July 25, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
755 
necessary for their respective uses. Another article 
is brown peat, useful for potting Heaths, Azaleas, 
etc. Yellow fibrous loam is the right material for 
the cultivation of Tomatos and pot vines. All these 
things and many more can be procured direct from 
Goldsmith Street. The premises have recently been 
rebuilt; in fact, they have not long been completed. 
They are more commodious and in every respect 
suitable for a miscellaneous collection like that we 
have just mentioned. Everything is kept neat and 
tidy so that one wonders where all these things can 
be stored. The office of the establishment is located 
on the upper floor. The packing is also effected on 
the premises. In the keeping of all these things in 
proper condition and in seeing to the prompt 
execution of orders Mr. Smyth is ably assisted by 
his courteous, active, and attentive manager, Mr. H. 
Richardson, whose face is well known to hundreds of 
the gardening fraternity. 
-«*•- 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS, 
By The Editor. 
Cattleya gigas atratum.—The lip is by far 
the darkest organ of the flower of this variety, being 
of a rich and warm intense crimson, and having a 
narrow lilac margin, which is beautifully frizzled or 
crisped. The white and yellow eye-like blotches are 
well defined and conspicuous. Another noticeable 
feature of the flower is that the colours are more or 
less splashed or run upon the sepals. The ground 
colour is warm rose, beautifully lined with slender, 
forking, white veins. Here and there the colours 
are heaped up in dark purple splashes, leaving other 
portions shading off almost to white. These 
characters are constant, for a plant in the possession 
of Messrs. Seeger & Co., Crown Point, West Norwood, 
has flowered several times and always proves true 
to character. The lip, however, is really the most 
conspicuous and handsome organ of the flower. 
Aerides multiflorum Lobbii.—This old- 
fashioned subject better known as A. Lobbii has its 
uses and decorative value in spite of the newer 
introductions for which it is suffering more or less 
neglect Its long drooping racemes of bloom come 
in useful at this season of the year when Orchids 
generally, are to a great extent out of season. A 
plant in a basket suspended from the roof of the 
Cattleya house in the garden of E. H. Watts, Esq , 
Devonhurst, Chiswick, bears two racemes, or we 
might say panicles of bloom—for they are branched 
— each over 2 ft. in length. Each inflorescence has 
a pair of branches towards the base, varying from 
6 in to 12 in. in length. The flowers are well- 
coloured for this species, having deep purple tips to 
the segments and plentifully spotted all over. 
Another plant now out of bloom had even darker 
and better spotted flowers than the one just described 
and which is now continuing the succession of 
bloom. 
Vanda parviflora.—The tall growing species and 
varieties of Vanda are held in most estimation, but 
a well grown and flowered plant of that under notice 
is by no means devoid of ornament, notwithstanding 
the diminutive character of the flowers. A plant 
suspended in a basket is now flowering freely in the 
garden of E. H. Watts, Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick, 
under the care of Mr. J. Gibson, who is bringing the 
collection into good condition since he took it in 
baud. The sepals and petals are of a clear and 
bright apricot-yellow, and the lip is tinted with blue 
or violet, thus affording a contrast. Though this 
species cannot be compared with its tall congeners 
for size of flower and richness of colouring, the 
flowers are certainly graceful, the colour distinct, 
and the plant quite uncommon in collections. 
-—- 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S 
EXAMINATION IN HORTICULTURE, 
MAY, 1896. 
Questions. 
Eight questions only to be answered, four from Division 
A, and four from Division B. 
Division A. — Elementary Principles. 
1. —What are the objects sought to be obtained by 
digging the soil ? Of what use is it to the crops 
2. What do plants do when exposed to bright 
sunshine, and what takes place when they are sub¬ 
jected to total darkness ? 
j. —Of the elements and compounds that go to 
make up the constitution of plants, a few occur in 
much larger proportion than others. Which are 
they, and whence are they obtained ? 
4. — What are the " reserve materials " of plants ? 
Where are they stored ? What use is made of 
them ? 
5. — What are the essential points in the structure 
of roots, as contrasted with that of stems ? 
6. —What are the special effects produced by 
nitrogenous manures and by mineral manures 
respectively ? 
7. —Describe the shoot of a Peach tree and the 
arrangement of its buds. 
8. —What part of the plant furnishes the vege¬ 
table known as Asparagus ? 
9. —What are the main differences between the 
“ seed ” of a flowering plant and the “ spore ” of a 
fungus ? 
Division B,- -Horticultural Practice. 
1. — Describe the preparation of the ground for the 
Onion crop ; the method of sowing the seed and 
subsequent treatment ; also the most suitable soil. 
2. —What are the circumstances which should 
regulate the frequency of watering and the amount 
of water to be given to plants in pots. ? 
3. — Describe the most suitable soil, and the 
method of culture, for such tap-rooted vegetables as 
the Carrot and Parsnip. 
4. — Say what you know about the origin of the 
Cherry and Apricot ; the soil and manure most 
suitable to each ; the diseases they are subject to, 
and the most effective remedies. 
5. —Give the names of the best varieties of Straw¬ 
berries. What is the most suitable soil for their 
culture ? Describe the culture (in details) for 
forcing and the open garden. 
6. — What is the origin of the Carnation and the 
garden Pink ? How may a supply of flowers be 
obtained from these plants all the year round ? 
Describe the diseases and the methods of prevention 
and cure. 
7. —Describe the culture of the Daffodil ; its pro¬ 
pagation ; the diseases and other enemies that 
attack the plants, and the best treatment. 
8 . - Describe the general details of Orchard 
House Culture; and state whether there are any 
advantages in growing fruit trees in pots. 
9 — What are the best methods for ventilating 
hot-houses, and for shading the plants ? Give general 
details. 
[The results of this examination we announced 
in our issue for the nth July. The questions 
now published will furnish our readers, who may 
intend to sit at the examination next year, with an 
idea of the nature of the subjects they must study in 
order to be able to pass the examination of the Royal 
Horticultural Society.—E d ] 
-- 
AUSTRALIAN GARDEN FLOWERS. 
A love of flowers is a leading trait of Australian 
character, and no wonder, for not only are garden 
plants abundant and easily cultivated everywhere, 
save in the " dry country,” but blossoms of some 
kind or other, thanks to the temperate climate, are 
procurable all the year round. Even choice Roses 
may be met with in sheltered localities during May 
and June — months corresponding with the European 
November and December, In an interesting work 
on New South Wales, published by the Government 
Printer of that colony, a writer says that of recent 
years gardening has become exceedingly popular 
about Sydney and some of the country towns ; and 
gardens rs, professional and amateur, exhibit remark¬ 
able skill in the art. There are several horticultural 
societies in the city and suburbs, and others in the 
country, which are chiefly connected with agri¬ 
cultural societies. At some of their exhibitions may 
be seen wonderfully good specimens of flowers and 
ornamental plants difficult to excel, perhaps, any¬ 
where. The Rose seems to hold its own as a 
favourite, although the Chrysanthemum has many 
admirers. The Rose succeeds to perfection, and is 
one of the easiest and most satisfactory of plants to 
grow, for it will withstand a severe drought and 
much ill-treatment. The tea-scented, and those 
termed hybrid tea-scented, are by far the most flori- 
ferous, and, consequently, have become the 
favourites. The Chrysanthemum seems to be per¬ 
fectly at home in almost all parts of New South 
Wales, and, strange to say, and quite contrary to 
the general impression, it succeeds wonderfully well 
in the dry atmosphere of the inland parts of the 
colony, provided it can be supplied with water 
There is generally great competition amongst Chry¬ 
santhemum growers at the horticultural shows, and 
some remarkable flowers are frequently exhibited 
The Camellia thrives exceedingly well, and is a 
useful and ornamental plant, even when not in full 
bloom. After it becomes fairly well established it 
needs but little attention, and will in time attain a 
considerable size. There are many varieties of 
Bouvardia in cultivation, and they all succeed 
remarkably well in most parts of the colony. They 
blossom continuously for many months during the 
year, and the more the flowers are removed the 
better the plants seem to blossom Carnations, 
Pinks, Picotees, and all members of the Dianthus 
family thrive to great perfection, and are very useful 
and ornamental flowers for the garden, The variety 
of Carnation most preferred is that known as the 
" Tree, or Perpetual-flowering,” which blooms for 
the greater part of the year. Bulbs and tuberous- 
rooted plants succeed admirably in different parts of 
the colony, and many of them need little or no care 
after they are once planted. They may be left in 
the ground ) ear after year with impunity, unless it 
is thought necessary to thin them out. Great 
quantities of Daffodils, Liliums, Jonquils, Hyacinths, 
Snowflakes and Snowdrops are grown by the nursery¬ 
men and florists for sale during the season. Some 
of them thrive best in elevated cooler parts of 
the colony. Hippeastrums succeed admirably, and 
without any care. Pelargoniums were at one time great 
favourites, but although still grown largely interest 
in them seems to have fallen off considerably, the 
reason, probably being that they can be grown so 
easily—almost like weeds if permitted. The same 
thing may be said with respect to many other kinds 
of plants which are glass-house treasures in some 
countries. Indeed, several plants which have been 
introduced for ornamental purposes thrive so well 
that they have become great pests, as, for instance, 
a Lantana from China, and the Prickly Pear, which 
has spread to such an extent in some parts of the 
colony, that vast tracts of country have been ruined 
by it for pastoral purposes. The Sweetbrier, also a 
garden favourite in some countries, has thriven 
almost beyond control ; and the common Blackberry 
has become a nuisance in some places, and most 
difficult to eradicate. Numbers and numbers of 
species of beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowering 
plants grow in great perfection. Mangolias of 
various kinds, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Cacti, 
Abutilons, Palms, Yuccas, Bamboos, Berberis, 
Crataegus, Daphne, Jacaranda, Deutzia, Dracaenas, 
Gardenia, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Lasiandra, Spiraea, 
annuals of almost every kind, perennials, and beauti¬ 
ful creepers of wonderful variety are quite at home 
in the various climates of the colony, which may 
fairly be regarded as a floral paradise.— John 
Plummer , Sydney. 
— w -- 
(Sleamniie Jirutti tfj$ SDnrlb 
of Sctenc^. 
Germination of Ranunculus fluitans. —At a 
meeting of the Linnean Society of London, on 
June 18th, the Rev. G. Henslow exhibited specimens 
to illustrate the germination of Ranunculus fluitans 
(Maltese var.). He remarked that the peculiarity in 
the germination of this aquatic plant resided in the 
frequent (50 per cent.) arrest of the primary root, 
with the production of adventitious roots just above 
the disorganised end of the radicle. In his paper on 
" A Theoretical Origin of Endogens from Exogens,” 
Mr. Henslow had pointed out that the universal arrest 
of the axial root in Endogens was foreshadowed in 
that of members of the Njmphaeaceae, Oenanths 
Phellandrium and Ceratophyllum. The present 
examples, therefore, afforded an additional corrobora¬ 
tion of the theory advanced in that paper. 
Growth of leaves and Chlorophyll — A paper 
was read by Prof. Macdougal, " On the Relations of 
the Growth of Leaves to the Chlorophyll-function. ' 
The author remarked that the leaves of seedlings 
accomplish a large proportion, though not always 
their entire development, at the expense of the food 
derived from the seed Rapidly developing, but 
small, leaves furnished with large stores of reserve 
food are able to carry out a complete development 
