892 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
February 16, 1889. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
mAm - 
Cattleya Trian>e, The Glen Variety. 
Cattleya Trianasis again in season, and fresh surprises 
may be expected in imported pieces as they come into 
flower. One such has reached us from the fine collec¬ 
tion of Sir C. Tennant, The Glen, Innerleithen, 
Peebles. It is a plant out of the last importation of 
the Messrs. Thomson, Clovenfords, Galashiels, and is 
really a beautiful variety. The sepals and petals are 
of a warm rose colour, as is the tube of the lip. The 
petals are of great size, broadly ovate in outline, finely 
crisped at the margins, and furnished with an elongated 
deep purple blotch on the upper third of their length. 
In this respect it resembles Backhouse’s variety. The 
blotch consists of three median veins, which have 
assumed a deep colour, together with a ramification of 
smaller veins proceeding from the same. The lip is 
large for this Cattleya, and the terminal portion, which 
is of a rich crimson-purple, is finely undulated or 
crisped all round the margin. The anterior portion, of 
the usual yellow blotch in the tube is white. Alto¬ 
gether it is a handsome Cattleya of great merit. C. 
Trianac is the most variable perhaps of all the forms of 
C. labiata, and every new importation gives rise to 
hopes of something fresh. 
Dendrobium Ainsworthii. 
One of the prettiest and freest flowering Dendrobiums 
is that here given. It was raised at Dr. Ainsworth’s, 
Lower Broughton, near Manchester, between D. aureum 
and D. nobile. Its flowering season is now in full 
swing, and forms a beautiful contrast to both its 
parents, as well as fine batches of D. YVardianum and 
D. crassinode, in the nurseries of Messrs. J. Laing & 
Sons, Forest Hill. The sepals and petals are white, as 
well as the apex of the lip, which has a large amethyst 
red disk occupying the greater part of its surface, and 
which is always characteristic of this species. 
CCELOGYNE HUMILIS. 
Popularly this is best known as Pleione humilis, and 
belongs to that section of the genus. It is an ex¬ 
ceedingly pretty species, and from its general appearance 
well merits the appellation of Indian Crocus, a name 
which is applied to the whole of the Pleione group. 
The species under notice is a native of the North Indian 
Alps, at an elevation of from 7,000 ft. to 8,000 ft. 
The sepals, petals, and lip are white. The latter organ 
is white and folded round the column, forming a tube, 
the interior of which is traversed with about half a 
dozen lines of curious white hairs, between which are 
lines of purplish crimson. The margin is also curiously 
fringed with white hairs. The pseudo-bulbs are bottle¬ 
shaped, green, and have the peculiarity of developing 
little bulbils at their apex in summer or after their 
leaves fall. Altogether it is a very distinct and 
charming little thing, and may be seen in the cool 
division of the Orchid house at Kew. 
Mesospinidium vulcanicum. 
There is no question that this is the best of all the 
species grown in gardens under the above name, but 
which are included in different genera by botanists. 
The flowers are the largest and brightest of any, and 
are made more conspicuous by being well carried up on 
an arching spike. They are of a rich carmine, with the 
side lobes of the lip paler, and the crest and column 
tinted lilac. In habit of growth it is precisely similar 
to that of an Odontoglossum, in which the species of 
Mesospinidium are included, according to the Genera 
Plantarum, but the flowers are, nevertheless, differently 
constructed. In cultural treatment it is not fastidious, 
and it merely requires the temperature given cool 
Odontoglossums. 
Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum radiatum. 
An uncommonly well-grown specimen of this Odonto- 
glot may be seen at Studley House, Hammersmith, in 
the splendid collection of F. G. Tautz, Esq. Two 
spikes are given off from one strong pseudo-bulb, 
measuring 3 ft. and 4 ft., bearing eighteen and twenty 
flowers respectively. The beauty of such a piece may 
be imagined when it can safely be stated that amongst 
the great number of varieties, sports, or natural hybrids 
of the species none of them are decidedly bad or worth¬ 
less in the same sense that many of the forms of O. 
crispum are, which have narrow-petalled starry flowers, 
and bad or undecided colours. In O. luteum-purpureum 
the blotches of the sepals, petals, and lip are the 
most prominent feature, and whether pale or dark, the 
plants are always deserving of the best cultivation. 
The crest of the variety under notice is a very con¬ 
spicuous feature of the lip on account of the number 
of finger-like fringes that radiate from it on all sides. 
Cypripedium Sallieri Hyeanum. 
The typical form of this hybrid, namely, Cypripedium 
Sallieri, was derived from C. villosum crossed with C. 
insigne, and is notable in having been raised in two 
different establishments—one in France, and more 
recently at Forest Farm, near Windsor. The same 
parents of course were used, and the seedlings proved 
identical. The variety C. S. Hyeanum is a great 
improvement, inasmuch as all the colours are paler, 
softer, more pleasant, and quite distinct. The apical 
portion of the standard is of a purer white, while the 
yellow ground colour of the petals and lip is suffused 
with pale brown. In the polished appearance of the 
flowers, as well as in the shape of the petals and lip, 
we have traces of C. villosum, the seed parent, and in 
the shape and rich spotting of the standard we can 
trace C. insigne, the pollen parent. The individual 
flowers are of large size, and are borne on scapes about 
6 ins. high. This beautiful variety may be seen in the 
collection at Studley House, Hammersmith. 
Odontoglossum Rossii rubescens. 
The flowers of this variety are noticeable for the large 
number of colours distributed over them. The sepals 
are heavily blotched or spotted with brown on a green 
and yellow ground, while the petals are much larger, 
white tinted with blush, and spotted with chestnut- 
brown at the base. The labellum is large, and white 
tinted with pink, while the curious somewhat cup¬ 
shaped disk is lemon, and the column is purple, making 
in all seven or eight distinct shades of colour. O. Rossii 
is one of the most easily-grown species, and good 
varieties like the present are always to be preferred to 
the more common kinds. It is flowering in the nur¬ 
series of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, at Forest Hill. 
Oncidium reflexum. 
A very fine form of this free-flowering Oncidium is now 
blooming with Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
The sepals and petals are reflexed, as the specific name 
implies, and heavily blotched with dark brown on a 
greenish yellow ground. The lip is large, golden 
yellow, and spotted with brown on the disk. Amongst 
the varieties of this plant in cultivation, many of which 
are hardly so distinct as to merit the appellation of 
varieties, being mere differences in the shade of colour, 
are several individuals like the present, which are 
greatly superior to the paler-coloured sorts. 
-->3=<s«- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Euphorbia fulgens (E. jacquiniieflora). —In order 
to obtain a stock for next seasons work a sufficient 
number of plants should be cut back and kept dry for 
a time, preparatory to putting them in heat with the 
object of getting cuttings. Those that are not required 
for this purpose may be allowed to grow on ; a con¬ 
siderable quantity of flowers will thus be produced by the 
side shoots which will prove useful for cut purposes. 
Put five or six cuttings into a 60-sized pot, and when 
rooted pot off singly. 
Bouvardias.— Those who took the precaution to 
get their cuttings in early will now have them rooted. 
Pot off at once, and replace in a close case in the 
propagating pit. "When the young plants have become 
established again, pinch the tops to induce a bushy 
habit from the first. Syringe or dew them over lightly 
in the morning and early afternoon of fine days. No 
time should now be lost by those who have not yet put 
in their cuttings, otherwise the season for growth will 
be very much curtailed, and large bushy subjects 
cannot be expected from one year old plants, which 
always give the largest and best flowers. 
Seedling Dahlias. —Those who depend upon 
seedlings for their annual display should lose no time 
in sowing the seeds, which may be done in boxes and 
placed in a pit or other warm place to induce a speedy 
germination. After the seedlings are sufficiently strong 
to handle, pot off and keep them growing with the 
object of getting strong plants by the time the planting 
season comes round. When so treated they will flower 
much earlier than if the seed sowing is delayed till 
later on. After becoming established in pots they 
must receive ventilation to prevent their becoming 
drawn and spindly. 
Chrysanthemums. —The earliest batch of cuttings 
that were inserted in autumn are now rooted, and 
should be potted off singly and given plenty of room, 
placing them on a shelf or other place near the glass, 
where they will receive plenty of light and be freely 
ventilated. Use a compost consisting of good yellow 
loam, a quantity of rotten manure and leaf-soiL 
Fumigate if necessary, to prevent green-fly becoming 
established in the crowns, otherwise their progress will 
be altogether unsatisfactory. 
Cinerarias. —The earliest batch is now well forward, 
and in some instances in full flower. When such is 
the case no more feeding will be required, and they 
will last longer in healthy condition by applying clear 
water only. By all means avoid crowding, otherwise 
the foliage will soon suffer permanent injury, on 
account of its thin membraneous texture. The 
weather continuing open, plenty of ventilation will 
keep them strong and healthy, and less liable to the 
attacks of green-fly, to which this class of plants is very 
subject, especially during the winter and early spring 
months. Pot on the latest batch as they require it, 
remembering that Cinerarias should neither be checked 
nor starved. 
THE fFORCING HOUSES. 
Peach Houses.— The trees in the early houses will 
now require to be carefully attended to in the matter 
of disbudding, so as to reserve their energy for the 
proper growth of the shoots that are wanted and for 
the fit development of the fruit. Thin away the weaker 
of the latter, making allowance for the dropping of a 
few, which is almost sure to take place at the stoning 
period. Maintain a genially moist atmosphere by 
placing water containing a little liquid manure in the 
evaporating troughs. This will prevent the increase of 
red-spider should it put in an appearance. A night 
temperature of from 55° to 60° will be quite sufficient 
for the present, and on frosty nights it may even be a 
little lower. Syringing should be done twice a day, 
and the paths well damped down. 
Melons. —The early sowing will now be gaining 
strength as the days lengthen, and if the seeds were sown 
singly in pots, as advised, no check will have been 
given them when they required a shift. When they 
have formed a few good leaves the house intended for 
their reception should be got ready, and the seedlings 
planted out immediately after the soil has had time to 
become heated to the same temperature as the house. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Rhubarb.— Where new plantations are intended to be 
made, the ground should be trenched, if that has not 
already been done, working in, at the same time, 
plenty of manure. Divide the old stools, using healthy 
young pieces where possible in preference to old and 
weak crowns. No leaves should be removed the first 
season, in order to admit of the plants making strong 
crowns. 
Digging. —All available strength should be utilised 
to have vacant ground dug up to receive the benefit of 
any frost that may occur, and be in readiness for 
planting and sowing later on. Celery may be lifted if 
in the way, and laid in a north-aspect border till 
required for use. 
-►>£<-- 
Gardeners’ Improyeieht Societies. 
Woolton, Liverpool. 
The inaugural meeting of this society, which is the 
outcome of a series of lectures on botany, delivered last 
year at Woolton, by Prof. Harvey Gibson, was held 
on Thursday, the 7 th inst. Mr. Holbrook Gaskell, 
Woolton Wood, who presided, said he felt very much 
honoured at being elected president of the newly-formed 
society, to which he wished a long period of success. 
He advised members to confine themselves strictly to 
the objects for which the society was founded, and to 
pursue them with singleness of purpose, and with 
seriousness and earnestness. There were two aspects of 
the study of horticulture—the practical and the scientific. 
He imagined they were all actuated by a desire to 
acquire some knowledge of the sciences connected with 
horticulture and agriculture. A man who was simply 
a handicraftsman could not take the same rank as one 
who brought scientific knowledge to bear upon his daily 
work. He therefore urged all, and particularly the 
young men, to aspire to the possession of a knowledge 
of those sciences that applied to gardening—chemistry 
and botany. They would find that to obtain that 
knowledge involved very hard work ; he would not be 
surprised if the result of their experience would be 
that work by the brain was harder than work by the 
hand. He hoped they would make their meetings as 
systematic as possible, and that at each meeting they 
would have a specific object in view, and would pursue 
it with earnestness. No man was too old to learn. 
Though verging upon eighty years of age, he felt he 
