December 14, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
239 
tree department is also represented by specimens of 
Quicks, trees and plants of various kinds. 
The Ichthemic Guano people are, as a matter of 
course, well in evidence in the Berner’s Gallery 
with specimens of phosphate and other manures for 
agricultural purposes,of which we note there are some 
thirty varieties destined for every conceivable crop, 
and bespeaking in an emphatic manner the 
resources of this firm’s extensive factories at 
Ipswich. 
Mr. A. Findlay, of Markinch, N.B., staged a 
quantity of fine looking Potatos, which were 
described as “ Disease Resisting Scotch.” 
A large space was devoted to samples of Mangolds, 
Seeds, Swedes, and Potatos (including some excellent 
Satisfaction and Snowdrop) from Mr. John K. King, 
of Coggeshall, Essex.— Gyp. 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS, 
By The Editor. 
Cypripea'ium Smithii.— In this we have a 
beautiful garden hybrid between C. lawrenceanum 
and C. ciliolare, the latter being the pollen parent. 
We noted a plant of it in the collection of J. 
MacMeekin, Esq., Falkland Park, South Norwood 
Hill. The dorsal sepal is white, suffused with rose- 
and striped with purple and greeD veins. The petals 
are rose, shaded with green on the upper longitudinal 
half, and further ornamented with two rows of large 
black blotches or spots. The large lip is dark 
purple. 
Cypripedium lo Grande. —This is an improve¬ 
ment upon the typical C. Io, which is also a hybrid 
and notable for the spotting of its petals. The 
upper sepal is white, shaded with rose, and greenish 
at the base. The petals are the most conspicuous 
and attractive feature of the flower, being heavily 
ornamented with black spots. The lip is of a dark 
dull purple, as might be expected from the parentage. 
It has been flowering for some time at Falkland 
Park, South Norwood Hill, 
Cypripedium harrisianum superbum.— 
There are several varieties in cultivation under this 
name, but Mr. A. Wright, gardener to J. McMeekin 
Esq., Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill, has 
succeeded in getting the true one, and very richly 
coloured it is. The upper sepal is of a rich brown¬ 
ish-black with a white edge. The shining or glossy 
petals may be described as blackish-purple, while the 
lip is deep purple with a greenish base to the pouch. 
The plant is of the easiest culture, and has a bold 
and striking look about it when well grown and 
freely flowered. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The following Chrysanthemums received First-class 
Certificates from the National Chrysanthemum 
Society on the 3rd inst:— 
Mrs. G. E. Shea. —As previously stated by us, 
this is a late variety, and likely to figure in the 
future at the early winter shows. The blooms are 
very compact and full; in fact, several buds should 
be allowed to develop on every plant, so as to 
economise the energies of the same. The florets 
are extremely numerous, of moderate width, pointed, 
and make a beautifully refined and compact bloom. 
When seen by daylight they might be described as 
primrose-white. Mr. A Haggart, gardener to Mr. 
Johnson Foster, Moor Park, Ludlow. 
Golden Dart. —For description see p. 222. Mr. 
E. H. Jenkins, Hampton Hill, Middlesex. 
King of Plumes. —This is a beautiful decorative 
variety of the first water. The blooms are moderate 
in size when grown without disbudding for the pur¬ 
pose of cut flowers, and of a soft golden-yellow. 
The florets are loose, spreading, bifid or lacerated at 
the apex, graceful, and pleasing. As a rule the 
blooms are about 3 in. in diameter, so that the 
variety is sure to get into a large number of collec¬ 
tions before this time next year. Mr. Robert Owen, 
Castle Hill, Maidenhead. 
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TIE PLANT MISES. 
The Stove. 
We have now reached the dullest part of the year 
in dealing with the plant houses, and we must act 
accordingly. Of course the stove will not be entirely 
destitute of colour; for Poinsettias, Euphorbia 
jacquiniaeflora, Eucharis, &c., will all be contributing 
their quota towards the brightening of the house. 
Still, the majority of plants are taking a partial rest, 
and it is not wise to unduly disturb this rest. At 
this time of the year it is surprising to see how little 
water the plants need, although this must not be 
taken to mean that they are to have none at all. On 
the contrary, it will still be necessary to look them 
over each morning with the watering can. 
Fireheat must be cautiously applied, for no plants 
really take to it kindly, although some put up with it 
better than others. A temperature of 6o° Fahr. by 
night in the warmest house and 56° in the inter¬ 
mediate compartment will be ample. When stating 
that a particular temperature is to be kept up in any 
one house, of course it supposes that due caution 
is taken to prevent frequent and rapid fluctuations of 
temperature, for these are very harmful to plants it 
is well known. It does not mean, however, that a 
slavish exactitude is to be observed, and that if the 
night is extra cold the fires are to be driven until the 
pipes are too hot to hold the hand on. The result of 
this kind of treatment will soon be observed in 
yellow, sickly foliage. It is far better to allow the 
temperature to drop two or three degrees lower than 
the point at which it is calculated to keep it, rather 
than to parch and weaken the plants with the aridity 
caused by a too liberal burning of coke. 
Advantage may be taken of the next week or two 
of the dull season to wage unremitting warfare 
against all insect pests. Pots also have to be washed 
and the moss removed from the surface of the soil 
they contain. In short, if it is no longer possible for 
the stove to exhibit such a wealth of colour, its 
appearance should still be kept up to the mark by 
having everything as tidy as possible. 
Climbers which have not been pruned before, 
because of the tenacity with which their leaves have 
clung to them may be seen to at once. Take care to use 
a sharp knife and make clean cuts. Curiously enough 
the art of pruning would seem to be given but little 
attention to, judging from the loDg, ragged stumps 
that we sometimes see adorning (?) our stoves. 
While it is generally admitted that a straight, clean 
cut is essential for the welfare of fruit trees, the fact 
that it is just as important a consideration when deal¬ 
ing with stove plants, seems to be far too often passed 
over or ignored. After pruning, the climbers may 
be carefully cleaned from insects, if they are observed 
to be present, and afterwards tied neatly up in their 
proper places. 
Beds or Borders in which they are growing will 
need very careful attention after a large proportion 
of the top growth has been thus removed. If they 
are situated near the sides of the house, the moisture 
running down the glass will often keep them quite 
damp enough, without any necessity for the use of the 
watering pot. If the hot-water pipes, however, run 
through or in close proximity to them they must be 
watched to see that portions do not get parched up, 
in which case the roots they contain are bound to 
meet with destruction. 
Bertolonias.— As these are rather touchy plants to 
manage in winter they should be placed in the 
warmest corner of the stove, away from all draughts. 
If a few bell-glasses are available they will come in 
very handy now for sheltering these somewhat 
delicate but beautiful plants. 
Pits and Frames. 
Forcing Pit. —This house especially will be 
occupied in catering to the wants of the showhousas. 
There will therefore be a constant stream of plants 
running through it in order to keep pace with the 
demand. It is advisable to have a cooler house 
in readiness, in which Deutzias, Lilacs, etc., as they 
■come into flower, may be placed preparatory to their 
being taken into the conservatory. They will thus 
be out of the way of the syringe, which must be kept 
plied amongst the other plants that are not in such 
an advanced state. 
Richardias. —When these have been lifted from 
the open ground in autumn and potted up they are 
ofien somewhat tardy in throwing up their flowers, 
especially when they are kept in a cool house. A 
batch of plants should, therefore, be put into a 
gentle heat in order to stimulate them somewhat. 
If the soil used for potting them was made fairly 
rich, this should last them for some little time yet, 
and no manurial stimulants will be needed—at any 
rate for the present. 
Chrysanthemums. —The getting in of a sufficient 
stock of cuttings must be proceeded with as fast as 
the material can be obtained. With the over¬ 
whelming number of varieties which stare us in the 
face upon opening a catalogue, it is manifest that a 
great deal of discretion must be exercised as to 
which to grow and which to pass by. Many of the 
sorts are distinct from each other in very little else 
than name, and thus a gardener who has a hundred 
really good ones may be said to have a fairly repre¬ 
sentative collection. Of course a decision will have 
been arrived at earlier, as to the relative values of 
these, and the number of plants that are to be grown 
of them will be regulated accordingly. A list should 
therefore be made of the amount of stock that is 
required and a record kept of the progress made in 
obtaining that stock. This will save a good 
deal of unnecessary labour ; for a glance at such a 
list will show whether it is necessary to put in any 
more cuttings of any special varieties. 
After the cuttings have rooted they should be 
kept as cool as possible, and fire-heat only given 
when necessary to exclude frost. Plenty of light 
and a fair amount of air are the most effective 
weapons with which to contend with damp, which 
is the greatest enemy of the Chrysanthemum in 
these, its earliest stages.— A. S. G. 
-- 
TIE ORCHID I00SES. 
East India House. —The atmosphere of this 
division, being of necessity kept much drier, will 
be very much in favour of the thrips, which are so 
fond of the succulent leaves of Phalaenopsis; con¬ 
sequently, no effort should be spared to keep these 
troublesome pests in check, or the plants will soon 
become disfigured and of course weakened. A good 
plan is to carefully sponge the leaves on alternate 
days; this not only keeps them clean, but helps to 
keep the foliage plump, and in a measure to counter¬ 
act the trying influences of fire heat. Where the 
moss has become over-luxuriant in growth it may be 
pressed down, and a few bits of crocks powdered up 
rather small and sprinkled over it to keep it in 
position, as too much moisture round the collar is 
not good for them. 
Over-flowering.— This too, as with most Orchids, 
is the cause of so many going wrong, but not more 
so than with the Moth Orchid. None of us I know 
like to pinch out spikes, but only when the plants are 
particularly strong should they be allowed to carry 
the full complement of bloom, if they are to be kept 
in good condition year after year. 
Temperature.— For Phalaenopsis it should be 
kept as even as possible as they very much dislike 
sudden changes. This often occurs in the outside 
temperature during the night, and, as a natural con¬ 
sequence, the inside fluctuates, but not to such a 
degree of course. A plan we adopt to obviate this, is 
to cover the roof glass at night witji mats. It is really 
surprising what a difference this makes to the inmates ; 
especially those that are hanging up rather close to 
the glass. The saving, too, in fuel is considerable in 
a large establishment, which is something to be 
thankful for. 
Odontoglossum coronarium. —This plant is 
generally believed to be a shy bloomer, but is, like 
most other plants when treated properly, easy to 
grow ; being a rambling sort of grower it does best in 
baskets or boat-shaped rafts. Our plants are just 
pushing new roots from the partially-made-up 
growths and, as it has grown rather out of bounds, 
will be seen to at once. This may seem a bad time 
of year to report anything, but with Odontoglossums 
there are always some that want doing where grown 
in quantity ; catch them when the growths are about 
half made up is our plan, and one that answers well. 
Miltonia Clowesii major.— This is a fine winter¬ 
flowering plant that should be in every collection. 
What a grand combination of colour ! It is best 
grown in a pot in peat and moss. It will grow well 
with the “ Crispums ” in summer, but should receive 
a little warmer treatment during the winter months. 
—C. 
