440 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 12, 1892. 
the foliage. Grown in pots it makes a very useful 
plant for autumn flowering in the greenhouse. And 
it strikes very freely from cuttings of the half- 
ripened wood put in in the autumn. C. Dixon, 
Holland House, Kensington. 
ANEMONE BLANDA. 
Though generally considered a distinct species in 
gardens, this is only a form of A. apennina, differing 
in flowering earlier in the spring and in having 
darker flowers ; but in the latter respect it varies, 
for the flowers are sometimes of a deep blue shaded 
with purple externally, and sometimes of a light blue 
washed with white at the base internally. The 
sepals vary in number from fourteen to sixteen and 
are oblong and narrow compared with those even of 
A. nemorosa,which are broader but only half the num¬ 
ber or even less. The feathery, finely divided leaves 
also tell in the favour of this plant as an ornamental 
subject for the rockery during the spring months. 
It does well when grown in a loose open soil kept 
cool and moist by means of leaf soil. Should the 
weather be very mild in February it will come into 
bloom then, but in seasons like the present not till 
March. 
;hardiness of solanum jasminoides. 
A small plant of this species was planted out 
against a south wall here in the spring of 1890. It 
reached the top of the wall (12 ft.), covering a space 
4 ft. wide before the end of the season and flowered 
profusely during the summer and autumn months, 
but got killed to the ground during the severe winter 
of last year, although protected with mats and dry 
litter. It started to grow again from the root late in 
the spring and reached the top of the wall again be¬ 
fore the end of the season, but it did not cover so 
wide a space, neither did it flower so freely as in the 
previous summer. No doubt that was partly owing 
to the cold wet season. How it has fared during the 
present winter I am unable to say, as it is still 
covered up.— C. Dixon, Holland House, Kensington. 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, March 8th— Notwithstanding 
the piercingly cold weather on Tuesday last there 
was a good display at the meeting, consisting chiefly 
of Orchids, New Holland plants, Camellia blooms, 
and forced bulbs such as Hyacinths, Tulips, Daflo- 
dils, Lily of the Valley, etc. A Silver Flora Medal 
was awarded to Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, 
for a mixed group of Orchids, including many 
interesting Odontoglossums and Dendrobiums, of 
which there were several plants of the Elephant 
Moth Dendrobe. Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hex- 
table, Swanley, received a Silver Banksian Medal 
for a group of Orchids, consisting chiefly of Cypri- 
pediums and Cattleyas. A smaller group was shown 
by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
including a fine piece of Phaius Cooksoni. A finely- 
flowered but unnamed species of Oncidium was 
shown by Mr. H. Bailey, gardener to W. L. Bar¬ 
clay, Esq., The Briars, Reigate. A plant of Disa 
incarnata in bloom was shown by Messrs. Lewis & 
Co., Southgate, and had orange-scarlet and yellow 
flowers. Another new thing in Dendrobium 
amethystinum was shown by Messrs. H. Low & Co., 
Clapton. Other exhibitors' of Orchids were F. 
Wigan, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. H. Young), Clare 
Lawn, East Sheen ; P. Crowley, Esq.,Waddon House, 
Croydon; Mr. I.F. Jackson, Esq., J.P. (gardener, Mr. 
G. Dowsett), Bourne Place, Bexley ; John W. Wilson, 
Esq., South Care, East Yorks; Reginald Young, 
Esq., Sefton Park, Liverpool; A. W. Nixon, Esq., 
Stanley Street, Leek; and W. H. Evans, Esq., 
(gardener, Mr. J. Crook), Forde Abbey, Chard. 
A Silver Flora Medal was awarded to Messrs. H. 
Low & Co. for a beautiful and interesting group of 
New Holland plants, including Boronias, Acacias, 
Heaths, &c. A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded 
to Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, 
for a large group of forced Daffodils, Irises, Snow¬ 
drops, &c. A similar award was made to Mr. P. 
R. Davidson, The Gardens, Iwerne Minster, 
Blandford, Dorset, for a showy and well-flowered 
group of Clivias, including Duke of Clarence, 
Princess May, Lady Wolverton and others. A 
Silver-gilt Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
Wm. Paul & Son, for 12 large boxes of Camellia 
blooms. A Silver-gilt Flora Medal was awarded to 
Mr. Geo. Phippen, Reading, for a large group of 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Lily of the Valley, etc., set up 
with Palms. A small group of Richardia sethi- 
opica Little Gem was exhibited by Messrs. Wm. 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate, showing the different 
stages of the plant. Some flowering branches of 
Amygdalus Davidiana alba were shown by Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, who also showed some 
Amaryllis, Cypripediums, and Cineraria blooms. 
Some noble spathes of Anthurium, including A. 
Andreanum sanguineum, A. leodiense, and A. 
carneum, were shown by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. 
M.P. (gardener Mr. W. Bain), Burford Lodge, 
Dorking. 
At the meeting of the Fruit Committee some 
Apples, named Welsh Beauty and St. Davids, were 
shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. A Cultural 
Commendation was awarded to Mr. W. Poupart, 
Twickenham, for some exceedingly fine dishes of Sea 
Kale. A dish of Apples, Annie Elizabeth, was showm 
by Sir Thomas Farrer, gardener Mr. Payne, Abinger 
Hall, Dorking. Some Tomatos and Onions were 
exhibited by Mr. W. C. Leach, Albury Park. Some 
Florida Oranges were shown by Mr. W. H. Divers, 
Ketton Hall, Stamford. And Mr. J. Watkins, 
Pomona Farm, near Hereford, received an Award of 
Merit for " Improved Ashmead's Kernel ” Apple. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS, 
Dendrobium luteolum giganteum. 
The varietal name of this Dendrobe has been given 
in allusion to the large size of the flowers, as in the 
case of D. primulinum giganteum. The sepals and 
petals seem somewhat paler than in the type,for they 
are of a soft creamy or sulphur-white. The lip is 
white with golden-yellow or reddish lines on the 
interior of the side lobes ; on the middle of the disc 
is a beard of green hairs. The lamina is very broad 
and blunt with a beard of white hairs along the 
centre. Hitherto little variation has been met with 
in this species. One variety, namely D. 1 . chloro- 
centrum, is characterised by a beard of green hairs 
on the lip. The large-flowered variety under notice 
bloomed recently with Messrs. Seeger &Tropp, East 
Dulwich. 
Dendrobium albo sanguineum. 
The large and curiously coloured flowers of this 
species are very striking, the more so as the plant is 
by no means common in collections. The blooms 
are produced two or three together in clusters from 
stems that may be one or two years old, and when in 
good form they are nearly 3 in. in diameter. The 
sepals and petals are buff yellow, not white as the 
specific name would imply. The lip is similarly 
coloured with exception of two large maroon-purple 
blotches, which give it a singular appearance, the 
more so as they are raised somewhat above the other 
portions. There is a large batch of it in one of the 
houses in the nursery of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., 
Clapton, and which must be a grand sight in a short 
time. 
Oncidium splendidum. 
The bold character of the flowers of this species 
renders it a highly ornamental subject in the Orchid 
houses during the winter months. The flower scape 
attains a height of 2 ft. or 3ft., according toits strength, 
and branches at the upper end, producing a large 
number of flowers. The sepals and petals are oblong, 
greenish-yellow, blotched and barred with brown. 
The lip on the contrary is the largest and showiest 
organ of the flower, being of a uniform golden yellow. 
We noted it in full bloom some time ago in the col¬ 
lection of Messrs. H. Low & Co., Clapton. At first 
sight it bears a close resemblance to O. tigrinum, and 
was at one time considered to be a variety of that 
species, namely, O. t. splendidum. The habit of the 
plant is, however, different, the flower spike of O. 
tigrinum being drooping or pendent, whereas that of 
O. splendidum is stiff and erect. 
Dendrobium picnostachyum. 
The flowers of this species are very small individu¬ 
ally, but collectively they are pretty. They are 
freely produced in terminal and lateral drooping 
racemes so that the stems look well furnished. The 
small sepals and petals are lanceolate and white, but 
the three-lobed lip is green and marked with brown 
lines. The size of the flowers may be roughly com¬ 
pared to that of some of the species of Dendrochilum, 
more correctly named Platyclinis. As a matter of 
course it would find no favour with those who delight 
in large and showy flowers like those of D. Wardianum 
D. Falconeri, and D. Dalhousieanum. Those who 
take an interest in uncommon or peculiar species 
that are seldom met with in cultivation, will find in 
this something to admire and study for the variety 
which it imparts to a collection of Dendrobiums, in 
the same way as the small-flowered Masdevallias add 
to the value and interest pertaining to the same. 
We noted a number of plants in full bloom in the 
collection of Messrs. H. Low & Co., Clapton. 
Cypripedium villosum. 
It seldom happens that this species show's any in¬ 
dication of spotting on the dorsal sepal, that being 
more characteristic of C. Boxalli, a very distinct 
variety of C. villosum and often regarded as a dis¬ 
tinct species. The flowers of a variety of C. villosum, 
now in bloom in the nursery of Mr. P. McArthur, 
4, Maida Vale, W., are large, bold, and showy. The 
dorsal sepal is more rounded than in the type, with 
dark brown spots on a groundwork of a paler hue 
with the usual white margin. The petals are of two 
different shades of brown, the upper longitudinal 
half being of a rich shining brown, beautifully 
netted with darker veins. Taken altogether it seems 
to be intermediate between the typical C. villosum 
and C. v. Boxalli, and might with great propriety be 
added to a collection of select Orchids. 
Cyrtopodium Saintlegerianum. 
Several of the species of Cyrtopodium are notable 
for the large development and rich colouring of the 
bracts at the base of the flower stalks. This is 
particularly characteristic of the species under 
notice. The inflorescence consists of a large branch¬ 
ing panicle of flowers about 2 in. or 2J in. across, and 
when in full bloom and subtended as they are by the 
large and showy bracts, they are highly ornamental 
indeed. The species is by no means common in cul¬ 
tivation, and nowhere, perhaps, is it better flowered 
than at The Grange, Wallington, where it is under 
the care of Mr. G. W. Cummins, gardener to A. II. 
Smee, Esq. The oblong-lanceolate sepals and petals 
are of a more or less bright yellow on individual 
plants, and heavily banded transversely with a rich 
brown. The bracts are remarkably similar both in 
form and colour, but the lower ones are the largest, 
w'hile the others gradually diminish in size as the top 
of the flowering stem is approached. 
Cirrhopetalum Amesianum. 
Most of the species of Cirrhopetalum have either 
small or dull coloured flow'ers that are often more 
interesting from their peculiar form and arrange¬ 
ment than from (their bright colours. That under 
notice is an exception, for the flowers are very pretty. 
It was introduced from Dutch India by Messrs. 
Linden, Parc Leopold, Brussels, and recently 
flowered with them. There is a coloured figure of it 
in the Lindenia, English edition, PI. 314, represent¬ 
ing a clump of it growing on a piece of wood. The 
red flower stalks assume a spreading or (somewhat 
pendulous habit, and terminate in an umbel of 
flowers radiating in the form of a semi-circle. The 
lateral sepals are united by their contiguous edges, 
are ijin. long, 4J lines wide, and are rosy-purple 
fading into a yellowish-white at the margin and 
upper portion. The upper sepal is fringed with 
brownish red hairs, and the small, lip is of the same 
hue, the rest of the flower being yellow. The rosy- 
purple hue of the lateral sepals is the striking 
feature of the flower, and is a rare colour in the 
genus. 
--*■- 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Ferns. —The ferns in the warmer houses should 
now be gone over without further delay, and all those 
potted that absolutely require a shift. In the case of 
those which are considered large enough for all prac¬ 
tical purposes, repotting may not be necessary,but the 
drainage should be examined to see v'hether it is 
efficient enough to serve another season. 
Fern-covered Walls. —The back walls of pits, 
ferneries, stoves, or even greenhouses, are often 
covered with wire netting supporting soil in which 
ferns, Begonias, and other ornamental-foliaged 
subjects are planted. Such walls are kept moistened 
by means of the syringe or garden engine in summer, 
but owing to the necessity of maintaining a drier 
atmosphere in winter, such methods of watering have 
to be abandoned, and the soil getting dry as a conse¬ 
quence, crumbles out, leaving holes in places. A 1 
