November 2, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
139 
ment is the large and well-ordered kitchen garden, 
which was stocked throughout with all sorts of 
esculents in a manner that showed most conclusively 
that no small amount of careful planning of the 
various crops had been exercised. A plot of ground 
some distance removed from the walled-in garden, 
in which a large proportion of the Brassicas finds a 
place, was at the time when Mr. Cooper took com¬ 
mand anything but a success ; for greens of all kinds 
clubbed with disastrous persistency. Determined to 
alter this state of things he set to work, and by dint 
of regular trenching has so far improved matters that 
some of the finest breadths of Kales, Coleworts, etc., 
we have yet seen are now occupying the land—a 
standing testimony to his skill as a gardener. 
ORCHID NOTES 1 & GLEANINGS. 
By The Editor. 
Second flowering of Odontoglossum Pesca- 
torei —Mr. J. Mayne, The Gardens, Bicton i 
Budleigh Salterton, Devon, bas a plant of this 
Odontoglot which flowered last year. From one of the 
pseudobulbs a second spike is now being thrown up 
from the axil of a leaf on the opposite side to that 
which bore the flowers last year. It is unusual for 
Odontoglots to behave in this way, even if the 
occurrence cannot be described as rare. O. crispum 
occasionally throws up two or three spikes from one 
pseudobulb, but they all come together or in close 
succession to one another. In any case behaviour of 
this kind is indicative of good cultural treatment, 
and Mr. Mayne is to be congratulated on his success. 
We do not remember seeing'growth like this from an 
old pseudobulb though Masdevallia tovarensis flowers 
regularly from the old scape. 
Cypripedium Tennyson. —The dorsal sepal of 
this beautiful hybrid Cypripedium is oblong-elliptic, 
white in the apical portion of its length, and lightly 
shaded and spotted with brownish-purple on the 
remaining two-thirds of its length, with darker 
brownish-purple veins. The slightly declining 
petals are about 3 in. long, wavy on the edges, con¬ 
cave at the tip, and strongly ciliated with black 
hairs on both edges. They have a glossy surface of 
a clear brownish-purple, most intensified on the 
upper longitudinal half. The large lip is dark purple, 
and the staminode yellow. Altogether it is a distinct 
and pretty Cypripedium, on account of the decided 
purple hue of the petals and lip. It was raised by 
Mr. P. McArthur, The London Nursery, 4, Maida 
Vale, W., where it is now flowering. 
Cypripedium insigne Gortoni. The dis¬ 
tinction of this variety lies in the upper sepal, 
which is entirely without the spotting characteristic 
of the type. It is pale green, and shaded with 
brown along the veins, and has a wavy, white 
margin. The petals are yellowish, finely netted 
with brown. The lip is of a shiny brown, and the 
staminode is yellow. It Las been flowering for 
some time past and for the second time in the col¬ 
lection of Mr. P. McArthur, 4, Maida Vale, W., so 
■that the absence of spots or blotches may be con 
sidered permanent. 
--- 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned Chrysanthemums received 
First-class Certificates at the meeting nf the Floral 
Committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society 
held at the Royal Aquarium on October 23rd :— 
Edith Tabor.—A large handsome Japanese 
variety this, with broad, slightly twisted florets of 
great substance, and a clear bright yellow in colour, 
shading to lemon at the tips of the florets. Mr. 
R. C. Notcutt, Broughton Road Nursery, Ipswich. 
Mrs. Charles Blick. —This is another Japanese 
variety of great merit, an undoubted improvement on 
the old Stanstead White. In colour it is nearly a 
pure white, the slight suspicion of creamy-yellow it 
contains in the centre rather adding to than detract¬ 
ing from its beauty. Mr. C. Blick, Hayes, Kent. 
John Seward. -A grand Japanese, for description 
of which see list of plants certificated by the Royal 
Horticultural Society in our last issue. Mr. Seward, 
Hill Farm, Hanwell. 
Dorothy Seward.— rHere we have a fine Japanese 
reflexed variety, rich chestnut-red in hue, the 
•florets having a buff-yellow reverse. Mr. Seward, 
Mrs. J. Schrimpton.— A massive J apanese flower, 
bronzy-yellow in colour. Mr. Seward. 
Lady Byron. —A superb white Japanese variety, 
the result of a cross between Mrs. Alpheus Hardy 
and Purity. The massive incurving florets are 
slightly thorned at the tips. Mr. Weeks, gardener 
to Lady Byron, Thrumpton Hall, Derby. 
Piccinino.— This is a large, full-flowered Pompon 
variety, rosy-pink in colour. Mr. H. Briscoe- 
Ironside, Cedar Lodge, Burgess Hill, Sussex. 
Mrs. Annie Holden. —In this we have a really 
good single variety, a sport from Miss Mary 
Anderson, and closely resembling that well-known 
sort in the size and contour of the flower. In colour 
it is a rich butter-yellow. Messrs. H. Cannell & 
Sons, Swanley, Kent. 
Mutual Friend is undoubtedly one of the best 
pure white Japanese varieties we have yet seen. 
The flower is of large size, somewhat loose, and with 
broad incurving florets of great substance. Mr. 
Edwin Beckett, Elstree, Herts. 
Mrs. Edwin Silsbury. —In this we have another 
pure white Japanese variety of great merit. The 
florets are long and slightly reflexed. Mr. H. J. 
Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham, 
S.E. 
D. B. Crane is a further acquisition to the list of 
incurved sorts. It is of medium size and of a rich 
old gold hue. Mr. H. J. Jones. 
Ethel Addison.— A huge flower this, of a deep 
rose colour, with a silvery reverse. Mr. H. J. 
Jones. 
Dorothy Gibson.—A splendid example here of a 
really good Japanese reflexed sort. Ihe blooms are 
large, very deep, and full, with rather narrow-pointed 
florets, and an exceedingly rich yellow in colour. 
Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead. 
-- 
THE FLOWER BURDEN. 
Cold, wet weather, together with a few degrees of 
frost, has worked a lamentable change in the aspect 
of the hardy flower garden during the last week or 
two. It was not to be expected that we should for 
ever pass unmolested by the touch of winter’s icy 
fingers ; still we cannot but regret the glories that 
are past Even the splendidly floriferous perennial 
Asters, or Starworts as they are popularly called, 
have done their share, and have had to retire at last, 
beaten in the conflict with the weather. The chief 
work among the flower beds for the time being will 
be the removal of all old plants, which must be 
rooted out and carted off to the rubbish heap if they 
are destined for no further use. Old Pelargoniums > 
however, often come in handy, as they form larger 
stuff than that obtained from cuttings, which is of 
great service in filling up the centres of large beds, 
added to which they usually bloom with greater 
freedom than the younger plants. If it is desired to 
save them, therefore, they must be cut back pretty 
severely and potted or boxed up carefully with¬ 
holding water from them, as this only increases their 
liability to damp off. 
Dahlias.— As soon as the frost has blackened thetops 
of these they may be cut down to within a few inches 
of the ground, and allowed to remain thus for a day 
or two, after which they maybe carefully lifted and 
placed in a shed or outhouse to dry somewhat, and 
thus allow the removal of the soil which is sure to 
adhere to some extent to the tubers during the lifting, 
after which they may be stored away in the usual 
way for the winter. 
Tulips. —Where it is proposed to fill some of the 
beds with these showy subjects no time must be lost 
in getting the bulbs planted. Give the soil a nice 
forking over and levelling, and then proceed to plant 
with all speed, as the soil is in splendid condition for 
the performance of work of this character, and we 
know not how long it may continue so, for autumn 
is nothing if not treacherous and changeable. The 
bulbs should be planted at a depth of from three to 
four inches below the surface, putting in a little sand 
at the bottom of the hole if the soil is wet and heavy, 
whilst from six to seven inches; each way between the 
bulbs will be quite sufficient space to allow. 
Narcissi. —Although it is an obvious fact that the 
earlier in the season Narcissi are planted the better 
it is for them, it is not always possible to give them 
this early attention, especially in cases where it is 
Droposed to fill various beds wfcith them, as then they 
have to wait for the clearing away of the summer 
occupants; still, if sound well matured bulbs are to 
hand, good results may be anticipated from late 
plantings. Lose no time, therefore, in attending to 
them. 
Scillas. —These are notoriously easy of cultiva¬ 
tion, and should be freely employed, either planted in 
clumps or in thick lines to serve as edging material 
io the larger beds or borders. Severe frost troubles 
them not, and they grow and bloom annually for 
several years in the same position. 
Wallflowers. — These are practically indis¬ 
pensable in any arrangements that are being made 
for a display of flower in the spring months. 
Besides the masses of glowing beauty they 
afford at that season they impart a furnished appear¬ 
ance to the beds and their rich green foliage is thus 
very conspicuous during the winter months. Planting 
should be conducted without delay, so as to give 
them a chance to get established in their new 
quarters before winter sets in real earnest. Lift them 
with as good balls as possible, and make the holes 
sufficiently large to allow them to be let in without 
the exercise of undue pressure. 
The Hardy Fernery.— Here, too, things are 
beginning to languish, for the plants are upon the 
borderland of their winter sleep. If possible, the 
hardy fernery should be situated some little distance 
from the mansion, for in dealing with it and its 
occupants at this season of the year the laws of 
tidiness cannot possibly be put in force so strongly 
as in other parts of the flower garden. The shabby 
fronds must be allowed to stay on as long as they 
like, for their removal prematurely would rob the 
crowns of a good deal of the nutriment that should 
be theirs, and besides, these dead fronds being dry 
and light afford an excellent natural protection 
against severe frost, which it would be unwise to 
remove. A good mulching of decayed leaves should 
be given now, spreading this evenly over the ground 
by means of a fork, taking care to avoid treading on 
the ground any more than can possibly be helped. 
Planting of Shrubs. —A general look round 
should now be given with a view to finding out what 
shrubs it will be necessary to accord a change of 
quarters. In many cases where new shrubberies 
are made, containing a heterogeneous collection of 
subjects, an immediate effect is desired, and thus they 
are planted too thickly at the start to allow of much 
room for expansion. As growth proceeds, therefore, 
a judicious thinning out must be conducted. The 
material that is taken out to make room for the 
plants remaining will come in very handy for the 
replenishing of other shrubberies where deaths have 
occurred.— A. S. G. 
-- 
©leanings from ff|e, Pnrlb 
uf fiu'U'iu'c. 
Sleepy Grass. —From various parts of the world, 
where pasture grass is of leading importance to 
settlers and young communities, we hear or learn of 
some plant which is injurious to the health of cattle 
and horses, or even poisonous to them. This has 
been the case from the time of Linnaeus, of Sweden, 
to the present time. In this country the Yew is 
most frequently brought intotprominence. In the 
highlands of the warm northern parts of Queensland 
the cattle when driven from one part of the country 
to another through a certain district, have to be 
urged on to prevent them from eating the grass 
which is mixed with some poisonous plant or plants. 
One of the more recent cases is that of the so-called 
Sleepy Grass, which grows in some districts of New 
Mexico, and is deleterious in its effect upon cattle 
and horses eating it. Horses that eat it go to sleep 
standing and are difficult to rouse from their stupor. 
Cows and sheep lie down and sleep after eating it. 
As the effect wears off, they commence eating again, 
and repeat the process perhaps a dozen times, till 
thirst compels them to go in search of water. 
Strange to say no worse results seem to occur beyond 
those stated. It is, moreover, very annoying to 
travellers when their horses go to sleep upon the 
road. Mr. Frederick V. Colvill, botanist to the 
United States Department of Agriculture, says the 
grass in question is Stipa viridula robusta, which, on 
good authority, is known to have a narcotic effect 
upon the animals eating it. 
