cook, Esq, Kingston Hill (gar¬ 
dener, Air. D. Cullimore), for a collection of 
Orchids, consisting of Ltelia elegans and several fine 
varieties, including Cook’s variety, which received a 
First Class Certificate. He also showed fine blooms of 
Souvenir de la Atalmaison Carnation, Niphetos Rose, 
Belle Nancienne Pelargonium, and Lapageria rosea 
alba. The Duke of Alarlborough, Blenheim, Wood- 
stock, exhibited Ltelia elegans Alarlboroughense, L. e. 
Duchess of Alarlborough, and L. e. Blenheimensis. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to A. J. Hollington, 
Esq. (gardener, Air. Ayling), Forty Hill, Enfield, for a 
good plant of Ltelia crispa. Several Orchids also 
occurred in a group shown by Air. B. S. Williams, 
Upper Holloway, including Cypripedium oenanthum 
and Catasetum tabulare ltevis. He also brought up 
Anthurium gandavense, A. candidum, Sarracenia 
decora, and Carludoviea palmtefolia. 
A fine plant of Lilium nepalense was shown by 
Alessrs. J. Veiteh & Sons, Chelsea, who also had a fine 
stand of hybrid greenhouse Rhododendrons, including 
Teysmanni, pale yellow ; Princess Alexandra, blush ; 
Thetis, yellow ; Hippolyte, scarlet ; and Balsamce- 
llorum Rajah. Phaius philippinense, a rare Orchid, 
was also shown. Air. James O’Brien, Harrow-on-the 
Hill, brought up Crocosmia aurea maculata, which 
had very distinct brown blotches on the outer segments, 
and larger blotches below the middle of the inner 
segments. Alessrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, 
showed a collection of Pompon, show and Cactus 
Dahlias, several receiving Awards of Alerit. Alessrs. 
J. Carter &. Co., High Holborn, had a group of a 
strain of China Asters, called the new Queen Aster. 
There were batches of pale and dark blue, rose, 
copper-red, white, and crimson varieties, all shown in 
pots. They varied from 6 ins. to 12 ins. high, much- 
branched, bushy, and floriferous, bearing large heads 
of the colours mentioned. A vote of thanks was 
accorded. Air. T. F. Dranfield, gardener, Valentines, 
Ilford, exhibited a fine collection of bedding Violas, 
including Mrs. Ferguson and Countess of Hopetoun, 
white ; Bullion, yellow ; DysartGem, primrose ; Queen 
of Lilacs, Archibald Grant, and Airs. Chas. Turner, 
blue ; Bessie Clark, lilac ; and Countess of Kintore, 
blue and white. Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray, Hands- 
worth Nurseries, Sheffield, showed Taxus adpressa varie- 
gata, T. fastigiatagrandis, and two seedling Lapagerias— 
namely, L. rosea maculata and L. r. profusa, both 
being spotted with white. A large profusely-flowered 
Clematis of the Viticella type, named Airs. Baron 
Viellard, with mauve flowers, was shown by Alessrs. 
Geo. Jackman & Son, Woking, Surrey. Air. G. S. P. 
Harris, Orpington, showed some exhibition Dahlias ; 
and Cactus varieties were shown by Alessrs. H. Cannell 
& Sons, Swanley. A good strain of dwarf German 
Scabious, consisting of red, pink, blue, white, and 
other varieties, shown by Air. R. Dean, of Ealing, was 
commended. 
Thesubjectsexhibitedbefore the Fruit Committee con¬ 
sisted chiefly of Apples and Plums. A large collection 
of the latter was exhibited by Alessrs. J. Veiteh & Sons. 
Red kinds were Victoria and Duke of Edinburgh ; dark 
purple or black kinds were Diamond, Alitchelson’s, 
Kirke’s, Belgian Purple, Prince Englebert, Large Black 
Imperial, and Goliath. Denniston’s Superb and Tay 
Bank represented green kinds ; and Lawson’s Golden 
Gage, and Early Golden Drop, were yellow sorts. 
They also showed Lady Sudeley, Early Russian, and 
Summer Thorle Apples, and the Beacon Pear. A. H. 
Smee, Esq. (gardener, Air. G. W. Cummins), The 
Grange, Hackbridge, showed a good collection of early 
Apples, including Alother, Williams’ Favourite, Early 
Strawberry, Duchess of Oldenburgh, Nonsuch, 
Peasgood’s Nonsuch, Bensoni, Lord Grosvenor, Goose¬ 
berry, AVorcester Pearmain, Stilbert, and June Gilli- 
flower. Alessrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, showed 
some Apples and Pears, as did AV. Roupell, Esq, 
Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park. Seedling AIelon3 were 
shown by Mr. L. B. Holman, Broughton Place, Alaid- 
stone; by Air. H. C. Denton, gardener to AlajorEgerton, 
Alverley Hall, Doncaster ; by Air. J. Strong, Lindis- 
faine, Bournemouth ; by Air. Chas. Brook, Red Rice, 
Andover, Hants ; and Air. J. Church, Alilford Hall, 
Suffolk, showed a large red variety of Capsicum—the 
one from which is made the Paprika or Hungarian 
Pepper of commerce. 
Shropshire Horticultural.— Aug. 2.1st 22nd. 
It was admitted by all who were capable of giving an 
opinion that the show held last week in the far-famed 
Quarry at Shrewsbury was the best the society has ever 
held, and that is saying a great deal. Unfortunately 
the weather was deplorable on both days, still the 
Salopians stood manfully by the executive, and 
patronised the show in large numbers. The com¬ 
petition in most of the classes was very strong, and the 
quality of the exhibits of a high order, especially so in 
the vegetable section, in which the local champions 
well held their own against all comers. For the first 
time at Shrewsbury, Mr. Cypher, of Cheltenham, had 
to lower his colours in the class for twenty specimen 
plants, being well beaten on this occasion by Air. Finch, 
gardener to James Alarriott, Esq., Coventry. Air. 
Roberts, gardener to C. Nicholson, Esq., Leek, was 
third. For six exotic Ferns, Air. Cypher and Air. 
Roberts were both beaten by Air. Lambert, of Onslow, 
who also came to the front again in the local gardeners’ 
class. For a group of plants arranged for effect, Air. 
Baerlein, of Didsbury, secured the firstand second prizes. 
The cut-flower classes brought out some very fine 
things, especially among Rises, Hollyhocks, Gladiolus, 
Dahlias, while the cut, stove an 1 greenhouse plants 
were superb, notably so the collection from Trentham. 
The fruit classes were well filled, and the Grapes, 
with the exception of a few Aluscats, were splendidly 
coloured. Air. Goodacre, of Elvaston, had the finest 
collection of twelve dishes, beating Air. Davies, of 
Temple Newsham, and Air. Gilman, of Ingestrie. For 
nine dishes, Mr. Alilner, of Sundorne Castle, came in 
first, beating Air. Lambert and Air. Pearson, of 
Attingham. The great attraction for the professional 
visitors was, however, found in the vegetables, and I 
question if a finer lot has ever been seen in competition 
anywhere. The collection of twelve dishes brought 
out a grand competition, so good, in fact, that the 
judges had to give fourth and fifth prizes, in order to 
do justice to the competitors; the awards being made 
as follows :—First, Air. Lambert, Onslow; second, Air. 
Alilner, Sundorne; third, Air. AVilkins, Inwood House, 
near Blandford ; fourth, Air. C. J. AVaite, Glenhurst, 
Esher ; fifth, Air. A. J. Skinner, Cullen House, near 
Cheltenham. For the prizes given by Alessrs. AVebb 
& Sons, AVordsley, Air. Lambert also came to the front 
in a strong contest, beating Air. AVilkins, Air. Corfield 
(Leaton Knolls), Air. Loekie (Oakley Court, AVindsorl, 
and Air. Alilner. Air. Lambert also secured first 
honours in the county class for six dishes, and thus, 
for the first time, secured the three leading first prizes. 
The various contests were well fought out, and 
altogether the display was worthy of the society, which 
has been the means of giving a great- stimulus to local 
horticulture. — From, a Correspondent. 
-->*«<- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Antirrhinums—/. Forbes , Hawick: A very showy assortment 
of self-coloured, striped, and mottled flowers of good size, and 
thickly set on long spikes. A very good strain. 
Arum Lilies and Ferns .—Felix: You may give the Arums 
a shift now with advantage. Put them into pots one or two 
sizes larger than those they are now n, and use a compost of 
loam, leaf-soil, a little manure, and sand. The Polystichum and 
the Pterises may also be fresh potted now, the former into a 
4S-sized pot. The compost mentioned above, by substituting a 
little peat for the manure, will suit them well. Drain liberally 
in both cases. 
Broccoli and Celery.— Stella : Nitrate of soda is the quickest 
in action, but we should not use it ourselves if good ordinary 
liquid manure or sewage could he obtained. 
Cucumbers for Exhibition. —North Lincoln: A good strain 
of Rilll sin’s Telegraph will give what you require. 
Flue Chimney.— it. L. A.: We can suggest nothing but a 
light tin or thin zinc moveable cowl. Sometimes relief is gaiued 
by quickening the draught, and it occasionally happens that this 
is best done by fastening a narrow strip of wood, iron, or slate 
&c., across the top of the chimney. 
