504 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 6, 1889. 
from 12 ft. to 15 ft. long, still growing, and will be 
worth seeing when in flower. Mr. Ewart, the gardener, 
is to be congratulated on growing the plants to such a 
high state of perfection.— R. C. Fraser. 
Cyrtopodium Saintlegerianum. 
In the genus to which this belongs, this species is 
notable for the wonderful development of the bracts all 
along the much-branched panicle of flowers, and which 
are as highly coloured as the flowers themselves, being 
in fact of the same colour. Something of the same 
thing is seen in C. punctatum, but not by any means 
to the same extent as in the species under notice, a 
fine specimen of which was exhibited by Mr. G. W. 
Cummins, gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, 
Wallington, Surrey, at a recent meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society. He has on former occasions 
exhibited equally well-grown specimens. The sepals, 
petals and bracts are yellow, transversely barred with 
brown, which varies in intensity in different individual 
plants. The lip is also coloured in the same way, but 
the markings differ in shape. The number of flowers 
produced on a well-grown plant is something remark¬ 
able, and must constitute a great strain on its energies 
if allowed to remain uncut for any length of time. 
Miltonia cuneata. 
The fine bold contrast between the lip and the other 
parts of the flower of this species should secure it a 
place more frequently in collections than it is at 
present. The flower spikes are erect or nearly so, with 
the flowers arranged in racemes. Both sepals and 
petals are of a rich, shining, chocolate-brown, tipped 
with yellow, and have a few slender transverse streaks 
of the same colour lower down. The lip is propor¬ 
tionately very large, obovate, wedge-shaped, and white, 
with the exception of the two-ridged crest, which is 
yellow spotted with purple, and a faint violet blotch on 
each side of this. There are several others similar in 
habit, such as M. Candida, M. Clowesii and others, but 
that here noticed is as showy as any. A specimen is 
flowering in the warm Orchid house at Kew. 
Pleione humilis. 
The colour of the markings on this beautiful species 
are very variable, and all are extremely pretty. The 
sepals and petals, as well as the ground colour of the 
lip, are white. The latter organ is also rendered curious 
and beautiful by the long fringes of the edges, as well 
as those along the centre of the same, forming several 
distinct lines of long white processes. On the side 
lobes, and also forming lines between the fringes, is a 
close arrangement of spots, which may be wholly of a 
tawny brown, wholly of a violet-purple or pale purple, 
or they may be partly one and partly the other in the 
same flower. The greater proportion of the spots on 
the plants we noted recently in the nursery of Messrs. 
Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, were tawny brown, but 
very pretty. 
Two Fine Dendrobiums. 
We have recently received some flowers of D. nobile 
Cooksonianum and D. Ainsworthii Leechianum, from 
Mr. Blair, gardener to the Duke of Sutherland, at 
Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent. The first men¬ 
tioned, as is now well known, shows peloria of the 
three inner segments of the perianth, that is, the two 
petals have become metamorphosed into lips—different 
indeed from the true one in not being so deeply 
hooded, but at the same time remarkable in showing 
the same amount and the same kind of colouring as 
the normal lip. They are also covered on the upper 
surface with a dense pubescence, but less conspicuously 
on the under surface, whereas the primary lip is 
distinctly pubescent on both surfaces. D. Ainsworthii 
Leechianum differs from the type in being larger in all 
its parts. The specimen sent bore evidence of Mr. 
Blair’s good cultural treatment, inasmuch as the cluster 
carried four large and equally well-developed flowers. 
The number of flowers borne in a cluster by plants 
belonging to this section of the genus, varies from one 
to three, therefore four is quite unusual. The lip is 
furnished with a large maroon-purple blotch, while the 
rest of the flower is white tinted with rose at the tips 
of the segments. 
The Priory, Isle of Wight. 
In the collection of Orchids formed by H. G. Smith, 
Esq., are many noteworthy subjects—viz., Vanda 
suavis, V. tricolor, V. Sanderiana, and V. gigantea, 
the latter being a splendid specimen with nine pairs of 
leaves and two fine racemes, one of which has fourteen 
flowers fully expanded, the other having nine. In the 
Odontoglossum section are many plants of superior 
merit, viz., 0. Alexandra, 0. Pescatorei, 0. Cervantesii, 
0. triumphans, 0. cordatum, and 0. Uro-Skinneri. 
The last named is an immense specimen, with thirty- 
one extraordinary large bulbs and two strong flower- 
spikes, carrying upwards of fifty large flowers of great 
size and substance. It may be interesting to know 
that this plant has not been without bloom for the past 
seven years. Amongst the Oncidiums were noted 0. 
concolor, 0. crispum, 0. Forbesii, 0. dasytyle, 0. 
ampliatum in spike, and 0. Marshallianum, in quantity, 
and which are now pushing up numerous spikes. The 
Dendrobe section is a very interesting one. There 
were emerging into bloom some flue examples of D. 
nobile over 4 ft. in diameter, and having hundreds of 
flowers—truly a glorious sight. A fine specimen of 
D. densiflorum is coming into bloom with thirty-two 
racemes. The Cattleyas in bloom were limited to a few 
C. Trianse, their season being past. There were 
numbers of Miltonias, Adas, and Sophronites, arranged 
very effectively, and adding a lustre to the whole. 
Cypripediums, the most popular of Orchids, are not 
grown extensively ; but it is only fair to say that what few 
there are look exceedingly well and do credit to Mr. 
John Earl, the enthusiastic gardener.— J. McNab. 
Ada aurantiaca. 
How is it that this very useful winter-flowering Orchid 
is so seldom seen in any quantity in collections 1 Some 
years ago, large specimens were to be found in several 
collections, but now it is rarely met with otherwise 
than in small pieces. It is of easy culture when 
treated properly, but many plants have been killed by 
being subjected to too high a temperature. It resents 
heat even more so than the cool-loving Odontoglossum 
crispum, in company with which it should be grown. 
In its native home it is found at an elevation of from 
8,000 ft. to 9,000 ft. I recently saw a fine plant in 
the collection of G. Gair, Esq., The Kilns, Falkirk, 
bearing twenty-four spikes. Evidently Mr. Fairbairn, 
the head gardener, gives it the proper treatment.— 
11. C. Fraser. 
Phal/enopsis Schilleriana. 
When grown and flowered well, this Orchid is a con¬ 
spicuous object during the winter months ; but when 
one has seen the wonderful examples of it grown by 
Mr. Searing, at Heaton House, Cheshunt, it takes 
something good to attract special attention. In the 
collection of Mr. Wilson, at Bantaskin, Falkirk, the 
other week, I saw some plants admirably grown, with 
spikes of from forty to sixty flowers. Instead of having 
them all together, as is usually done, Mr. Mitchell, the 
gardener, has them placed all over a Cattleya house, 
where a quantity of C. Triame was in bloom, and the 
effect was very pretty.— R. C. Fraser, Arddaroch. 
Lycaste Skinneri alba. 
We are in receipt of a fine specimen of this popular and 
desirable variety from Mr. Robert Twiss, Bird Hill 
House, Limerick. Having been in flower for a long 
period, it was somewhat past its best and had lost its 
pristine freshness, by the time we received it, but was 
nevertheless in fairly presentable condition. It 
measured somewhat over 5 ins. across the lateral sepals, 
and was therefore above the average for the white 
variety. All parts were of good size, and not only were 
the lip and the column white, except at the very base, 
but the tongue or crest was of a pale lemon-yellow. It 
might have been white on first expanding, but showed 
off the beard of hairs covering it to great advantage. 
In the coloured forms this is not readily discernible. 
Oncidium sarcodes. 
A PLANT of this showy Orchid is now in bloom at 
Broomhall Field, Sheffield, with two branching spikes, 
the largest of which is 6 ft. long, and bears sixty 
flowers. Is not this unusually fine?—/. IF. [Yes. 
-Ed.] 
-- 
W ITH great regret we have to record the death, on the 
morning of the 28th ult., of Mr. J. RrDOUT, gardener 
to T. B. Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate. 
Mr. Ridout, who was one of the best all-round gardeners 
of the day, a most successful cultivator of Orchids, 
Roses, Chrysanthemums and Carnations, as specialties, 
and who did everything else well that he took in hand, 
had been suffering for some time from kidney disease, 
and latterly from loss of sight in one eye. The previous 
evening, about eight o’clock, he slipped from his chair, 
remarking that he had lost the use of one side ; medical 
aid was at once summoned, but he never rallied, and 
died at 4 p.m. on Thursday morning. 
At Kennington, S.E., on the 1st inst., Margaret, 
relict of the late Mr. George Wynne, gardener, The 
Mount, Shrewsbury. Aged 76 years. 
TH E NURS ERY#SE ED TRADE. 
A Deal in Da again as. 
In the March number of the Bulletin d'Arboriculture 
some particulars are given of an interesting point of 
law that came up for decision recently before the Ghent 
Tribunal of Commerce. The question arose over a deal 
in Dracaenas between two Ghent nurserymen. One of 
them saw, in a plant house belonging to the other, a 
batch of plants of Dracaena neo-caledonica which were 
planted out, and bought a lot of them to the value of 
500 francs. The vendor, in accordance with what was 
described as the custom of the trade, detached the 
offsets from the plants before despatching them to their 
destination. Perceiving that this had been done the 
buyer refused to accept the plants, hence the action 
before the Tribunal of Commerce. Evidence having 
been given on both sides the court gave judgment in 
favour of the buyer, reducing the claim from 500 francs 
to 300 francs, and ordering the vendor, whose good 
faith was not questioned, to pay the costs. 
The Boap.d of Trade and Railway Rates. 
The president of the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce 
has received a letter from the Board of Trade, in reply 
to resolutions passed by that and kindred bodies in the 
town on the subject of railway rates, stating that the 
Board have decided it to be practically impossible to 
require railway companies to submit schedules of rates 
at present charged. Those rates, continued the letter, 
appeared to include rates charged for every article in a 
railway company’s classification of merchandise, from 
every station to every other station on the system of 
each company, and in the case of the larger companies 
such rates would number several millions. 
The Nursery and Seed Trade Association, 
Limited. 
At the special meeting held on Monday last, the reso¬ 
lution altering the date of the annual meeting to May 
instead of January was confirmed. A meeting of the 
committee of management was subsequently held, at 
which the officers were elected for the current year. 
Judgments.— March 28th, against H. May, Bedale, 
£2 9s. 2d. March 27th, against A. Fairall, Westerham, 
Kent, £2 5s. 6 d. A. Meikle, Bloomfield Road, Maida 
Hill, £1 13s. March 29th, Mrs. Wildey, Cosham, 
Hants, £61 16s. 5 d. 
Bankruptcy Proceedings. —At a meeting of the 
creditors of Mr. H. Stringer, at Brighton, Mr. 
Goodchild represented the principal creditors, but as 
the proofs of all the other creditors present were 
informal, the meeting was adjourned, there being no 
quorum. 
- *»*<* - 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Special attention is paid in the columns of The 
Gardening World to the answering of questions on 
all subjects connected with practical horticulture, and 
the naming of Plants (other than Florists’ Flowers) and 
Fruits, in which department the Editor is assisted by 
gardeners and specialists of great experience. 
Correspondents who may require their communica¬ 
tions, if not accepted, to be returned, must in all cases 
enclose stamps for the return postage. The name and 
address of every writer must be given, not necessarily 
for publication, if that is not desired, but simply as a 
guarantee of the writer’s bond fides. No notice what¬ 
ever will be taken of anonymous letters. 
Address Wanted. — J. T. F.: The address you require is 
16, Brook Street, Hanover Square, W. 
Antigonon leptopus. — Ponica: A stove climber, with rose- 
coloured flowers. It belongs to the natural order Polygonacete, 
and derives its name from Anti , against or opposite, and Gonia, 
an angle. 
Artificial Manures. — H. Benson: The chief ingredients of 
all good artificial manures are nitrates and phosphates, but to 
give you the information you require, if we understand your 
question rightly, would take up more space than we can devote 
to the subject. You had better get such a book as Warrington's 
Chemistry of the Farm (Bradbury, Agnew & Co ), or Johnson's 
How Crops Grow (Macmillan & Co.). 
Blue Primrose. —IP. Caudwell: The bloom you sent us is 
certainly an uncommon one, both from the fact of its being of 
the hose-in-hose kind, and from its peculiar colour. The calyx 
segments were nearly of the same size and colour as those of the 
corolla. There is a certain amount of blue in the flower, but it 
is more nearly akin to that seen in a double, dark-coloured 
violet. We think by a little improvement, which can be effected 
by seed sowing and selection, varieties might be derived from it 
that would be of considerable horticultural value. The upper 
surface of the flower, as we received it, was tinted with a slaty 
grey, except around the eye, which was very pretty. The under 
surface, as well as the calyx, showed a good deal of purple, so 
that we should describe the flower as a dark violet-purple, and 
hope you will improve upon it. 
