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THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July IS, 1892. 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, July 12th. —Roses, hardy 
herbaceous flowers, Ferns, Crotons, and other 
decorative stove subjects were the chief features of 
the meeting on Tuesday last. Orchids were also 
fairly represented both by plants in flower and cut 
bloom. A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., for a group of Orchids, 
including Cattleya gigas with six flowers on a spike, 
and some very fine varieties of Miltonia vexillaria, 
one with white flowers and a yellow blotch on the 
lip, and another with a most conspicuous, triangular, 
crimson blotch. A collection of cut flowers of 
Cattleya gigas was exhibited by J. W. Temple, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. E. Bristow), Leyswood, Groombridge, 
Tunbridge Wells. The flowers were of large size, 
the lip richly coloured and generally three or four 
on a spike. A hybrid Cypripedium named C. 
Macfarlaneanum was shown by Messrs. W. S. Lewis 
& Co., Southgate. A small group of Orchids was 
shown by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co , Clapton, 
amongst which was Cattleya Gaskelliana alba, 
Pescatorea cerina, and several Cypripediums. Major- 
General E. E. Berkeley exhibited Dendrobium 
crystallinum General Berkeley’s var., having dark 
tips to the sepals and petals, and a suffusion of pale 
purple over the surface. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs, 
Charlesworth, Shuttleworth & Co., Heaton, Brad¬ 
ford, and Park Road, Clapham, for a fine group of 
Oncidium macranthum as well as O. curtum, O. 
Gardnerianum, and O. lameligerum, all in fine 
condition, and well flowered. A hybrid Phalaenopsis 
named Artemis was shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea, and was certificated. Cattleya gigas 
and C. Eldorado alba were shown by Welbore S. 
Ellis, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Masterton', Hazelbourne i 
Dorking. Cut flowers of Cattleya gigas were also 
shown by Mrs. Crawford, Gattern Reigate. Cypri¬ 
pedium philippinense, Lycaste tetragona, and 
Cattleya Dr. Buyssoniana were exhibited by J. W. 
Temple, Esq., Tunbridge Wells. A plant of Cypri¬ 
pedium Stcnei candidum was exhibited by Messrs. 
Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley, Kent. A 
Cultural Commendation was awarded to W. Vanner, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. H. Robins), Camden Wood. 
Chislehurst, for a fine piece of Coelogyne Sanderiana 
in a basket and bearing four spikes. Epidendrum 
tampense on a block of wood was staged by C. J. 
Lucas, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. Duncan), Warnham 
Court, Horsham. 
A Silver Gilt Flora Medal was awarded to Mr. 
H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nursery, Upper Edmon¬ 
ton, fora large group of Ferns, Crotons, Caladiums, 
Palms, Selaginellas, and other fine foliaged subjects, 
all well grown and coloured. There were some 
graceful pieces of Carex japonica variegata and C. 
tristachys variegata. A Silver Banksian Medal was 
awarded to Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nursery, 
Tottenham, for a fine group of Lilies and other 
herbaceous plants. Amongst the Liliums were L. 
maritimum, L. Browni, L. philadelphicum, and 
other showy or interesting species. Some double 
flowered varieties of Delphinium were shown by M. 
Lemoine, of Nancy, France. Some H. P. and Tea 
Roses were shown by Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross. A Silver Gilt Flora Medal was 
awarded to Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, 
Somerset, for a large collection of Gaillardias, double 
and semi-double Delphiniums, and a collection of 
herbaceous plants generally, most of them being in 
fine condition and very attractive. A fine group of 
Gladiolus colvillei albus was set up in ornamental 
glasses by Mr. C. W. Cousins, F.R H.S., High 
Street, Wood Green, N. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
J, Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for some baskets of hardy 
flowering shrubs in the cut state, including Stuartia 
Pseudo-Camellia, Ligustrum sinense floribundum, 
Andromeda speciosa cassinefolia, Nothospartium 
Carmichaeliae, and other fine subjects. A Bronze 
Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. H. Cannell 
& Sons, Swanley, Kent, for a collection of Verbena 
flowers set up in bunches with very attractive colours. 
Messrs. J. Veitch had also some flowers of hybrid 
greenhouse Rhododendrons and some Gloxinias. A 
large collection of Roses, both garden varieties and 
also species, was sent up from the Royal Gardens, 
Kew. Amongst the species we noted were R. rugosa, 
R. canina, R. tomentosa, R. centifolia, R. Brunonii, 
and other interesting old-fashioned things. Some 
Sweet Peas, including one named Princess May, were 
shown by Mr. Thos. Laxton, Bedford. 
Some prizes were offered for herbaceous plants by 
amateurs, and Mr. G. Sage, gardener to -the Earl of 
Dysart, Ham House, Richmond, took the first prize 
for eighteen bunches, which included Phloxes, 
Delphiniums, Campanulas, Eryngiums, &c. The first 
prize for twelve bunches was taken by H. Berkeley 
James Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Gibson), Carshalton- 
Surrey. The second prize for twelve went to W. 
Marshall, Esq., Auchinraith, Bexley, who had 
smaller bunches. A first prize for eight bunches 
was awarded to R. Debenham, Esq., St. Peters, St. 
Albans. The Roses sent up in competition for the 
Mantell Challenge Cup were very fine, being large in 
size, rich in colour, and fresh. The first prize was 
taken by Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester, who had 
splendid blooms of Her Majesty, Ernest Metz, 
Madame Cusin, and others. Mr. F. Cant, Brais- 
wick, Colchester, was second. A flowering stem of 
Lilium giganteum was shown by Mr. Chas. Noble, 
Bagshot. 
At a meeting of the Fruit Committee a Silver 
Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. Owen Thomas, 
The Royal Gardens, Windsor, for a collection of 
Cherries and six large Pineapples, all of the very 
best quality. Melons were exhibited by Mr. Gilman, 
gardener to the Earl of Shrewsbury, Ingestre Hall, 
Strafford ; by Mr. W. Allan, Gunton Park, Norwich ; 
by Mr. G. Wythes, Syon House, who had twenty- 
four fruits in several different varieties ; also by Mr. 
C. J. Terry, The Gardens, Tatton Park. A Silver 
Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. J. Fitt, the 
Gardens, Panshanger, Hereford, for an exhibit of 
twelve good Queen Pines, and a large bunch of a 
Banana named Lady's Finger. Carrots, Beetroot, 
and other vegetables were shown by Mr. W.,C. 
Leach, Albury Park Gardens, Guildford. A new 
Cauliflower, named Acquisition, and very distinct, 
was shown by Mr. T. Bones, Chiswick. A collec¬ 
tion of Vegetable Marrows were brought up from 
the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, at 
Chiswick, and also some Apples to show the 
intensity of colour they have already acquired. 
Some Peas and Broad Beans, including a variety of 
the latter named Multum in parvo, were shown by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. Three Cultural 
Commendations were awarded to Mr. W. Allan for 
some boxes of Strawberries, as well as some fruiting 
plants in baskets. Peaches were shown by Mr. 
T. H. Crasp, Canford Manor, Wimborne. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers' Calendar. 
Top Dressing Orchids. —This is not a practice to 
be commended unless the moss through being 
perhaps not of the best when the plants were potted 
has refused to grow ; then it is a good plan to 
replace it with living sphagnum, as although the 
moss may be dead the peat should be still in good 
condition. In no other case, however, would I 
recommend it being done, as I am convinced that 
the system is a bad one. 
Vandas are now growing and rooting freely, 
and should have every attention paid them as 
regards shade and moisture so as to prevent their 
losing any leaves and to insure a good growth. 
Ours are grown in the Cattleya house, and not 
caring to shade too heavily on their account, sheets 
of newspaper will be placed over the heads of the 
Vandas during the hottest part of the day should 
we get any very bright weather. We syringe ours 
freely twice daily, allowing it to play well up the 
stems, but do not care to let much get into the 
heart of the growths. 
Cattleya Gaskelliana, which is just coming 
into flower, is a grand introduction, coming in as it 
does when there is not too much Orchid bloom 
about. It is of easy culture and seems to delight in 
a rather shady position, which is a decided advan¬ 
tage when so many others require all the light 
possible to do them well. There are some lovely 
forms amongst them from the rich dark ones to pure 
white. Many white ones have flowered in collec¬ 
tions since its first introduction, but I think we can 
safely claim to have flowered the first one which 
was certified by the R.H.S. 
Epidendrum Prismatocarpum now in flower is a 
splendid Orchid, and when well grown makes an ex¬ 
cellent exhibition plant. Grown in well drained pots 
in the same compost that suits Cattleyas it soon 
makes a fine specimen. Like most Orchids too, it 
enjoys a season of rest which should be afforded from 
the time the growths are matured until the spike 
begins to make its appearance. 
Coelogyne Cristata. —Our plants, I notice, are 
just rooting freely from the young growths and will 
be watered twice weekly with guano water until the 
growths are made up. They should receive frequent 
syringing over head with soft water, as they are 
very moisture-loving subjects. 
Dendrobiums are growing fast, and should be en¬ 
couraged by frequent applications of liquid manure. 
They are not very particular as to what kind is used, 
we give ours diluted drainings from the dunghill and 
guano alternately at intervals of a week. Keep the 
syringe going freely amongst them, and as the growths 
attain maturity remove the plants to cooler and drier 
quarters or they will commence to make a second 
growth, but this change of quarters must be done 
gradually, just as in the case of hardening off bedding 
plants prior to planting them out, until finally they 
can stand full exposure to the sun in a cool greenhouse. 
Should any plant commence to make a second growth 
it should be given every chance to make it up by 
placing it in the warmest house. 
The temperatures given in the last calendar should 
still be maintained.— C. 
Epidendrum vitellinum majus. 
This lovely Epidendrum deserves to be much more 
extenswely grown than it is at present. It is a most 
valuable subject for decorative purposes of all kinds ; 
indeed, there are few flowers which last such a long 
time in perfection, either when cut or upon the 
plant. A fine specimen was in bloom recently in 
Mr. Pritt’s collection at Rampsheck, Penrith 
(gardener, Mr. Robinson), in a 10-in. pan, carrying 
twenty spikes with on an average twenty flowers on 
a spike.— J. McNab. 
Anguloa uniflora. 
Although by no means the largest flowered species 
this is one of the prettiest. The flower is of the 
usual shape and pure white externally as a rule, and 
showing a yellow tongue internally, while lower 
down and hidden from the eye are numerous small 
pink spots. We noted it flowering recently in one 
of the Orchid houses at Falkland Park, South 
Norwood Hill. It is a native of Columbia, from 
whence it was introduced in 1844, but although fairly 
widely distributed it cannot be said to be very 
common in gardens compared with such things as 
the larger-flowered Cattleyas, Laelias, Cypripediums, 
and Odontoglossums. 
Thunia Bensonae. 
The Thunias are now generally included under 
Phaius, from which, however, they differ consider¬ 
ably in habit and general appearance. No pseudo¬ 
bulbs are produced, but the stem elongates, growing 
to a height of 1 ft. to 2 ft. The sepals and petals 
are of a rosy or soft but rich purple; the lip is 
similar in colour or rather darker, and furnished in 
the tube with numerous deep yellow fringes in lines. 
The flowers are produced in a sort of drooping or 
nodding raceme at the apex of the young stems, so 
that they are developed as the stems attain their full 
size, after which the latter die back to the old tubers 
or may be cut away when they get ripened off. It is 
flowering at Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill. 
Oncidium pulvinatum majus. 
Yellow Oncidiums are very numerous, and many 
of them not held in great regard, but that under 
notice is gradually gaining in popularity. The large 
variety is notable not so much on account of its 
larger blooms as for the larger size of the plant 
generally, the greater length of the branching panicle 
and the greater number of flowers. If suspended 
from the roof of a house in a basket, and the flower 
scape allowed to hang down naturally, it is very 
effective ; but even when tied up it is a striking sub¬ 
ject. The sepals and petals are yellow and brown, 
and some darker yellow or orange colouring may be 
noticed about the disc of the lip. The crest is well 
marked in this species, forming an elevated process 
like a pincushion, hence the specific name. I he 
large variety has been flowering for some time past 
at Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill. 
