December 29, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
281 
very broad base, and when collected is of a grass-green 
colour, becoming greenish yellow. The flesh is white, 
tender, juicy, and sub-acid, but so agreeable to the 
palate that some would not disdain using it for dessert 
purposes. Some of the fruits attained a weight of 14£ 
ounces at Devonhurst, Chiswick, even in the past un¬ 
favourable season. 
Golden Spire and Pott’s Seedling Apples. 
In conversation a few days ago with a nursery traveller, 
whose keenness of observation is only equalled by his 
sound and extensive knowledge of matters pomological, 
our friend told us that for planting in sand near the 
sea at such places as Southport there was no Apple 
more reliable as a bearer than the Golden Spire, even 
small trees of which planted in'pure sand bore regularly. 
For smoky towns, or districts in which Lord Suffield 
or hardly any other sort will do well, he considered 
Pott’s Seedling as the best sort to plant, and would 
always give it the preference, on account of its hardy 
constitution and free-bearing qualities under climatic 
circumstances that hardly any other good sort will 
stand. Owners of small town gardens especially would 
do well to remember this. 
VlCAR OF WINKFIELD PEAR. 
If the histories of our oldest fruits could be cleared up, 
many of them would no doubt be proved to have 
eventful ones. In 1790, the Pear which now bears the 
name of the Vicar of Winkfield was found growing in 
a wood called Fromentau, in France, by a cure in that 
neighbourhood, who took it in hand and propagated it, 
when it soon after got widely distributed in its native 
country under sixteen different names. The Vicar of 
Winkfield, in Berkshire, was the first to introduce it to 
this country, and it has been named in compliment to 
him ever since. In this country it attains good 
dimensions and presents a fine appearance in favourable 
seasons, but particularly when planted against a wall. 
It then comes into use during November, and continues 
good till January. Although for dessert purposes it 
may be described as a second-class fruit, it is never¬ 
theless serviceable for stewing when it does not 
ripen properly. It attains a handsome size in most 
gardens. 
Baldwin Apple. 
The quantity of this Apple now in the various markets 
throughout the country is something enormous. The 
fruits are all of American growth. The tree has been 
grown to some extent in this country for many years ; 
but the fruits are neither so large nor so handsome as 
when grown in their native country. Nor is the 
quality the same. These facts apply to many other 
Apples which have been raised in a country with a 
different climate from that of Britain. This should be 
an inducement to British fruit growers to raise new 
seedlings from trees grown in this country, and even 
from those that originated here, so that the progeny 
may be constitutionally adapted to our climate. This 
can hardly be expected of trees raised elsewhere. The 
fruit of the variety under notice is ovate-conical, with 
a smooth skin, yellow on the shaded side and red next 
the sun ; but under favourable conditions nearly the 
whole surface is of a beautiful deep red. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
- * m 
♦ 
Oncidium cucullatum maculatum. 
The varieties of Oncidium cucullatum in cultivation 
are very numerous, and many of them have been 
honoured with varietal names. A spike of the above- 
mentioned variety has been sent us by Mr. William 
Lees, South View, Greaves Street, Oldham. It is a 
newly-imported piece, and is now flowering for the first 
time. The sepals and petals are brownish purple, as 
in the more typical forms, but the lip is large, and 
handsomely spotted over its whole surface with deep 
rich purple on a rosy purple ground. The varieties 
already in cultivation under this name differ in some 
slight respects, but they all agree in the rich spotting 
of the lip. 
Dendrobium bigibbum and D. superbiens. 
Two really good Orchids now in bloom are Dendrobium 
bigibbum and D. superbiens. Both belong to the 
North Australian section, and they are without doubt 
two of the handsomest, as well as the most free- 
flowering of any class of Dendrobes. They are of easy 
culture, and succeed well when grown at the lightest 
and coolest end of the stove suspende 1 c ose to the 
glass, where they can receive plenty of light and sun¬ 
shine, which they require to make them flower freely. 
Abundance of water should be given them whilst 
growing, and they should not be allowed to get dry 
even while resting. If treated as above, the stove at 
this dull season should be rendered gay with their 
beautiful rosy racemes, which are produced freely both 
from the old as well as the new growths.— S. 0., L. 
Odontoglossum gloriosum. 
It is really a treat to enter a house where a few plants of 
this lovely Hawthorn-scented Odontoglot are flowering. 
So fragrant is its perfume that all amateurs who do not 
already possess it might do worse than include a plant 
or two in their small collections ; and as it requires the 
same treatment as 0. Alexandra, I see no reason why 
they should not obtain some fine spikes of this lovely 
yellow and brown-spotted sweet-scented Orchid.— 
S. C., L. 
The Long-tailed Masdevallia. 
In most of the species of this popular genus the tails 
or elongations of the sepals constitute a conspicuous 
feature of the flower, although the tails of the lateral 
sepals are almost absent in some of the finest species. 
Those of Masdevallia macrura are of unusual length, 
however, varying from 4 ins. to 6 ins. It is a rare 
and stately Orchid, which it is hoped will become more 
common. The flowers are altogether different from 
those of the M. ehimaera type, and may be compared to 
M. Reiehenbachiana in shape. The tube is, however, 
proportionately shorter and wider, wdiile the segments 
of which it is constituted divide into two unequal lips. 
The upper one is triangular, and gradually becomes 
narrowed into the tail; the lobes of the lower lip taper 
even more gradually ; and in both cases they are pale 
reddish brown, beautifully spotted with brownish 
purple, while the tails are yellow. The flowers are borne 
singly on the stems, and rise up above the leathery, 
glossy green leaves. It is a native of Columbia, and 
flowers in winter. We noted it the other week in the 
nursery of Mr. William Bull, King’s Road, Chelsea. 
ANGR/ECUM sesquipedale. 
A fine batch of this is now rapidly approaching the 
flowering period in the nurseries of Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co., Clapton. The plants were imported some 
two years ago, and are now fairly established, forming 
compact, healthy pieces about'a foot in height. Unfor¬ 
tunately, in the’neighbourhood of London, they flower at 
a period when very liable to be destroyed by fog. Should 
the atmosphere be, however, moderately clear during 
the flowering period, the handsome wax-like flowers are 
very acceptable at this season, more so even than those 
of the late-flowering variety, which blooms at a period 
when flowers of many kinds are much more plentiful. 
Burlingtonia DECORA- 
The flowers of this pretty species are as freely pro¬ 
duced, or more so than those of any other belonging to 
the genus. Some growers may object to its somewhat 
straggling habit; but the manner in which it throws 
out roots from the stems gives it a peculiar and interes¬ 
ting appearance. Between the pseudobulbs the stem 
elongates, forming rhizome-like structures, which carries 
the former farther apart than usual. On this account 
it should be grown in a basket or on a block, and hung 
up close to the glass. The flowers are white, streaked 
with rose, and there is a handsome spotted variety 
called B. d. picta, which is even prettier than the type. 
They flower during winter. 
Odontoglossum eugenes. 
Amongst the numerous supposed autumnal hybrid 
Odontoglossums, this one stands out prominently as 
something very distinct and striking. Its supposed 
parents are 0. Pescatorei—amongst a batch of which it 
was introduced—and 0. trium phans, taking after the 
former in its growth, but after the latter in its mag¬ 
nificent flowers. The sepals and petals are pale yellow, 
almost white along the centre, tipped and margined 
with deep yellow, and handsomely spotted with large 
chestnut-brown blotches. The lip is white with a pro¬ 
minent yellow crest, resembling that of 0. Pescatorei, 
and has a large central chestnut-brown blotch. It 
requires the same treatment as its supposed parents. 
—Orchid Album, pi. 355. 
Calanthe masuca. 
Seeing that this terrestrial East Indian Orchid was 
originally introduced in 1842, it is more rarely met 
with in cultivation than one would expect considering 
its beauty. The leaves are 18 ins. long by 6 ins. broad, 
and strongly plaited. From amongst these the flower 
stems rise to the height of 2 ft. or 3 ft., bearing a 
raceme of handsome flowers. The sepals are of a deep 
violet-purple, while the petals are shaded with white. 
The lip is rich purple, fading with age to brownish 
salmon, with a conspicuous deep yellow disk. It 
requires moist stove treatment.— Orchid Album, pi. 354. 
The Parkfield Collection. 
Our correspondent “Rusticus ” writes :—In the choice 
collection of Orchids at Parkfield, Worcester, there are 
now in flower some very good things, including the 
rare and beautiful Lrelia flammea, Lycaste Skinneri 
alba, Laelia Goldieana, and Cattleya exoniensis. The 
Calanthes are very fine also, and many examples of 
Masdevallia tovarensis are superbly bloomed. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Reinwardtias. —Those who grow R. trigyna—better 
known under the name of Linum in gardens—find it of 
great service during the winter months ; but there is 
another species in cultivation equally worthy of attention 
or more so. This is R. tetragyna, which has a dwarfer 
habit than its congener, with larger dark green leaves, 
and larger paler yellow flowers. The latter are produced 
in great profusion from buds of different ages. A long 
succession is therefore kept up from a few plants. A 
greenhouse with a night temperature of 50°, or an inter¬ 
mediate house, will meet its requirements admirably 
when in flower. It is readily propagated from cuttings. 
Tree Carnations. —In order to flower these satis¬ 
factorily, they must be given a light position not far 
from the glass, so that they may enjoy the full effects 
of the feeble light, which has been unusually bad for 
some time past owing to the heavy fogs. Comparatively 
little watering will be required ; but if the pots are 
well filled with roots, an occasional dose of weak liquid 
manure will assist greatly in the production of flowers. 
A temperature of 50° will be necessary to enable the 
blooms to expand freely and regularly, as well as in the 
development of the odour in fragrant varieties. 
Tea Roses. —In order to counteract the dearth of 
flowers that always prevails during the early months of 
the year, a batch of Tea Roses should be brought in 
and subjected to forcing. The temperature at first 
should not on any account be too high, otherwise the 
growth made and the flowering will be unsatisfactory. 
Little pruning will be necessary beyond shortening 
back the more rampant shoots and cutting out weak 
or superfluous growths. Give little or no water until 
some advance has been made and the roots are fairly 
active. _ 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peaches. —The buds in the earliest house will now be 
swelling fast. The temperature must not, however, be 
allowed to run up too high, otherwise the results will 
be unsatisfactory ; from 45° to 50° will be quite 
sufficient at night, even in mild weather, allowing a 
rise of 10° or more during the day with sunshine. 
Ventilation should be given by the top ventilators, 
even at night during mild weather ; and a more 
vigorous and healthy growth will be fostered thereby. 
Later houses should be kept as cool as possible, and 
any further cleaning, pruning or tying that may yet be 
necessary should be accomplished without delay. 
Cucumbers. —Use every possible means to ensure a 
free but vigorous growth in the young plants now 
advancing. Tie up the shoots every few days, so that 
the leaves may benefit by a full exposure to light. 
Further encourage them with a moist genial atmosphere, 
by damping down the paths and other exposed parts of 
the house, which should be closed early, so as to fully 
utilise sun-heat when that can be had. 
Peas. — The first sowing of these indoors, and 
ultimately to be planted out, may now be made. 
Varieties suited for this purpose are the old Sangster’s 
No. 1, William I., Emerald Gem, American Wonder, 
and Ringleader. The American Wonder is exceedingly 
dwarf, and less easily accommodated than the others 
should the spring be so backward as to prevent their 
being planted out early. Some prefer to grow them in 
small pots; but they may be cultivated in greater 
quantity by nailing two boards loosely together, form¬ 
ing a V-shaped trough, with cross-pieces at the ends 
to make them stand. They may be cut to any required 
length, and placed in any suitable position in an early 
vinery or Peach house until they germinate. When 
this has been accomplished the pots or boxes must be 
transferred to some cooler structure, where frost is 
kept out and plenty of ventilation is given on all 
favourable occasions. The bottom of the boxes should 
be filled with rough, rich material, the siftings of old 
potting-bench soil for instance, or hot-bed manure, in 
which the roots will ramify strongly. They may finally 
be planted in the open ground when the -weather 
becomes suitable, and after thoroughly hardening them 
off. 
Horse Radish. —The present is a highly convenient 
time to plant Plorse Radish, when outdoor work is less 
pressing than we may expect it to be a little later on. 
In order to grow it well, some further trouble is neces¬ 
sary than simply having some old starved bed in some 
neglected corner of the garden, as is too often the case. 
A good method is to take out a trench about 18 ins. 
deep, filling it up with old hot-bed manure, and then 
placing the soil over it. Select the longest roots obtain¬ 
able of second or third-rate thickness, and dibble them 
into the ridge made in two lines, about 12 ins. apart 
and 9 ins. asunder in the rows. 
