568 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 7, 1892. 
again. They are much benefited by manure water, 
the flowers coming of greater substance and richer 
in colour than when clear water alone is used. 
Give Plenty of Air on ail favourable occasions, 
but through the bottom ventilators, as it would be 
unwise to open the top ventilators unless the weather 
is much warmer than at the time of writing. Syringe 
the walls, stages, and between the pots morning and 
afternoon, and should the houses dry up quickly 
water should be sprinkled over the paths when going 
round the last thing at night to counterbalance the 
harsh heat thrown off by the hot-water pipes, which 
will be kept in use in all the houses should these 
sharp frosts last. 
Temperatures. —East India house, 70° at night, 
with a rise of io° with sun heat ; Cattleya house, 65° 
at night, with a rise of io° or 15° by sun heat; Cool 
house, 50° at night to 60" by day.—C. 
The Military Habenaria. 
There is a beautiful figure of Habenaria militaris 
in Lindenia, PI. 318. The species was originally 
described by Reichenbach in 1878, under the name 
of H. pusilla; but as the description was made from 
a dried specimen, he was hardly in a position to do 
it justice until a living plant in bloom was sent him 
in 1886. This was collected in Cochin China, by 
M. Regnier, who is believed to have found it in the 
mountain regions of Tay-Ninh. The leaves are light 
green marbled with dark green markings. About 
half-a-dozen of these are of large size, covering the 
lower half of the stem, above which they are reduced 
to bracts. The top of the stem is surmounted by a 
close raceme of highly attractive flowers. The 
sepals and petals are green and certainly neither 
conspicuous nor attractive, but the lip is of a bright 
scarlet-red, deeply three-lobed, and the middle lobe 
again bifid. The spur is long as in our native species, 
particularly H. chlorantha, but curved forward 
underneath the flower, than which it is longer, and 
greenish-yellow. Reichenbach considered the original 
name hardly appropriate for such a fine thing and 
changed it to H. militaris. It requires a rather high 
temperature and moist atmosphere when making its 
grow-th. 
Cattleya labiata. 
The recent importations of this have found their 
way into almost every collection of Orchids, and 
since they have been potted up the vigorous young 
buds that have been produced give evidence of a 
strong and healthy constitution. Unseasonable 
flowers have appeared in various establishments, but 
when once the plants have made growth in this 
country, they will flower at their accustomed time 
in autumn. Of two in flower at Falkland Park, 
South Norwood Hill, the residence of J. McMeekin, 
Esq., one of them is a really fine flower and richly 
coloured. The sepals are of a warm purple, while 
the broad, flat, elliptic, obtuse, spreading petals are 
some shades darker. The lip has an intensely purple 
and richly coloured lamina with a paler or lilac 
margin ; the yellow blotch in the throat is not very 
pronounced, while the tube internally is purple, lined 
with yellow, branching veins. The pseudo-bulbs are 
remarkably short and stout, indeed so pronounced 
are they in this respect that one would hardly 
suspect the plant being a Cattleya at all until it 
comes into bloom. It may be stated that most if 
not all of the leaves are conspicuous by their absence ; 
but evidence is not wanting that a vigorous growth 
will be developed presently. 
Ornithocephalus grandiflorus. 
The sepals and petals of this gem amongst Orchids 
are white with a bright green spot at the base, while 
the lip is also white with a bright green crest. The 
structure of the flower is very peculiar, especially 
the rostellum and pedicel of the pollinia, which are 
long and recurved. The inflorescence consists of an 
arching raceme arising from amongst a tuft of oblong, 
obtuse, bright green leaves; and the latter are not unlike 
those of a species of Phalasnopsis when the plant is 
not in bloom. The plant comes from the Organ 
Mountains in Southern Brazil, where it was originally 
discovered by Gardner and described by Lindley 
from dried specimens. It requires an intermediate 
temperature somewhat similar to that given to 
Sophronites grandiflorus, with plenty of water in the 
growing season, and to be suspended from the roof, 
as it is treated by Mr. C. J. Cowley, gardener to 
F. G. Tautz, Esq , Dibdin House, Ealing. Its usual 
flowering period is May and June in this country. 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Botanic, April 2-jth .—The second spring 
exhibition of this society was held, as usual, in the 
corridor near the entrance and in the -conservatory 
adjoining. The exhibits were chiefly those of a 
seasonable character, including Cinerarias, Primulas, 
Daffodils, hardy herbaceous plants generally, and 
various greenhouse subjects. The first prize for 
Azaleas was taken by Mr. H. Eason, gardener to B. 
Noakes, Esq., Hope Cottage, Highgate, with broadly 
conical and well flowered plants; Mr. R. Scott, 
gardener to Miss Foster, The Holme, Regent’s Park, 
was second with specimens of various shapes. The 
first prize in an open class for Tuberous Begonias 
was taken by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, 
who had some fine samples, and were the only ex¬ 
hibitors of this class of plants. Messrs. J. James & 
Son, Woodside, Farnham Royal, took the first prize 
with their fine strain of Cinerarias; Mr. Douglas, 
gardener to Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford, 
was second. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had the 
finest Roses in pots and the best Amaryllis. The 
first award for twelve forced Dielytras was made to 
Mr. Scott, who also had the best lot of Spiraea 
japonica. The best Mignonette came from Mr. W. 
Morle, 283, Regent Street. The first prizes for a 
collection of hardy herbaceous plants and a collec¬ 
tion of Alpines, were awarded to Messrs. Paul & 
Son; while Mr. Douglas had a similar award for 
Primula Sieboldi. In the open class for Auriculas, 
Mr. A. J. Sanders, gardener to Viscountess Chewton, 
Bookham Lodge, Cobham, took the first place; while 
Mr. C. Turner, the Royal Nurseries, Slough, was 
second, as he was likewise for Alpine Auriculas. Mr. 
Douglas had the best Alpine Auriculas. 
In the miscellaneous class, Messrs. Barr & Son, 
Covent Garden, had a large and showy collection of 
Daffodils, including little groups of the finer sorts, 
such as Bicolor Horsefieldi, Queen of Spain, Sir 
Watkin, and King of the Netherlands. Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, had a miscellaneous group 
of fine foliaged and flowering plants, receiving 
numerous certificates. A showy group of Cinerarias 
in many different colours was staged by Messrs. J. 
James & Son ; while Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High 
Holborn, had a larger group of somewhat taller 
plants as well as a collection of Cacti; Mr. C. 
Turner showed a collection of Azaleas in 32-size pots ; 
Messrs. Paul & Son had a group of Roses ; Messrs. 
Laing & Sons showed a group of stove and green¬ 
house plants, including Palms and Caladiums, light¬ 
ened up with Azaleas, Heaths, and other subjects. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, 
had an interesting collection of herbaceous plants, 
including Daffodils and hardy Primulas. Four boxes 
of Roses, including Marshal Niel and Niphetos, were 
shown by Mr. J Walker, Thame, Oxon. 
Royal Horticultural, May yd. —The leading features 
of the meeting on Tuesday last were Primulas of 
various kinds, (Daffodils, Ferns, and Roses, with a 
few Orchids. Amongst the latter was a small group 
of Dendrobium Phalasnopsis Schroderiana amabilis 
and a fine piece of Cattleya Mendelii Quorndon 
House var., shown by W. E. B. Farnham, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. G. Cook), Quorndon House, Lough¬ 
borough. A small group was also shown by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, including Cattleya 
Victoria-regina, Cynorchis flexuosa, and Phaius 
Sanderiana. Laelia Latona and Cattleya Philo, both 
new hybrids, were shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea. A fine panicle of a Cyrtopodium 
was exhibited by Mr. H. Denison, Orchid grower to 
T. A. Gledstanes, Esq., Manor House, Gunnersbury. 
Some cut blooms of Vanda teres and Laelia pur- 
purata were exhibited by the Rev. E. Handley, 19, 
Royal Crescent, Bath. A flowering plant of Laelia 
Boothiana was exhibited by W. C. Walker, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. G. Cragg), Percy Lodge, Winchmore 
Hill. Some Dendrobiums, including D. Phalaenop- 
sis Schroderiana, were exhibited by E. G. Wrigley, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. C. Harris), Victoria House, 
Dunkinfield, Cheshire. Laelia grandis tenebrosa 
was shown by Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth 
& Co., Heaton, Bradford and Clapham, as well as a 
fine piece of Stanhopia insignis and Eriopsis biloba. 
A large collection of Daffodils was exhibited by- 
Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for which a 
Silver Banksian Medal was awarded. A small 
group of a form of the double garden Daffodil was 
shown by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nursery, 
Tottenham. A Silver Flora Medal was awarded to 
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson's Lane Nurseries, Upper 
Edmonton, for a large group of well-grown Ferns, 
some Palms, and Ficus elastica variegata. A group 
of Roses was exhibited by Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross. Some baskets of splendidly flowered 
Polyantha Roses were shown by- Messrs. H. Lane 
& Son, Berkhamstead. A form of Lilium longiflorum 
was shown by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
A spathe of Anthurium Rothschildianum maximum 
was shown by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, (gardener, 
Mr. W. Bain), Burford Lodge, Dorking. Some 
Amaryllis, Asparagus medius, and Pandanus con- 
sidens were shown by Messrs. B. S. Williams & 
Son, Upper Holloway-. A seedling Carnation, under 
the name of Florence Emily Thoday, was exhibited 
by Mr. J. F. Thoday, Willingham, Cambs. A 
Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to S. F. Still, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Curtis), Wimbledon Park, 
for a collection of Auriculas, Amaryllis, and a species 
of Arisaema. Some blooms of Carnation Mrs. A. 
Hemsley were shown by Mr. H. B. May. A group 
of Primulas and Polyanthus in a great variety- of 
colour was shown by Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, 
Ealing, and a Silver Banksian Medal was awarded. 
Some prizes were offered by Messrs. Barr & Son 
for Daffodils, and the first aw-ard was made to H. J. 
Adams, Esq. (gardener, Mr. C. May), Roseneath, 
London Road, Enfield, who had a considerable 
number of varieties neatly arranged. The second 
award went to the Rev. G. P. Hay-don,Hatfield Vicar¬ 
age, Doncaster. H. Berkeley James, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. J. Gibson), The Oaks, Carshalton, received the 
third award. The first prize for Alpine plants went 
to O. T. Hodges, Esq., Lachine, Chislehurst. 
At a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Com¬ 
mittee twelve varieties of vegetables were shown by- 
Mr. Thomas, Royal Gardens, Frogmore, including 
Asparagus, Model Broccoli, Ellam’s Early Cabbage, 
Sea Kale, Cottager's Kale, French Beans, La Grosse 
Sucre Strawberry, and others, all of excellent quality-. 
The first prize for Strawberries was awarded to 
Mr. J. Gibson, gardener to H. B. James, Esq. A 
Cultural Commendation was awarded to Mr. W. 
Leach, Albury Park. A similar award was made to Mr. 
G. Wythes, gardener to the Duke of Northumber¬ 
land, Syon House, Brentford, for a box of the Brown 
Turkey Fig. A like award was also made to Mr. 
Miller, gardener to Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher, 
for a dish of Strawberries, and some Mushrooms 
He also showed Cucumbers and Apples. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN, 
Basket Ferns. —Where a conservatory has to be 
kept gay-, it is well to have a stock of Ferns of 
various kinds in baskets and which may be hung up 
or suspended from the roof. Suitable Maidenhair 
Ferns are Adiantum assimile, A. amabile, A. 
semulum and A. caudatum. Then amongst Asple- 
niums are A. longissimum, A. flaccidum, and A. 
lucidum. Several of the Davallias are highly orna¬ 
mental and suitable, including D. Tyermanni, D. 
elegans, D. bullata and others. Good-sized plants 
of Woodwardia orientalis and W. radicans are also 
very showy. The above will supply plants all the 
year round, so that when any kinds lose their 
fronds or become shabby they may be replaced by- 
others, or they may be changed simply for the sake 
of variation. 
Gleichenias. —Old plants of this class are 
generally allowed to get into a tangled mass of 
growth which not only looks bad, but acts detri¬ 
mentally to the fronds themselves, causing the older 
parts to become brown and shabby, whereas if 
properly regulated all would be equally disposed to 
light and air. Where the young rhizomes are grow¬ 
ing over the edges of the pots or pans they should 
be pegged on to the soil in places where there is the 
most space for the development of young fronds. 
Coleus —Plants of this class should now- be 
grow-n on in a high temperature, in well-lighted 
positions near the glass. Ventilation should be 
freely given on all favourable occasions to keep the 
stems short jointed; the latter should also be 
pinched to cause a branching habit, whether the 
plants are to be flat-topped or pyramidal. Cuttings 
may also be struck now to get small plants suitable 
for conservatory- work late in the season. 
