May 14, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
581 
pink, Mr. F. Morton, Merridale Grove, Wolver¬ 
hampton ; there is a gord committee of well-known 
growers, and Mr. C. F. Thurston, whose zeal on 
behalf of the Pink is second only to that of his worthy 
sire, Mr. James Thurston, of Cardiff, is the secretary. 
His address is I enn Fields, Wolverhampton. May 
the pink flourish in the Midlands is the wish of every 
florist.— R. D. 
--J-- 
A MANUAL OF ORCHIDA¬ 
CEOUS PLANTS.* 
The eighth part of this useful manual being pub¬ 
lished by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, is carried out on 
precisely the same lines as those that have already 
appeared. The greater part of the present portion 
of the work is occupied with the genus Oncidium, 
although a number of the small and closely allied 
genera is also included in it. About 300 species of 
Oncidium are known to science, and of that vast 
number about three-fifths of them have been intro¬ 
duced to British gardens at one time or other; bnt 
the bulk have sooner or later dropped out of culti¬ 
vation again. Only 
the best and most 
useful from a horti¬ 
cultural point of view 
are described in the 
manual, including 
some for which dried 
material had to be 
obtained for the pur¬ 
pose. 
The part under no¬ 
tice contains a map 
of Central and South 
America,showing the 
geographical distri¬ 
bution of the princi¬ 
pal types of Onci¬ 
dium; but no attempt 
has been made to 
show the distribution 
of even a tithe of the 
known species. Nu¬ 
merous wood - cuts 
represent flowers of 
the principal and 
more valuable spe¬ 
cies, and there are 
several whole page 
illustrations showing 
as a rule the general 
character of the 
plants. The inflor¬ 
escence only of O. 
Brunleesianum is 
shown, but that is 
sufficient to show how 
markedly the species 
differs from others of 
the genus in the in¬ 
curved sepals and pe¬ 
tals, but more especi¬ 
ally in the lip, which 
is folded over the 
column, like that of a Bletia or Cattleya, and is 
therefore very deceptive as to the affinity of the 
species on casual observation. Only three plants 
of it are known in Britain. 
The genus Miltonia is a small one, and the species 
to the number of fourteen being of a highly 
ornamental character, all of them, with the numerous 
varieties occurring in some, have been described, and 
several of them figured. 
We take exception however to the figure given 
as Miltonia Roezlii alba, for it was evidently 
meant by the artist for the type, and probably 
the addition of the varietal name was a mis¬ 
take. The supposed natural hybrids are made 
to follow the true species, after which the only 
garden hybrid known, namely M. Bleuana, is 
described. It is somewhat remarkable that this 
hybrid should have been affected on both sides of 
"the silver streak” almost at the same time. M. 
vexillaria and M. Roezlii being the parents, it is 
scarcely to be wondered that the progeny should not 
be strikingly different from either, seeing that the two 
:: ‘ A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants.” Part VIII. Oncidium 
and Miltonia, Ada, Brassia, Gomeza, Ionopsis, Ornitho- 
cephalus. James Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, 
King's Road, Chelsea, S.W., 1892. 
are very closely allied. About half of the known 
species of Brassia are next reviewed, but their 
description and history are but briefly recorded, a 
fact which is quite in accordance with the degree of 
popularity the spe ; ies enjoy in gardens, and that is 
not much, although some of them are very pretty. 
Ada, Ionopsis, and Ornithocephalus, come in 
last, but very few species of either are to be found 
in gardens, two species only of the first named being 
known. 
Ornithocephalus grandiflorus is the most orna¬ 
mental of that genus, and certainly a gem 
amongst Orchids. The accompanying illustration, 
for which we are indebted to Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, represents it admirab'y. The rich bright 
green spots at the base of the sepals, petals, and 
lip render it very attractive, while the remarkable 
length and curvatures of the rostellum and pedicel 
of the gland (all shown in the illustration) are 
extremely interesting botanically. A plant bear¬ 
ing two racemes of bloom may at present be seen 
in Messrs. James Veitch & Sons’ nursery, at 
Chelsea. 
Ornithocephalus grandiflorus. 
WINTER-FLOWERING 
PLANTS. 
These, especially the winter-blooming Begonias, 
should be propagated at once, or one will not be able 
to obtain fair-sized plants by the autumn. Such 
varieties as Begonia Knowsleyana can be raised from 
seed. Many of the shrubby species are also very 
serviceable for winter-flowering, B. Digswelliana, B. 
insignis, &c. for example ; there are also several of 
the tuberous-rooted class that will require attention 
at the present time if one is to have a stock of use¬ 
ful plants for enlivening the greenhouse during the 
dull days of winter. Both these last named, and the 
earlier spring-blooming varieties of the shrubby 
section, should be increased from cuttings as soon 
as possible. These will now be carrying several 
stout sucker-like shoots, and if these are taken off 
with a slight heel and treated similar to Dahlia 
cuttings, there will be no difficulty in making an 
increase of any particularly favourite kind. 
Light, sandy soil is best for Begonias, and good 
leaf mould is very suitable. In striking them, I 
prefer to use small "thumb” pots, and a compost 
of leaf soil and sand in about equal proportions. 
Among the best of the early spring-flowering 
shrubby kinds we must include B. ordorata; B. 
manicata; B. nitida ; and B. hydrocotylifolia 
The Rex, or fine foliaged section, are exceedingly 
useful towards the end of the autumn, more 
especially for vases and table plants. These are 
very readily increased by leaf propagation, and 
where a few, or even one, healthy and well developed 
leaf can be obtained, there will be no difficulty in 
obtaining a fair stock of these showy Begonias. The 
method is interesting and exceedingly simple. Male 
a cut through the stronger veins of the leaf, and 
then lay it face upwards upon a pan of sandy soil 
and leaf mould. It is well to peg the leaf down into 
more direct contact with the soil, and if you do not 
fill the pan or box too full, it is easy to keep them 
close by laying a sheet of glass over the top. 
When placed in a genial temperature and occasion¬ 
ally syringed, you will soon be rewarded with many 
young plantlets, which will form at each cut made in 
the stronger veins of the leaf. You can thus obtain 
as many as twenty to thirty healthy young plants 
from a single leaf. Pot on into “ thumbs ” and treat 
the same as those obtained from cuttings, and you 
will have very nice 
and useful - sized 
plants by the autumn. 
Begonia seedlings 
must be shifted on 
as occasion demands; 
it is well not to let 
them become pot- 
bound until they are 
shifted into their 
flowering pots, nor 
will they be improved 
by any increase in 
the temperature after 
this date. I find they 
are much better if 
theycome on steadily, 
without any excite¬ 
ment or sudden 
changes. With these 
few remarks I will 
dismiss the Begonias. 
Franciscea Hopeara 
is an excellent winter¬ 
flowering shrub that 
does well in a warm 
greenhouse.This may 
also be propagated 
from cuttings now. 
In appearance during 
the flowering period 
this plant is some¬ 
what singular, as you 
have two colours 
upon the plant at the 
same time, owing t 
its blossoms opening 
a very rich mauve 
colour and gradually 
fading off to pure 
white. This Fran¬ 
ciscea is very sweet- 
scented and is one 
of the most easily grown and showy winter-flower¬ 
ing shrubs we have. Plumbagos in variety may 
also be struck now, and such plants, when grown 
on quickly, are better, and of far more service as 
winter-flowering subjects, than older plants that 
have been kept round from year to year. 
Centropogon Lucyanus, Justicias, Pentas, Ama¬ 
zonia punicea, and Scutellarias, as well as Bou- 
vardias, Eranthemum pulchellum, Poinsettias, 
Euphorbias, etc., may all be struck advantageously 
at the present time ; indeed, it depends very much 
upon the treatment and care your plants receive 
during the next three months as to how good or in¬ 
different a show of bloom you secure in the green¬ 
house during next winter. Such subjects as Primulas, 
Cyclamens, and others must have attention given to 
them in due time if you are to secure the best results 
-— Experience. 
--*■- 
The Essex Agricultural and Horticultural Society 
will hold their annual show at Harlow, on Tuesday 
and Wednesday, June 14th and 15th, 1S92. Entries 
for the horticultural show close on June 4th (prizes 
£180), and schedules can be obtained of the hon. 
sec., Mr. Jas. Scruby, Harlow. 
1, side view ; 2, front view of flower, natural size ; 3, column and lip; 4, rostellum ; 5, Pollinia and 
caudicle enlarged. 
