248 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 19, 1891. 
and barred with purple. The plant under notice is 
characterised by its deep warm purple flowers, the 
decided colour telling greatly in their favour. The 
sepals are spathulate, and undulated or wavy, while 
the petals are broader, and obovate spathulate. The 
three-lobed lip is folded over the column forming a 
sort of tube as in a Cattleya ; the side lobes are 
rounded, wavy and deep purple ; the middle lobe is 
bifid, toothed and deep purple. The tube is rose- 
coloured outside, and white within, with five shallow 
ridges running along the middle. A branching 
scape, bearing fourteen flowers, was exhibited by 
Baron Schroder (gardener, Mr. Ballantine), The 
Dell, Egham, at the last meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on the 8th inst., when an 
Award of Merit was accorded it. 
Cymbidium pulcherrimum. 
The habit of this species is similar to C. pendulum, 
but the flowers are much more attractive and com¬ 
parable to those of some species of Crinum with 
regard to the distribution of the colours. The 
leathery leaves are narrowly .linear, deep, shining 
green, and i8in. to 20 in. long. The flower scape is 
pendulous as in C. pendulum, bearing a raceme of 
ten or more flowers according to the vigour of the 
plant. The sepals are lanceolate, and white with a 
rosy-purple midrib, the colour being equally well 
shown on both surfaces. The petals are shorter, but 
otherwise similar. The three-lobed lip has ovate 
lateral lobes striated on both surfaces with deep pur¬ 
ple and crimson on the edge. The middle lobe is 
ovate, recurved and blackish-crimson with a creamy- 
yellow, triangular blotch at its base, while the 
column is also blackish-crimson. A large plant was 
exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, 
at the Drill Hall, Westminster, on the 8th inst., when 
an Award of Merit was accorded it. 
Cypripedium Masereelianum. 
The upper sepal of this species is orbicular, of large 
size and white with a greenish patch at the base, and 
finely spotted with purple in the centre of the white. 
The petals are undulated on the upper edge, and 
yellow spotted with brown on the lower half, and 
tinted with brown on the upper half. The lip is 
more heavily suffused with brown on a yellow 
ground. Being of the same type as C. Leeanum, the 
parentage should be The same. The hybrid was 
exhibited by Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, 
Swanley, Kent, at the last meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on the 8ih inst., when an 
Award of Merit was accorded it. 
SOCIETIES. 
National Chrysanthemum, December gth and 10th .— 
The early winter exhibition—which has been sub¬ 
stituted by this society for the mid-winter one 
previously held at the Westminster Aquarium— 
showed a decided improvement both in the size and 
the quality of the blooms exhibited ; and the latter 
would no doubt have been better still provided 
the autumn and early winter had been drier. 
Cyclamens and Chinese Primulas were represented 
to some extent, but the Chrysanthemums were 
certainly the main feature of the exhibition, whereas 
such was.not the case last January. The first prize 
for a collection of Chrysanthemums in bunches was 
awarded to Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, 
Hither Green, Lewisham, who occupied the whole 
of one side of a table, setting up his bunches of 
flowers with their foliage, and interspersed through¬ 
out with Ferns and Palms. Some of his finer and 
larger blooms consisted of Etoile de Lyon, J. Stan- 
borough Dibbins, F. A. Spaulding, and Mrs. E. W. 
Clark. Mabel Carter and Alice Carter were very 
striking decorative kinds with slender thread-like 
florets. The second prize was awarded to Mr. W. 
Wells, Earlswood Nursery, Redhill, whose flowers 
were smaller because grown for market purposes. 
His collection consisted of Japanese, incurved, Pom¬ 
pon, and single varieties. The bunches lacked the 
effectiveness of the first group owing to the absence of 
Ferns or other foliage plants, but the flowers them¬ 
selves were fresh. Mr. F. Taylor, gardener to the Right 
Hon. Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., High Elms, Farn- 
borough, Kent, carried off the first prize for twenty- 
four bunches of Chrysanthemums, which were very 
fresh and of good size. Notable amongst them were 
Lady Lawrence, Gloriosum, Mrs. Forsyth, Pink 
Christine, Fleur de Marie, and Miss Margaret. The 
boxes were edged with Mahonia leaves. Mr Wells' 
was second, having fresh but smaller'blooms, some 
in boxes and some in glasses. Mr. T. Brown, gardener 
to Mrs. Waterlow, Reigate, was third. For 
twelve Chrysanthemum blooms of large-flowering 
varieties, Mr. C. J Salter, gardener to T. B. Hay¬ 
wood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, carried off 
the first prize with a very fine lot, including Pelican. 
W. W. Coles, Madame Dubrieul, W. G. Drover, Lady 
Lawrence, Thunberg, and C. Underwood, all of 
which were fine. Mr. C. Cox, The Grange, 
Brickendon, Herts, came in second, showing Mrs. 
H. Cannell, Etoile de Lyon, and W. G. Drover, in 
good condition. The third prize was awarded to 
Mr. H. Shoesmith, gardener to M. Hodgson, Esq., 
Shirley Cottage, Croydon, who also had a good ex¬ 
hibit. The latter carried off the first award for 
twelve blooms of Princess Teck or any of its sports, 
showing large and wonderfully neat specimens of 
Lady Dorothy, Princess Teck, Hero of Stoke New¬ 
ington, and Chas. Gibson. Mr. Peter Blair, The 
Gardens, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, was a good 
second with Lady Dorothy, Mrs. N. Davis, and 
Charles Gibson. Mr. W. G. Gilbert, gardener to 
B. le Neve Foster, Esq., was third with neat but 
smaller blooms. Mr. W. Wells had the best 
twenty-four bunches of Japanese blooms, which were 
well displayed with their foliage. Mr. J. Bridle, 
gardener to Falconer Jameson, Esq., Hessle, Hull, 
was second with shorter stems to his blooms ; and 
Mr. J. Brown was third. In the class for twelve 
bunches of Japanese blooms the competition was 
good, and Mr. W. Lane, gardener to Miss Smith, 
King’s Ride, Ascot, was first with fresh blooms of 
good average size. He was followed by Mr. C. J. Salter, 
who had a fresh lot of well displayed blooms with 
foliage; Mr. W. G. Gilbert was third. Mr. A. Newell, 
gardener to Sir Edwin Sanders, Fairlawn, Wimbledon 
Common, took the first award for six bunches of 
Japanese blooms ; Mr. W. A. Searing, Oak Lodge, 
Sevenoaks, being second ; and Miss R. Debenham, 
St. Peters, St. Albans, third. The first prize for 
a hall vase or epergne was taken by Mr. C. Ings, 
gardener to Sir Spencer Wells, Bart., Golders Hill, 
Hampstead, who had long stems to each flower set 
off with Asparagus foliage and dried grasses ; Mr. 
A. Newell was second, and Mr. W. A. Searing third. 
Mr. John May, Gordon Nursery, St. Margarets, 
Twickenham, was the only exhibitor of Cyclamens 
in the open class, and his group exhibited a good 
mixture of colours. Where nurserymen were ex¬ 
cluded, the first prize was awarded to Mr. David 
White, gardener to Mrs. Farnell Watson, Redlees, 
Isleworth. Mr. J. Bateman, gardener to Miss King, 
Southwood, Sydenham Hill, had the best twelve 
Chinese Primulas, but they were all of one variety, 
though well flowered; Mr. C. Ings was second, 
apparently with the same variety ; and Mr. A. Newell 
was third with smaller plants of several varieties. 
Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, were the 
only competitors for a collection of flowering, berried 
and foliage plants, showing Palms, Calanthes, 
Heaths, &c., very effectively. 
A considerable number of exhibits were shown in 
the miscellaneous class including a collection of 
Chrysanthemum blooms in bunches, well displayed 
on stands, and a group of Chinese Primulas from 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. Messrs. 
Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley, had a large 
group of Cypripediums set up with Palms, Cycads 
and Ferns, as well a collection of Chrysanthemum 
blooms including many seedlings. The firm was 
awarded one of the prizes offered by Mrs. Myers for 
seedlings. Mr. R. Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhead, exhi¬ 
bited a fine collections of Chrysanthmum blooms, and 
was awarded two of Mrs. Myers’ prizes for a seedling 
named Robert Owen, and another prize for another 
of his seedlings. (For certificates see under New 
and Rare Plants.) Messrs. Wm. Clibran & Son, 
Oldfield nurseries, Altrincham, had four stands of 
Chrysanthemnms and some in glasses. Mr. Norman 
Davis, Lilford Road Nurseries, Camberwell, had 
some stands of Chrysanthemums as grown for cut 
flowers, and they were in good condition. Some 
trained specimens of Chrysanthemums were shown 
by Mr. W. Wesker, gardener to A. Heaver, Esq., 
The Elms, Upper Tooting. Twelve very large 
blooms of Etoile de Lyon were show by Mr. J. 
Waldie, gardener to J. Bigwood, Esq., The Lawn, 
Twickenham. Three large and well-bloomed plants 
Epiphyllum truncatum were shown by Mr. A. 
Newell. Mr. G. Carpenter, gardener to Major Collis 
Browne, Broad Oaks, Byfleet, showed six fine blooms 
of Mrs. E. W. Clarke. Silver Medals were awarded 
to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, to Messrs. Pitcher & 
Manda, to Mr. R. Owen, and to. Messrs... C.libjan A 
Soft, for their exhibits, ; * . 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Foliage Plants for Christmas decoration.— 
Palms will be very much in request at Christmas 
time, and amongst those that are specially suitable 
for this purpose are Howea Forsteriana, H. Belmor- 
eana, H. australis, usually known as Kentias, also 
Cocos Wedelliana, Geonoma gracilis, Seaforthia 
elegans, Areca lutescens, and others of that graceful 
type. If the leaves are in any way tender by being 
grown in a hot and moist atmosphere they should be 
somewhat hardened in a cool and dry greenhouse for 
a few days. Dracaenas and Crotons of many kinds 
will also be found useful, as well as Aralias, Panda- 
nus, variegated Pineapple, and others of that class, 
all of which should receive similar preparation to the 
above. 
Poinsettias. — In view of the necessity of using 
pot plants of Poinsettias in dwelling houses at Christ¬ 
mas time, it will be desirable to transfer them from 
the stove to a cooler house for a few days, previous 
to taking them to the dwelling house. This treat¬ 
ment will give the bracts greater rigidity and firmness, 
and enable them to stand better in a dry, cool atmos¬ 
phere without flagging. If the present mild weather 
prevails, the plants will not suffer very much from 
cold for the time they are required indoors. 
Forced Bulbs. —Those who took the precaution 
to have a number of the early-flowering kinds of 
bulbs, including Roman Hyacinths, Due Van Thol 
Tulips, and Dutch Hyacinths potted up in autumn, 
will be able to have a good supply of them at Christ¬ 
mas time, without resorting to hard forcing. Their 
durability when removed from the forcing pit will all 
depend upon the degree of heat to which they have 
been subjected. As soon, therefore, as they are 
sufficiently forward they should be transferred into 
a cooler house where they can receive ventilation and 
get their tissues hardened before required fer use in 
dwelling houses. 
Agapanthus umbellatus. —Large pieces of this 
plant when getting too large for their pots may be 
pulled into two or four pieces according to re¬ 
quirements, and repotted, using good fibrous 
or turfy loam for the purpose. 
Liliums. — The consignments of imported bulbs 
should be potted up as soon as received, to prevent 
their wasting by getting dried up. Use a compost 
consisting of fibrous loam with a little peat and plenty 
of silver sand. No water will be required till the 
bulbs commence to grow, and previous to that the 
pots containing them may be stood in some cool 
place out of the reach of frost. 
Early Vinery. —With the mild weather whichha 3 
prevailed for some time past, little heat has really 
been necessary to keep up the requisite temperature, 
and the shoots will now be progressing favourably. 
The night temperature may be allowed to run up to 
650, when the bunches can be distinctly' seen, with a 
rise of 5 0 early in the day, to take advantage of the 
light. On bright days give ventilation when the 
temperature rises to 70°, doing it gradually so as not 
to admit a body of cold air all at once. Syringing 
the rods and foliage maybe continued till the bunches 
are on the point of expanding, after which they should 
be kept dry till the berries are set. 
Orange Trees. — Where the fruit is still green, 
the trees should be kept in a house with a night 
temperature of 65° ; but after it is ripe the trees may 
be stood in a house containing ripe grapes, where 
the temperature and the dry atmosphere will be 
suitable to their requirements, and the fruit will keep 
good for two months if so desired. 
Rhododendron Beds. — Where the practice of 
lightly digging over the soil is followed the work 
should be accomplished at once, so as to bury the 
fallen leaves of trees. A good plan also would be to 
spread a layer of partly decayed leaves over the 
surface before digging. In case it should not be con¬ 
sidered desirable to dig about the roots, the leaves 
should be raked off for the sake of neatness, and a 
good layer of decayed vegetable mould spread over 
the surface. 
Fruit Trees. — Push on the pruning of these with 
all convenient speed, as the mild weather is favour¬ 
able to the operation when it is sufficiently dry 
overhead to stand out of doors. Pear and Plum trees 
on walls, especially if old, frequently require a thin¬ 
ning out of the spurs so as to encourage a morevigi - 
rous growth of those that remain. Crowding is 
productive of weakness by the loliage in summer 
shading the wood and preventing its proper 
ripening, as v,:ell.ns the development of good wood, 
buds. 
