October 31, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
131 
raceme, and the plant is altogether well adapted 
for culture in small baskets in the East India House. 
There is a figure in the Orchid Album, PI. 436. 
Odontoglossum Rossii albens. 
The varieties of O. Rossii in cultivation are now 
very numerous. That under notice is characterised 
by the white ground colour of all parts of the 
flower, giving it a peculiarly chaste appearance. 
The sepals are transversely banded with soft green, 
while the petals are pure white with the exception 
of a few pale greenish blotches at the base. The 
crest only of the tip is yellow, the rest being pure 
white. The green blotches being suffused with 
yellow they present a pleasing pale tawny hue, as 
may be seen by reference to the Orchid Album, PI. 
434 - 
Trichocentrum albo-purpureum. 
The flowers of this Orchid possess a distinctness 
quite their own, owing to the widely contrasted and 
curious assemblage of colours. The sepals and 
petals are of a light shining brown with yellow tips. 
The lip adheres for a little way to the base of the 
column, but otherwise stands out boldly from the 
rest of the flower and is obversely heart-shaped, 
tapering at the base into a short and broad claw. 
The claw and basal portion are purple with some 
shallow radiating ridges after the manner of a Mil- 
tonia ; the upper portion around the sinus is pure 
white and extends down in the form of a claw ; in 
fact the whole of the white blotch resembles a small 
lip of the same shape but of a different colour laid 
on the top of the first. The plant has no pseudo¬ 
bulbs, but broadly lanceolate leathery leaves, of a 
deep green and only 3 in to 4 in. long. In habit it 
may therefore be compared with Oncidium pumilum, 
and would form an interesting subject for basket 
culture. The flowers are large relatively to the size 
of the plant. 
Oncidium cheirophorum. 
Size is not essential to beauty, nor rich colours 
either, for the Orchid under notice possesses a quiet 
beauty of its own, and a strong but agreeable odour 
which is almost as lasting as the flowers themselves. 
The whole plant is only 4 in. to 6 in. high, with 
panicles of numerous flowers many times larger than 
those of O. pumilum. The sepals and petals are 
yellow slightly tinted with green, but as they are re¬ 
flexed, the three-lobed lip is brought into greater 
prominence, and this is bright yellow with a bold 
three-lobed crest, the middle lobe of which is white. 
The ovoid pseudobulbs are very small and furnished 
with lanceolate leaves several times shorter than the 
scapes. It is admirably adapted for basket culture, 
and those who like to see their flowers growing on 
the plants in preference to cutting them would find 
much to admire in this dwarf but neat habited, 
fragrant and endurable species. 
Cypripedium Harrisianum. 
Is it a common occurrence for this Cypripede to 
produce two flowers on a spike ? I have a plant, 
grown on from a small piece, which has produced 
eleven scapes, six of which bore two flowers each. 
I never knew it to produce two flowers on a scape 
before.— John Proctor, Devanha. House Gardens, 
Aberdeen. — [Not an uncommon occurrence as the 
result of good cultivation.— Ed.] 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, October 27 th. —The principal 
features of the meeting on Tuesday last were the 
collections of cut specimens of ornamental trees and 
shrubs showing their varied autumn tints, and 
brought up to illustrate the afternoon lecture 
by Mr. H. J. Veitch, Chrysanthemums were 
also in some force, and fruits, especially hardy 
kinds, were in great abundance. Orchids were 
also noteworthy. A number of prizes were offered 
for exhibits of Apples, Pears, and Grapes by 
amateurs. The first prize for six bunches of 
Grapes was awarded to Mr. G. Reynolds, gar¬ 
dener to the Messrs, de Rothschild, Gunnersbury 
Park, Acton. He also took the first prize for a 
similar number of bunches for flavour. In the class 
for four dishes of dessert and six dishes of cooking 
Apples the first prize was awarded to G. H. Sage, 
gardener to the Earl of Dysart, Ham House, Rich¬ 
mond. The first prize for six dishes of Pears was 
awarded to Mr. James Hudson, gardener to the 
Messrs, de Rothschild, Gunnersbury House, Acton. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to E. C. 
Smith, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Quarterman), Silver- 
mere, Cobham, for a splendid collection of 
Oaks, a few Maples, and other subjects as well 
as Toadstools, some of which were richly 
coloured. A Silver Flora Medal was awarded 
to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a rich 
and varied collection of trees and shrubs, 
showing a great range of colour both in foliage and 
fruit. A Bronze Banksian Medal was awarded to 
Messrs. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, for a smaller 
collection of Oaks and other trees and shrubs show¬ 
ing their peculiar tints. They also exhibited a col¬ 
lection of Pernettyas in fruit. A similar award was 
made to Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to the Duke of 
Northumberland, Syon House, for a collection of 
Oaks, Liquidambar, Deciduous Cypress, &c. A rich 
and varied collection of Oaks, Japan Maples, Ber- 
beris, Purple Hazel, Hornbeam, &c., was shown by 
R. S. Holford, Esq., Weston Birt, Tetbury, who 
received a Silver Banksian Medal for the exhibit. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons exhibited a large group of 
Chrysanthemums representing the leading types, 
for which they were awarded a Silver Banksian 
Medal. Some new varieties of Chrysanthemums 
were shown by Mr. H. J. Jones, Hither Green, 
Lewisham. A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded 
to Mr. George Wythes for a collection of cut flowers 
of Chrysanthemums set up with their foliage and 
backed up with graceful Palms. Some Chrysan¬ 
themum blooms were shown by Mr. T. S. Ware, 
Tottenham. A collection of cut flowers of Chrysan¬ 
themums, chiefly Japanese and Pompons, in fine 
form, was staged by Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead. 
A group of Oncidiums, set up with Maidenhair 
Ferns, was shown by Messrs. Collins & Collins, 
Willesden Junction, for which a Silver Banksian 
Medal was awarded. A group of Orchids, including 
Lissochilus Krebrii, Dendrobium O'Brienianum, and 
Cattleyas, was shown by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., 
St. Albans, for which a Bronze Banksian Medal was 
awarded. Small lots of Orchids were also shoiVn 
by Mr. H. A. Tracey, Twickenham; C. J. Lucas, 
Esq., Warnham Court, Horsham; C. Ingram, Esq., 
Elstead House, Godaiming, who had some fine 
Cattleyas; also by Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hex- 
table, Swanley ; Admiral Cator, Hazelwood, King’s 
Langley ; F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen; 
and by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Hollo¬ 
way. 
At 'a meeting of the Fruit Committee a Silver 
Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. Geo. Wythes 
for eighty dishes of Apples and Pears. A similar 
award was made to Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, 
for a large collection of Apples. Mr. G. Woodward, 
Barham Court, Maidstone, received a Silver-Gilt 
Banksian Medal for a large collection of remarkably 
well grown Apples and Pears. A Bronze Banksian 
Medal was awarded to Messrs. John Peed & Sons, 
Mitcham Road, Streatham, for a collection of clean¬ 
skinned fruits of Apples. A large collection of 
Apples and Pears was brought up from the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick. A Sil¬ 
ver-Gilt Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, for a magnificent collection of Apples 
and Pears, as well as sprays of Raspberries in full 
fruit. 
- ♦ m 
IHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Temperature of the Stove. —November is 
usually the dullest month of the year, and that upon 
which we are now about to enter promises to be no 
better than its forerunners. If the external temper¬ 
ature is not particularly low, the air is generally 
constantly humid and the light is weak. 
The temperature of the stove must therefore be 
lowered in order to prevent any undue excitement of 
the plants, for growth at this season cannot under 
ordinary circumstances be productive of much good. 
A minimum night temperature of 6o Q will be quite 
sufficient, and such heat-loving subjects as 
Nepenthes should be placed at the warmest end of 
the house. Water only those plants which abso¬ 
lutely require it. 
Climbers. —While climbing plants were flowering 
it was difficult or impossible to keep them clean, and 
being above the eye or out of sight, mealy bug and 
scale generally increase to an alarming extent, which 
is not only bad for the climbers themselves, but for 
everything growing beneath them. All those which 
have done flowering and which flower on the wood 
of the current season should have all the spores cut 
away which are not absolutely wanted to cover the 
roof. These would include Allamandas, Bourgain- 
villeas, Clerodendrons, &c. Bignonias, Toxico- 
phlaeas and others which flower on the old wood 
must only receive a judicious ihinning out where 
necessary. Then all those whose stems are nearly 
leafless or that have hard foliage should receive a good 
syringing with paraffin and water at the rate of a 
wine-glassfull of the former to two or three gallons 
of the latter, or four gallons in the case of tender 
foliage, keeping the mixture well stirred all the time. 
Remove other plants from beneath the climbers so 
treated. 
The Greenhouse.— Damp will have to be 
guarded against during this month by raising the 
temperature of the hot-water pipes in the morning 
and encouraging a circulation of air. The watering 
of Chrysanthemums must be done in the morning, 
and no plant allowed to suffer by getting dry during 
the flowering season. Camellias and Oranges, if 
very dirty, should be removed to a house and cleaned, 
so as to avoid unnecessary and undue moisture in 
the house. 
Auriculas.— The plants should now be housed for 
the winter, whether in pits or properly constructed 
and ventilated frames. See that the drainage is good, 
as it often happens that worms get in the pots and 
stop up the bottom, thereby preventing the escape of 
water. The roots soon get into an unhealthy state 
and die, so that few flowers can be expected from 
them in spring. 
Vineries. —The night temperature of Vineries 
where fruit is hanging must not be allowed to fall 
below 45 0 , especially if at all cold outside, 
otherwise there will be a deposition of moisture 
on the Grapes. The earliest house, where Grapes 
are required to be ripe in April, should be closed 
about the beginning of November. As a higher 
temperature is necessary to start the vines into 
vegetative growth at this season of the year than in 
spring, the house will have to be kept at 45 0 to 50° 
by night the first week, and from 55° to 6o° by day. 
Cucumbers. —Plants of the sowing made about 
the beginning of August should now be in full bearing. 
They should not be cropped very heavily at this 
season of the year, and all fruits should be removed 
as soon as fit for use. While the weather remains 
mild it will not be difficult to keep up a temperature 
of 65° at night. Watering had better be done in the 
morning so that all superfluous moisture may be got 
rid of during the day. Very little or no syringing 
will now be necessary, as a sufficient amount of at¬ 
mospheric moisture may be kept up by sprinkling 
the paths and pipes, unless we get a spell of 
unusually dry and bright weather. 
Strawberry Plants for Forcing. —The situa¬ 
tion selected for storing the plants in pots should be 
sheltered but well exposed to light, with a southern 
exposure. The ground should have efficient drain¬ 
age, so that all surface water may readily drain 
away, leaving the roots in sufficiently dry medium 
so as to ensure their proper aeration and healthy 
action. Plunge the pots in sifted coal ashes up to 
the rim. 
Raspberries. —The old canes may now be cut 
clean away to allow a free play of light and air about 
the young ones which are left. Five or six according 
to their strength will be quite sufficient of the young 
canes to leave if they are to be tied to poles ; but if 
trained on wires, more will be required to cover the 
space at command. Suckers which were left for the 
object of making young plantations may be trans¬ 
planted as soon as the ground is ready for them. 
Unless there is danger of the canes being broken by 
high winds, they had better be left untied until the 
leaves fall. 
Root Pruning Fruit Trees. —Where this can 
be done at once better results will follow than 
leaving the operation till spring, particularly if the 
soil is unusually dry as was the case during last 
winter and spring. The roots are now in active 
growth, and the trees will soon get established while 
the soil is yet warm. In the case of small trees of 
Apples on the Paradise stock and Pears on the 
Quince, lifting and replanting is all that is usually 
actually necessary. 
•-- 
Quesnons add Ansiuem 
Slug with Small Shell. — D. H. : The slug you 
sent us is pretty frequently met with in heavy loam 
or clayey soil. The scientific name of it is Testa- 
cella halotidea. It is more frequent than is generally 
supposed, as it burrows in the soil and lies hidden, 
at least during the day. As it feeds on other slugs, 
worms, etc., you should protect rather than destroy 
or injure it in any way. 
Leaving at the Term. — Ne Plus Ultra: No 
doubt it is a very unpleasant experience to be thrown 
out at the November term without the prospect oj 
