136 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 31, 1891, 
under the name of D. Massangeana, in which the 
variegation is chiefly confined to the centre of the 
leaf, but is never very good at any time. A good 
Stock of both varieties may be seen in the nurseries 
of Messrs, E. D. Shuttleworth & Co., Peckham 
Eye, and Mr. Iceton, at Putney. 
LILIUM WALLICHIANUM SUPERBUM. 
This very beautiful Lily is truly an acquisition, and 
will be generally sought after when it is more known. 
It was introduced from Upper Burmah by Messrs. 
Hugh Low & Co. some three or four years since, 
and I have plants now in flower which are greatly 
admired by all horticulturists who have seen them. 
My plants are about 3 ft. high and in full bloom, the 
growth resembling L.tigrinum with small bubils at the 
axils of the leaves as in L. tigrinum, so that with care 
it is readily propagated. The flowers resemble 
L. Harrisii in form, but more drooping and of a pale 
cream colour with a deeper cream throat, the outer 
side of the petals being flushed with a pale purple 
tint and is fragrant. This and other Liliums, es¬ 
pecially the speciosum varieties, and L. tigrinum 
splendens show up well now amongst Chrysanthe¬ 
mums and other plants in the conservatory,— 
Lilim, 
NICANDRA PHYSALOIDES. 
It would seem as if plants as well as people often 
went on a pilgrimage, for they may often be found 
thriving vigorously in countries far from their native 
home. The plant under notice is a native of Peru, 
from whence it was introduced to this country in 
1759. It has not, however, become very popular, 
being seldom found outside of botanic gardens. 
Under favourable conditions it attains great vigour 
with a sub-tropical appearance, as is the case with 
some plants in the garden of a correspondent, where 
the seedlings now stand about 4 ft. or 5 ft. high. The 
seeds were brought home by a traveller in the Holy 
Land, where he detected plants growing amongt 
others in the garden of Gethsemane. The leaves are 
ovate, ample, and coarsely toothed, and the plant 
commences flowering towards the end of summer, 
earlier or later according to the amount of rain and 
the consequent vigour of the stems. The large, droop¬ 
ing, bell-shaped blue flowers are chiefly produced 
on the upper part of the stem, and are surrounded 
by a a curious, inflated, five-parted calyx not unlike 
that of a Physalis. 
LOASA VOLCANICA. 
Few of the species of Eoasa are much grown in 
gardens, although some of their near allies are popular 
garden annuals, to wit, Mentzelia bartonioides, and a 
few others. Several of them, as well as the Blumen- 
bachias and Scyphanthus, are more or less showy, 
with singular looking flowers. Unfortunately they 
have the reputation of being stinging plants, but, 
although this is true, their stings are of a mild nature, 
even when compared with those of the common 
Nettle, and give pain for a short time only. Loasa 
volcanica is one of the most easy to grow, as well as 
one of the showiest. The leaves are tripartite, with 
coarsely serrate segments of a rich dark green. The 
flowers are still produced in great abundance from 
the axils of the upper leaves, and hang face down¬ 
wards, partly concealing one of their greatest 
peculiarities ; the petals themselves are boat-shaped, 
and white, concealing the numerous stamens in five 
bunches or bundles, but at the base and between them 
are five curiously shaped scarlet nectaries, tipped 
with golden-yellow, and giving a rayed or star-like 
appearance to the centre of the flower. The plant 
is also known under the name of L. Wallisii in 
gardens. 
POLYGONUM SPH7EROSTACHYUM. 
Choice and dwarf habited herbaceous plants that 
will flower into October while the garden and path¬ 
ways everywhere are being strewn with leaves and 
the wreck of vegetation, as a result of the equinoctial 
gales, are to be prized by the lovers of gardens. The 
plant under notice is a native of the Himalayas, from 
whence comes also the allied but /cry distinct look¬ 
ing P. affine. The flowering stems are 10 in. to 12 in. 
high, and terminated by a shortly oblong dense spike 
of dark rosy-purple flowers with black anthers. As 
the rootstock is not creeping, and increases very 
slowly, the species may be planted in a small pocket 
without fear of its overrunning its neighbours, as in 
the case of P. affine, otherwise known as P. Brunonis, 
and which requires a considerable amount of space 
to develop laterally, and show its true habit. 
Although a small pocket will suffice, the soil must be 
of good depth in order to allow the roots to go in 
quest of moisture. A flowering plant may be seen on 
the rockery at Kew, where it has been an object of 
beauty for weeks past. 
HIBISCUS SYRIACUS. 
In old fashioned gardens this shrub is best known 
under the old name of Althaea frutex, or shrubby 
Hollyhock. Its late flowering character, floriferous- 
ness and variety should make it more popular than 
it really is in British gardens at the present day. 
The flowering period is September and October, but 
in fine summers it may even commence in August, 
as it does in France where the climate is warmer, 
and where the Hibiscus in question is very extensively 
employed in the parks and public places. The shrub 
grows 6 ft. to 8 ft. high, but may be freely 
pruned in winter, thereby reducing its size to almost 
any requirement, as limited by the size of the garden 
and position. A very common custom on the Con¬ 
tinent is to prune it to a single stem and grow it as 
a half standard. It may be grown equally well or 
even better as a symmetrical bush 4 ft. or 5 ft. high. 
White and dark flowered varieties are dotted about 
in the shrubberies at Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
GEONOMA SEEMANNI. 
There are numerous species of Geonoma in gar¬ 
dens, but very few of them are grown outside of 
botanical establishments, G. gracilis being a striking 
exception. The plant under notice has pinnate 
leaves, but with much broader pinnae than the last 
named. Many of the Palms in a young state do not 
differ widely from one another in general appearance, 
and it is only after they get to some size that their 
characteristics can be determined except by those 
who are constantly amongst them and watch them 
closely. In a young state, however, this plant is very 
pretty, and would apparently stand much bad usage 
owing to the leathery character of the leaves. 
There are samples bearing from three to six leaves 
grown in long thumb pots in the Albert Nursery at 
256, Peckham Rye. 
PERMANENT WINDO.v PLANTS FOR MAN¬ 
CHESTER AND DISTRICT. 
Will Mr. James Percival or any other of your 
Lancashire correspondents give me the names of a 
few plants best adopted for growing in pots in win¬ 
dows in the smoky districts of Lancashire whkh lie 
around Manchester. By permanent plants I mean 
those which can be grown all the year round, and of 
an Evergreen character.— Enquirer. 
m ■» m 
BUSH FRUIT TREES 
RUINED. 
An admirable opportunity has recently been fur¬ 
nished for gardeners who have both Apple and Pear, 
bush or pyramid, trees on paradise and Quince 
stocks, to note how far sorts of these stocks sustain 
the trees under great wind pressure. When at 
Maiden Erleigh, near Reading, last week, I saw 
numerous trees, Apple and Pear, almost blown out 
of the ground, the root hold not being sufficiently 
deep to enable the trees to withstand the force of the 
gale. Of course the position was an exposed one, 
but all the same an interesting question is opened 
which merits attention. 
We are now so strongly urged to plant only dwarf 
bush or pyramid trees, that it is well to have a com¬ 
plete apprehension of all the merits as well as of all 
the defects incidental to such trees. Windy districts 
it may be suggested are best avoided when fruit 
trees are planted. That is of course excellent ad¬ 
vice, but cannot be always followed, as gardening 
must be done in all places and under all sorts of 
conditions. I think that the best young tree for 
such exposed places is the fan or espalier. I have 
frequently noted the great mobility of trees of this 
description in rough weather and how few fruits 
have fallen. 
I noticed at Maiden Erleigh that in a garden 
where the wind had torn the head of a big tree all 
to pieces, the well laden espaliers of Apples had not 
dropped a fruit. Perhaps the trees being thus 
trained are rather more costly at the first than are 
bushes or pyramid trees, but then they may be 
purchased young and be trained after being per¬ 
manently planted. Then there is extra cost for 
stakes or other means of support. Against these 
items may be set the almost regular cropping, the 
fine samples of fruit produced, their immunity from 
harm in stormy weather, facility for netting the 
trees to keep off birds, ease of mulching so that the 
fruits if they fall may not be injured, and great 
facility for gathering the fruit. Still farther, pruning 
is very easily performed. It is very evident that the 
espalier ought to be more generally employed in 
Apple and Pear culture.— X. 
t •» r 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS, 
The Stand Hall Collection. 
Mr. Statter’s collection at Whitefield, near Man¬ 
chester, is noted for the many fine things which it 
contains, and of which numerous specimens have 
been exhibited in London, gaining the highest awards 
either for excellence of variety or high culture. The 
rarest Laelias and Cattleyas known are to be found 
at Whitefield and in the best of health ; indeed, never 
have I had the pleasure of seeing a finer or more 
flourishing lot. The same may also be said of the 
Dendrobes, Odontoglots, and Cypripedes, and the 
grand lot of sheaths and spikes now being thrown up 
give promise of a long and lasting display. On Oct. 
24th, I noted eleven choice species and varieties 
of Cypripedium in bloom, Ccelogyne Cunninghami, 
five species of Cattleya, including C. Warocqueana, 
or the true old autumn labiata ; Dendrobium Stat- 
terianum, grand, and three other species; Lycaste 
Skinneri alba, the Stand Hall variety, a gigantic 
flower of the purest white ; Laelia Dayana, L. 
Dormaniana, with eighteen flowers ; L. Philbrickiana 
(x Acklandiae and elegans), a most beautiful hybrid ; 
several Oncidiums, Vanda ccerulea, many finely 
flowered plants, averaging fourteen flowers on a 
spike, and very beautiful; and Vanda Kimballiana, 
very beautiful, and a most welcome addition to the 
winter flowering section. Vanda Sanderiana is also 
well done at Stand Hall, several plants showing 
grand spikes; and of V. Amesiana the same may be 
said as of V. Kimballiana. 
The plants bought from the Messrs. Linden’s 
earliest importation of Cattleya Warocqueana have 
flowered, and include some very fine things. One of 
them just now in bloom is identical with the true 
old autumn labiata, and bears three spikes of three 
flowers each, and similar in every respect to the one 
noted last week as being in bloom at Highbury. One 
cannot help but admire the admirable way in which 
Orchid culture is conducted at Stand Hall, neither 
can one help sympathising with Mr. Statter in his 
illness, for he has been confined to his bed for a long 
time. His pets, however, are carried up to his room 
for his enjoyment. May such an enthusiast soon be 
able to take his pleasure under more favourable 
circumstances. A word of praise is also due to Mr. 
Johnson, who is not only a first-rate cultivator but 
delights in giving information as to his modes of 
culture.— Rusticus. 
RenantheraJ. Rohaniana. 
This remarkable Orchid is closely allied to R. 
Lowii, variously named Vanda Lowii and Arach- 
nanthe Lowii. Both are extremely interesting and 
very remarkable for their dimorphic flowers. In 
the case of R. Lowii only two of the lowest flowers 
on the raceme are different from the rest, but in 
R. Rohaniana under notice four of the lower flowers 
are in this condition. The sepals and petals are 
spreading, flattened, revolute at the tips and of a 
bright orange-yellow, closely spotted with purplish 
black. The three-lobed lip is small and finely 
spotted with red on a white ground. The sepals 
and petals of all the other flowers, which are very 
numerous, are much undulated or wavy, with large 
irregularly-shaped blood-red blotches on a white 
ground. Both kinds are beautifully illustrated in 
the Orchid Album, PI. 435. 
Thrixspermum Berkeleyl. 
Most of the species of this genus which appear in 
cultivation have relatively small flowers, so that 
those of T. Berkeleyi, seeing that they measure 1 in. 
to i£ in. across, must be regarded as exceptionally 
large. They are creamy white, with the base of the 
lip stained with mauve. The lip has a long, narrow 
pouch or sac, giving the structural aspect of the 
flowers a curious appearance. The leaves are 
leathery and of a dark green hue not unlike those of 
some species of Phalaenopsis but narrower. The 
flowers are numerously produced on a long drooping 
