January 5, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
297 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
♦ 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
No time should now be lost in getting the potting 
material ready for an early commencement to pot up 
all cool Orchids requiring it. In large establishments, 
and even in some small private ones, the work is already 
in an advanced state ; but there is no practical necessity 
for its being done before the early days of January. 
Cool Orchids make most roots in winter and the early 
days of spring, and the object should therefore be to 
have the potting done before the young roots are so far 
advanced that there is danger of breaking them in the 
operation. Good fibrous peat in which there is a con¬ 
siderable quantity of bracken roots is the best, as it is 
more durable and not so liable to decay, nor to become 
solid, sodden and pasty. Fresh or live sphagnum moss 
is also most essential, and should be picked over before 
use to remove roots of grass or other undesirable 
material in it. A supply of clean pots, baskets and 
crocks is also essential, so that the work may go on 
uninterruptedly when once a start has been made. 
Undue haste is, however, to be avoided, as a fair amount 
of work w r ell done is always more satisfactory in the 
end than a great amount badly, or even indifferently 
done. More than this, mistakes cannot so readily be 
rectified in the case of Orchids as with other stove or 
greenhouse plants, except during the period when 
growth is recommencing. 
The Masdevallias may be potted first, then the 
Odontoglossums, to be followed by Oncidiums, Maxil- 
larias and what other cool Orchids may be in the 
establishment. Before turning them out of their pots 
or baskets see that the ball is thoroughly moist, other¬ 
wise give them a watering, and allow them to stand 
till the whole becomes damp and the superfluous 
moisture has drained away. The fresh potting material 
should also be in the same condition, so that when 
afterwards watered the whole may take in equally 
what moisture is applied to it. Old material in a sour 
condition had better be removed, doing so with a 
blunt-pointed stick. 
The Temperatures for January should be:— 
East Indian house, 60° at night, and 65° to 70° during 
the day ; for the Cattleya house, 55° at night, and 60° 
to 65° during the day ; for the Odontoglossum or cool 
house, 45° at night, and from 50° to 55° during the day. 
Cypripedium insigne Horsmanianum. 
The foliage of this beautiful new Cypripedium, which 
flowered for the first time recently with Messrs. F. 
Horsman & Co., seems intermediate between that 
of C. insigne and C. Spicerianum, but is shorter 
than either, and gives the plant a very dwarf habit. 
The flower-stalk also corresponds to it, inasmuch 
as it measures only about 6 ins., and is covered 
with dark purple hairs. The dorsal sepal or standard 
is amber-coloured in the centre, and covered with 
dark crimson spots as in C. i. Wallacei; the upper 
portion is pure white, with an extension of this 
along both margins to the base, where small purple 
spots are numerous. The lower sepal is creamy white, 
with four lines of dark spots, extending over it for the 
greater part of its length. The petals are almost 
covered with chocolate-brown lines on an amber 
ground, while their edges are white shaded with 
purple. The pouch is rather distinct in shape, pale 
yellow at the base, and of a glossy shade of brown, as 
seen in C. Harrisonianum when well coloured. In 
short, the whole flower presents a picture of great 
neatness and beauty. 
Cypripedium callosum. 
In your issue for December 22nd, p. 265, your corre¬ 
spondent, Mr. Dumper, writes of the above-named fine 
slipper Orchid as a hybrid ; but I have been under the 
impression that it was introduced from the East by Mr. 
Bull, of Chelsea, and should be glad to know if I am 
mistaken. Mr. Dumper also states that it surpasses 
C. Lawrenceanum in freedom of growth. I cannot 
agree with him on that point, for although it is certainly 
a very free grower, I think it would be difficult to 
surpass the last named in that respect, for it is sur¬ 
prising what a fine plant it makes after a few years 
liberal treatment.— S. C., L. [C. callosum was recently 
introduced from Cochin China, and is assumed to he a 
species resembling a strong C. barbatum, with the 
dorsal sepal like that of C. Lawrencianum ; but it may 
be a natural hybrid all the same.—E d.] 
Catasetum fimbriatum fissum. 
The typical form of this curious Orchid was introduced 
from Brazil in 1848. Like many other species of 
Catasetum it is extremely variable with regard to 
colour; but in that respect is inconstant even in the 
more typical form and in those which have been 
honoured with a varietal name. The sepals and petals 
in the form under notice are richly barred or blotched 
transversely with crimson on a greenish yellow ground. 
All these organs are rather narrow, and the petals are 
sub-erect and closely applied to the upper sepal. The 
lip is, however, the most remarkable part of the flower, 
and differs from the typical form in the teeth surround¬ 
ing the margin being greatly elongated into fringes. 
The limb varies in colour between green and yellow, 
with an orange patch surrounding the mouth of the 
short conical spur. There is a coloured figure in the 
Revue de V Horticulture Beige for December , 1888. 
Orchids in Flower on New Year's Day. 
As showing the value of Orchids as decorative plants 
in mid-winter, when other flowers are comparatively 
scarce, we note the fact that on New Year’s Day one 
hundred and eleven species and varieties, representing 
twenty-six genera, were in flower in Mr. William Bull’s 
collection. 
Oncidium Jonesianum. 
There are several species of Oncidium with terete or 
rush-formed leaves, but the flowers are all much smaller, 
less showy and yellow, and more or less spotted or barred 
with brown. The pendent leaves of this species are 
very characteristic, and in their best form the ground 
colour of the sepals is mostly white, and banded trans¬ 
versely with purple. They are frequently, however, 
suffused with green. The lip is pure white, and more 
or less spotted at the base. The species was first 
discovered by Mr. Louis de St. Leger, in Paraguay, and 
sent to Messrs. Horsman & Co., Colchester, and was 
first described in 1883. There is a figure of it in the 
Revue de L'Horticulture Beige for January, 1889. 
Disa racemosa. 
It is highly desirable that more of these beautiful 
terrestrial Orchids should find their way into gardens 
in this country, for they have certainly many attrac¬ 
tions. It is probable also that their cultivation would 
not be difficult, provided cultivators studied their habits 
and treated them accordingly. The flower stemsr ise to 
the height of 12 ins. or 18 ins., and bear a raceme of 
rosy purple flowers. The sepals, as usual in this genus, 
are most conspicuous, and the upper one is helmet¬ 
shaped, with a short blunt spur on the back. The lip 
is small, as well as the petals, which are very dark in 
colour. It is a native of the Cape.— Orchid, Album, 
pi. 356. 
Barkeria Lindleyana. 
The Barkerias are now classified amongst the Epiden- 
drums, but for garden purposes may be regarded as 
distinct. They are, however, truly epiphytic in their 
nature, andare grown to perfection in baskets or on a piece 
of Tree Fern stem, or even the branch of a tree if it will 
assist in retaining moisture tvhile fresh growth is being 
made. The stems are generally about 8 ins. or 12 ins. in 
length, and more resemble those having stems like a 
Dendrobium than many of the more widely cultivated 
species of true Epidendrums. The flowers of the species 
under notice are rosy purple, and produced in long 
racemes from the sides of the stems. They are of large 
size, and the lip, the most conspicuous part, is deep 
purple at the tip, with a large white blotch in the 
centre, and is nearly square in outline. It is very 
successfully grown by Mr. ’William Bull, at Chelsea. 
L/elia albida sulphurea. 
A magnificent spike of this beautiful variety has 
come to hand from Mr. Robert Twiss, Bird Hill House, 
Limerick, Ireland. It carried eight flowers much 
above the average size for L. albida ; but this pecu¬ 
liarity seems characteristic of the variety under notice, 
which was first described by Professor Reiehenbach 
about five years ago. The flowers measure 3 ins. 
across the lateral sepals, and fully 2J ins. from the 
tip of the dorsal sepal to that of the lip. The oblong 
lanceolate sepals are of a clear sulphur-yellow, while the 
ovate petals and the ground colour of the lip are paler. 
The greater part of the terminal lobe of the latter 
organ is rosy mauve, while the sides of the lateral 
segments are reticulated with purple. The face of the 
column is also coloured with deep purple lines, and 
the lower part of the three-ridged crest is of the same 
colour, while the upper portion is yellow. It is 
certainly a choice and rare variety, and has been 
flowering with Mr. Twiss since the end of November. 
It reached us in fine condition, and was strongly 
fragrant. 
Cattleya Gaskelliana alba. 
The flowers of this beautiful summer-flowering Cattleya 
are pure white with the exception of a large pale yellow 
blotch in the throat, and in this respect Orchid growers 
will have no difficulty in distinguishing it from C. 
Eldorado alba, or any other of the white forms of the 
Cattleyas now classed as varieties of C. labiata. The 
flowers are produced on the young growths immediately 
after the latter become matured in summer, and after 
flowering growth recommences. It therefore requires 
no resting period, and the plants should be placed 
near the glass in winter, in order to get all the light 
possible while making fresh pseudo-bulbs and leaves.— 
Orchid Album, pi. 353. 
^fnfuavi?. 
Viscount Eversley, the noble owner of that charming 
garden, Heckfield Place, passed away from life on the 
28th ult., literally dying with the old year, almost a 
centenarian. Few men are privileged to live so long 
as Lord Eversley did. He was a fine type of an old 
English gentleman, tall, erect, manly, and good. Just 
a few weeks more, and he would have completed his 
ninety-fifth year. Unlike too many of his class, Lord 
Eversley was a devoted lover of his garden, and even 
the most trivial matters connected with it provoked in 
him a complete interest. Born at Heckfield in 1794, 
he died there the other day. What a change he must 
have seen wrought in his home during that long period ! 
What a revolution, indeed, has been made in horti¬ 
culture ! It was fitting that with an owner who loved 
his garden so thoroughly, and with a gardener whose 
enthusiastic nature found such ample scope and encourage¬ 
ment as Mr. Wildsmith, Heckfield should take a high 
place amongst the private gardens of England—a 
reputation of no fugitive order, but one which clung 
closely and steadfastly, and still remains. To young men 
who have—as too many young men do—given but little 
attention to history, it is news to learn that the Speaker 
of the House of Commons from 1839 to 1857, a period 
of eighteen years, has but just passed away in the 
person of Viscount Eversley. His earlier public career 
also takes us back to the days of Her Majesty’s accession; 
indeed, the deceased peer was a member of the House of 
Commons seven years before Queen Victoria ascended 
the throne. Heckfield has losta kind-hearted and noble- 
minded owner, Mr. Wildsmith a genuine friend, and 
horticulture a warm patron. The Royal Horticultural 
Society also loses one of its oldest and most generous of 
Fellows. The old Place, with all its beautiful 
surroundings, passes into the possession of Lord 
Eversley’s daughter, Miss Shaw-Lefevre, and we believe 
that no change will be made in the gardening staff, a 
matter for hearty congratulation. 
We have also to record the demise of a very worthy man 
in the person of Mr. Charles Howe, gardener to Sir 
Richard Sutton, Benham Park, Newbury. Owing to 
his robust healthy appearance, it was not generally 
known among his friends that Mr. Howe suffered a 
good deal during the last two years with disease in the 
kidneys. He was in town at the last meeting of the 
fruit committee, and remarked when going home with 
his old friends, Mr. Ross and Mr. G. T. Miles, that he 
had not felt so well for a long time. About the 19th 
of December, however, he had to take to his bed, and 
passed peacefully away on Christmas Day. Mr. Howe, 
who was 43 years of age, commenced his gardening 
career at Henham Hall, Suffolk, and before going to 
Mr. Blair, at Shrubland Park, as foreman, was 
for a time in Messrs. Veitch’s nursery, and with Mr. 
Allan, at Gunton Park. He stayed with Mr. Blair 
about three and a half years, and then went to Benham, 
fourteen years ago last October. Here he proved 
himself to be an able practitioner, and many were his 
successes at both metropolitan and provincial ex¬ 
hibitions. He also raised at Benham two good Melons 
in their day, William I. and Benham Park Perfection, 
both of which gained the Fruit Commitee’s favour. Of 
this body he was last year a member, and on the estab¬ 
lishment of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, he gave it his 
warm support, and at the date of his death was local 
secretary for the Newhury district. An unassuming, 
amiable man, Mr. Howe was much respected, especially 
by his brother gardeners, several of whom, including 
Mr. C. Ross, Welford Park ; Mr. Brown, Sandleford 
Priory (now in his eighty-third year); Mr. Pope, High- 
clere Castle ; Mr. Parr, Chilton Lodge ; Mr. Marsh, 
Crookham House ; Mr. Lye, Sydmonton Court; Mr. 
Redington, Littlecote Hall ; with the Mayor of New¬ 
bury, and Mr. Jones, of Reding, were present at his 
interment on Saturday last. Mr. Howe leaves a widow, 
and one son about eleven years old. Since her 
husband’s death, Mrs. Howe has received a great 
number of letters of sympathy from all parts of the 
country, to the writers of which—being quite unable 
to reply to all—she desires us to express her grateful 
thanks. 
-->X<-- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Crystal Oil.— H. Elms: This is merely a shop name for 
paraffin. 
Dendrobium Buds Dropping.— Extnore : If the temperature 
you mention, namely, 60° to 65°, is that given at night, the buds 
cannot be injuriously influenced in that respect. In fact, a 
temperature of 60° at night is quite sufficient for the months of 
December and January. Something else must be at fault; and 
we should suspect that you allow them to get too dry at the 
roots, or, on the contrary, that the soil is wet, sour, and destruc- 
