April 27, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
551 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
Ccglogyne cristata and its varieties, having had a 
short rest since flowering, are now commencing to grow, 
and if it is absolutely necessary to give any of them 
more root room, the present is a very convenient time ; 
but it must be borne in mind that they dislike pulling 
about, and when thoroughly broken up and re-potted 
they take a couple of seasons to become well re-estab¬ 
lished so as to flower as freely as before. Small plants 
which are much pot-bound will be greatly benefited by 
giving them a shift without disturbing them. Lycaste 
Skinneri may now be potted if the young growths are 
pushing. We use nothing but rough leaf-soil to grow 
ours in, and leave plenty of room for water, as we find 
they do well in it, and are potted annually about this 
time. They will thrive well in peat and sphagnum, or 
in the former alone, the main points being good 
drainage and copious waterings while in active growth. 
The young growths are very liable to be infested with 
green-fly, and as the plants dislike fumigating, the best 
plan is to keep them clean by dipping into tobacco- 
water made weak, afterwards laying them on their 
sides to drain. 
Odontoglossum Rossii majus, 0. aspersum, 0. Hum- 
eanum, 0. blandum, and 0. ntevium majus may also 
have larger pans or baskets if they require it, using 
good peat and sphagnum ; and here I would mention 
the advantage of washing the sphagnum, after the 
rubbish has been picked out, in warm water. I am 
convinced that we have been very much more free from 
slugs, both small and great, since we adopted the plan 
of washing our sphagnum thoroughly in water at a 
temperature of 120° or 130°. It is useless to try to 
keep slugs down if a fresh batch are introduced in the 
moss. Some of the varieties of Dendrobiums which are 
later in flowering will require attention as they go out of 
flower, and this is a good time for a general look round 
at the various odds and ends which may require re¬ 
potting, and which have been put on one side through 
pressure of work caused by potting a quantity of things 
in early spring. 
Oncidium tigrinum, having enjoyed a five months’ 
rest, with Odontoglossum grande, 0. Insleayi, 0. I. 
splendens, and 0.1. Leopardinum, is now on the move, 
but must be watered sparingly for a week or two. 
They greatly benefit by a long drought. After the 
bulbs are thoroughly finished keep them at the coolest 
end of the Cattleya-house, or warmest end of the cool- 
house, which with us are about the same. 
Pilumna fragrans and P. nobilis, two very useful 
plants for flowering in early spring, well repay a little 
attention being bestowed on them, and really are much 
prized by many amateurs, as they are easily grown, and 
seldom fail to flower. — JV. P. 
Cattleya Mendelii, Arddarroch variety. 
A plant was shown bj 7 Mr. R. C. Fraser, gardener to 
R. B. 'White, Esq., Arddarroch, Grerlockhead, at a 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday 
last, when it was awarded a First Class Certificate from 
the Orchid Committee. The sepals are spreading and 
white, while the broad petals stand nearly erect, are 
pure white with a faint tint of blush at the base, and 
beautifully crisped and undulated at the margin. The 
lip is large, well expanded, richly crisped round the 
margin, and pure white with a pale yellow blotch in 
the throat, and striated with orange lines. The variety 
is very much akin to C. M. Bluntii, and was shown 
under that name. 
Cypripedium nitidissimum. 
In general appearance this hybrid resembles C. grande, 
but the structure is considerably different. It was 
obtained by crossing C. caudatum with C. conchiferum, 
itself a hybrid. The sepals are large and yellowish, 
reticulated with brown. The petals are rosy, greenish 
towards the base, and droop almost perpendicularly 
downwards to the length of 1 ft. The lip is very large, 
and resembles the male parent in shape, while it is of 
a straw-yellow, closely reticulated with brown. The 
leaves are of great sfte like those of C. grande, and of 
a deep shining green. A plant was exhibited by 
Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne, 
at the DrillHall, Westminster, on Tuesday last, when a 
First Class Certificate was awarded by the Orchid 
Committee. 
Oncidium concolor. 
A very fine variety of this showy species has been 
flowering lately in the collection of Mr. P. McArthur, 
of Maida Yale. The plant, a small one, was imported 
with Oncidium Marshallianum, and bore a spike of five 
flowers of about three times the size of ordinary forms 
of 0. concolor, and exceedingly pure and bright in 
colour. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Aroids.— Every encouragement should be given to 
the fine-leaved Alocasias, such as A. Thibautiana, A. 
Yeitchii, A. Lowii, A. metallica, and others, as well as 
to Anthurium crystallinum, A. Veitchii, and A. 
Warocqueanum, so as to get as fine a development of 
the foliage as possible in the early part of the season. 
A high temperature with a moist atmosphere can with 
safety he given now ; and the third condition—namely, 
plenty of light—we may reasonably expect at no 
distant date, although for some time past sunshine has 
been an exceedingly scarce commodity. The plants 
named require shading in bright weather, so that the 
want of sunshine for these at present need not be 
much deplored. Later on, however, when the leaves 
are attaining a good size, stronger light would he a 
great advantage to consolidate the leaves, and make 
them more durable for next autumn and winter. 
Whenever flower-spathes make their appearance have 
them removed at once, as they draw a large amount of 
nourishment from the reserve stores of the plant, and 
greatly interfere with a free and vigorous development 
of the foliage. Encourage a free development of the 
fleshy roots by copious supplies of water. 
Poinsettias. —If the prunings of Poinsettias were 
preserved when the old plants were headed down, and 
then placed in coco-nut fibre in the propagating-house, 
they will now furnish cuttings for an early batch of 
plants. These will require somewhat different treat¬ 
ment from that usually given to cuttings inserted later 
on. The tops may be once stopped, which will favour 
the development of two or three shoots, furnishing the 
same number of heads of bracts, which can hardly be 
expected to attain the same size as those from single¬ 
stemmed plants, but the combined effect of a group of 
such plants is very effective. For a similar reason 
many cultivators preserve the old plants, which they 
head well down and grow on again. Such plants 
must not he allowed to become pot-bound till placed 
in their flowering pots. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Calceolarias.— Attend to these now in the matter 
of watering, ventilation, and a proper exposure to 
light. During bright sunshine, however, a little 
shading is advantageous, and enables the plants to be 
kept a much greater length of time in good condition. 
Their soft, watery, quick-growing leaves soon get 
spoiled if the plants are crowded. Fumigate on the 
slightest appearance of green-fly, or as a preventive do 
so before the flowers expand. 
Chrysanthemums. —During the day the lights of 
the frames containing the young plants should be 
entirely taken off, so as to keep the plants dwarf and 
sturdy. If any are yet in very small pots they should 
be shifted on without delay. During sunless weather 
they do not require a great amount of water, but even 
then they must not be neglected in that respect, 
otherwise they will lose their lower leaves. 
Primulas and Cinerarias.— Pot on an early 
batch of Primulas, and stand the plants in a cold 
frame on a bottom of ashes. For winter flowering 
another sowing of seed may be made. A sowing of 
Cinerarias may also be made, and afterwards treated in 
the same way as Primulas ; they will come in for late 
autumn flowering. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Muscat Vines. —Attend to the thinning of Muscats 
at an early date—that is, as soon as it can be seen which 
of the berries have set best. This will soon be 
indicated when the Vines are kept in a free, vigorous 
and healthy-growing condition, by the larger size of 
the best berries. It can be more expeditiously done in 
the early stages, and with less danger of rubbing the 
berries with the scissors in the operation. No en¬ 
couragement should be given to the looping up of the 
shoulders of the bunches, as it spoils their appearance 
when cut and brought to table. Close the house 
early, damping down freely, especially in bright weather. 
Peaches. —As soon as the fruits have got over the 
stoning period (which will of course depend upon the 
time forcing was commenced), the temperature may be 
allowed to run up to 80° or 85°, with sun-heat at closing 
time. Syringe freely, and keep the trees well supplied 
with moisture at the roots. Liquid manure may also 
bo given more freely and stronger than on previous 
occasions. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Celery. —The first batch should now be well advanced, 
and may be hardened off with a full exposure 
preparatory to planting out. Two methods are 
practised in the planting of this useful vegetable. The 
old system is to plant in trenches, which should now 
be dug out 4 ft. from centre to centre, piling up the 
soil on each side. The trenches should run north and 
south, so as to give the plants the advantage of an 
equal amount of sunshine. A rather newer method, 
which is largely practised in market gardens with good 
results, is to plant on the level ground that has been 
previously well manured and otherwise prepared for the 
reception of the plants, so as to encourage a vigorous 
growth. 
-—>X-<-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
-- 
National Auricula Society (Southern 
Section). 
Notwithstanding the untoward character of the 
season, the annual exhibition of this society, held on 
Tuesday in the Drill Hall, Victoria Street, was an 
exceedingly good one, and far exceeded the expectations 
of the most sanguine growers. It is true we missed the 
familiar names among the exhibitors of several of the 
northern enthusiasts in Auricula culture, who have 
generally given the show their support, but this was 
entirely owing to the lateness of the season, and not 
from any falling off in their regard for the society. 
Mr. Barlow, Mr. Bolton, Mr. Ben Simonite, and others 
were unable to show a plant; but the Rev. F. D. 
Horner was again to the fore, securing the highest 
award in the class for a dozen show varieties, and 
several minor prizes in other competitions. The great 
features of the display were the successes of the 
“Reading men,” a small band of enthusiastic florists 
who have been working hard for several years to obtain 
a leading position; and the unusually fine sho v of 
gold-laced and fancy Polyanthuses and Primroses, 
which were staged in greater numbers and in a higher 
state of perfection than we have seen them for several 
years. There was a strong muster of Auricula growers 
in the afternoon, Mr. Horner and Mr. Simonite repre¬ 
senting the northern division, and the former had the 
largest audience of the season to hear his admirable 
paper on his favourite flower at the afternoon meeting. 
At mid-day the exhibitors and other friends of the 
society took luncheon together at the 'Windsor Hotel, 
Mr. Shirley Hibberd presiding in his usual genial 
manner. 
Prize List. 
Show Auriculas.— Twelve dissimilarFirst, The 
Rev. F. D. Horner, Burton-in-Lonsdale, with Daisy 
(Horner), a fine large plum-purple self; Nonsuch 
(Homer), green-edged; Melaine (Horner), black self; 
Reliance (Mellor), white-edged; George Lightbody 
(Headley), green-edged; Dimple (Horner), a grand 
dark purple self; Magpie (Horner), white-edged; 
Rev. F. D. Horner (Simonite), green-edged ; Heroine 
(Horner), self ; Green Plover (Horner), green-edged ; 
Ebony (Horner), blue-black self; and Nigella (Horner), 
grey edged. Second, Mr. T. B. Henwood, Hamilton 
Road, Reading ; third, Mr. James Douglas, gardener 
to Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford ; fourth, Mr. 
A. J. Sanders, gardener to Viscountess Chewton, 
Bookham Lodge, Cobham. Six dissimilar :—First, 
Mr. T. E. Henwood with Smiling Beauty (Heap) ; 
Rev. F. D. Horner (Simonite) ; Heroine (Horner) ; 
George Lightbody (Headley); Lancashire Hero (Lanca¬ 
shire) ; and Mr. Potts (Barlow), a lovely plum-purple 
self. Second, Mr. Douglas; third, Rev. F. D. Horner; 
fourth, Mr. A. J. Sanders. Four dissimilar :—First, 
Mr. W. L. Walker, Earley, Reading, with Black 
Bess (Woodhead), self ; Dr. Horner, grey-edged ; 
Rev. F. D. Horner (Simonite), green-edged; and 
Acme (Read), white-edged. Second, Mr. C. Phillips, 
Hamilton Road, Reading ; third, Mr. R. Patterson, 
Ashburn Gardens, Sunderland ; fourth, Mr. E. Adams, 
Queen’s Road, Swalwell ; and fifth, Mr. J. F. Kew, 
London Road, Southend. Two dissimilar : First, Mr. 
C. Phillips with Dr. Kidd (Douglas), grey-edged, and 
Black Bess (Woodhead), self ; second, Mr. E. Adams ; 
third, Mr. W. L. Walker ; fourth, Mr. R. Patterson ; 
fifth, Mr. R. Dean, Ealing. Single specimens, green- 
edged : First, the Rev. F. D. Horner ; second, Mr. 
Douglas ; third, Mr. Henwood ; fourth, Mr. Phillips, 
with the Rev. F. D. Horner (Simonite) ; fifth, Mr. 
Douglas, with Abbe Lizst; sixth, Mr. Henwood, with 
Col. Taylor (Leigh) ; seventh, Mr. Phillips, with 
G. Lightbody (Headley) ; and eighth, the Rev. F. D. 
Horner with his namesake. Grey-edged : First, Mr. 
