August 8, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
783 
Cranston's Excelsior, and Sandy Prize are all in 
first-class condition. 
By the time we had got thus far on our ramble 
the day had become far spent, and as even the sun 
of Kent must sink below the horizoD, we were com¬ 
pelled to refrain from further investigations, being 
well assured however that we were considerably the 
losers thereby. 
» « - — 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned subjects received certificates 
according to merit from the Royal Horticultural 
Society on the 28th ult. 
Orchid Committee. 
Cattleya Atlanta. Nov. hyb .— The parents of this 
hybrid are given as C. Warscewiczii (gigas), and C. 
guttata Leopoldii. The first-named has influenced 
the size of the flowers chiefly ; the latter has modified 
the form greatly, and determined the colour to a great 
extent. The sepals are dusky-lilac, with a few 
scattered spots. The petals are obovate-cuneate, 
clear lilac-purple and sub-fleshy. The lip is of great 
size and has a transversely-oblong bifid, rich, dark 
magenta-purple lamina, crisped and toothed at the 
edges. The short, broad claw is of the same intense 
hue. The side lobes are deep purple, and the tube 
rosy externally. It is a handsome and showy 
addition to its section. First-class certificate. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Masdevallia Ajax. Nov. hyb .— The parents of 
this hybrid were M. Chelsoni and M. Peristeria, and 
the progeny, being intermediate, is very unlike either. 
The tube of the perianth is densely spotted with 
small violet specks, almost obscuring the yellow. 
The free portions of the lateral sepals are triangular, 
densely speckled with brownish-crimson, and end in 
tails 1 in. long. The dorsal sepal is yellow, with 
three brown nerves, and tails x\ in. long.The leaves 
are oblong-lanceolate, and leathery. Altogether it is 
remarkably distinct. Award of Merit. Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Odontoglossum aspidorhinum.— This pretty 
Odontoglot would come into the O. constrictum 
section. The linear-lanceolate leaves are narrower 
than those of O. sanderianum, and the flowers are 
slightly smaller. The sepals are lanceolate, the 
petals linear, and all are blotched with dark brown 
on a yellow ground. The large, fiddle-shaped lip is 
white, with two or three purple spots in the centre. 
The crest consists of four horns, the lateral two being 
long and slender. It is a very interesting type. 
Award of Merit. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
(grower, Mr. W. H. White), Burford Lodge, 
Dorking. 
Dendrobium curviflorum. —This uncommon 
species would come into the Aporum group of 
Dendrobes. The leaves are short, fleshy, distichous, 
and laterally compressed. The flowers are produced, 
one or two together, close to the apex, and almost or 
quite terminal. They are moderate in size, and 
white, with a yellow band on the lip. The lateral 
sepals are prolonged into a long, curved chin. 
Botanical Certificate. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
Cypripedium Harrisander. Nov. hyb .— The seed 
parent of this hybrid was C. harrisianum, and the 
pollen bearer, C. sanderianum ; the name is a com¬ 
pound of those of the parents. The dorsal sepal is 
small, heavily lined and suffused with brown on a 
greenish-yellow ground. The linear petals are 4 in. 
long, spreading horizontally at the base, and then 
curved downwards, the two forming a wide arch. 
They are yellow at the base, spotted with brown, then 
dark brown above this, and reddish-brown on the 
apical half. The laterally compressed lip is glossy, 
and of a rich brownish-purple. Altogether it is a 
very distinct and striking hybrid. Award of Merit. 
The plant shown by W. C. Clarke, Esq., Liverpool, 
bore three flowers on a scape. 
Floral Committee. 
Delphinium Zalil. —Though not quite new, this 
species comes very opportunely ; for we want a yellow 
Delphinium, to give rise, if possible, to a new race 
with altogether different colours from the prevailing 
blue and white shades of the already existing border 
varieties. The plant is a perennial, perfectly hardy, 
of medium stature, and bears long, graceful racemes, 
of moderately large sulphur-yellow sepals, and darker 
petals with an orange spot on each of the two upper 
ones. It is pretty in itself and will be useful for 
hybridising purposes. Award of Merit. Messrs. Barr 
& Sons, King Street, Covent Garden. 
Campanula pyramidalis alba compacta. —The 
flowers of this variety are large, widely and shallowly 
bell-shaped, and pure white. They are abundantly 
and closely produced on branching, pyramidal stems, 
3 ft. to 4 ft. high. Award of Merit. Earl Percy 
(gardener, Mr. Geo. Wythes), Syon House, Brent¬ 
ford. 
Hollyhock Ovid. —The flowers of this variety 
are of great size, and very double, with all of the 
central petals very wavy and of a dark rosy-red. 
The guard petals are flat and somewhat paler. 
Award of Merit. Messrs. Webb and Brand, Saffron 
Walden. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
Gooseberry Langley Beauty. —This was raised 
from Railway (large and green) crossed with Yellow 
Champagne, a small yello v variety. The object was 
to combine the large berries of the former with the 
upright habit of the latter. The fruits of the 
progeny are of large size, roundish oval, golden 
yellow, prominently marked with paler, but strong 
branching veins. The surface is thinly furnished 
with rather coarse hairs The flavour is luscious, 
rich, juicy, and sweet. The plant is very prolific, 
for the large trayful of fruit exhibited by Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, was gathered from three small, 
one-year-old bushes. The berries are large and 
showy enough for exhibition, and of quality sufficient 
to ensure its being in request for dessert purposes. 
First-class Certificate. 
Langley Gage.— Pitmaston Green Gage, a small 
dark green variety, was the seed parent of this sort, 
and the larger, green Telegraph was the pollen 
bearer. The object was to combine the upright 
habit of the first named with the size of the berry 
of Telegraph. The fruits are intermediate in size, 
oval, and of a beautiful, silvery, transparent hue, 
showing the seeds through the smooth, thin skin. 
The flavour is delicately delicious and sweet, and the 
juice very melting. The bushes are extremely 
prolific, for some large branches shown were simply 
overladen with fruit of tempting appearance. Award 
of Merit. Messrs. J. Veitch & Son. 
Red Currant The Comet.— This variety is re¬ 
markable for the great length of the racemes or strings, 
and the handsome size of the berries unless, indeed, 
cultivation be largely responsible for the results. 
The glossy, sub-transparent skin is of a rich dark 
red. The juice is almost without acidity and soft to 
the palate. The variety should prove useful for 
exhibition purposes. Award of Merit. Mr. H. 
Becker, Nurseryman, Jersey. 
-—- 
As all attention will soon be turned to the propaga¬ 
tion of bedding plants it will be wise to make such 
preparations as are possible in order to forward 
matters somewhat when the rush commences. Soil, 
pots and boxes, may be got in readiness at odd times 
in sufficient quantities at least to allow of a good 
start being made. As a rule the washing of pots 
may be safely left as employment for wet days, but 
these have been conspicuous by their almost entire 
absence this year. 
Carpet Beds.— These are now in need of an 
occasional pinching over in order to keep the various 
plants in their respective places and the leading lines 
distinct. The bright sun has at least had the effect 
of developing the gay colours of the foliage to perfec¬ 
tion, although the plants have not grown nearly so 
freely as usual. 
Scillas. —Popular taste is declaring more and 
moie every year in favour of hardy flowers and their 
naturalisation in suitable spots. In any such 
arrangements the Scillas play a most important part 
and are capable of producing splendid results if 
judiciously employed. The present is an excellent 
season for carrying on planting on a large scale, for 
whether peeping up through the grass in partially 
shaded corners of the lawn or clustering in nooks in 
the rockery, or amidst the clumps of hardy ferns in 
the fernery, the bright blue flowers are always 
welcome. For a comparatively small outlay a large 
quantity of strong healthy bulbs suitable for plant¬ 
ing in this way may be procured. 
Hardy Fernery.— Where some of the plants 
have grown to such a size as to encroach upon their 
neighbours a little judicious thinning out will be 
advisable. This may be done as soon as desired if 
care is taken. The plants should be taken up with 
good balls of earth attached to the roots, and must 
not be kept out of the ground any longer than is 
absolutely necessary, but dropped into their new 
quarters as speedily as possible. A good watering 
with the hose should follow immediately after, and 
the plants will then take but little harm. 
Gladioli.— As soon as the flower spikes begin to 
make their appearance, doses of liquid manure should 
be given at intervals. This little attention will 
greatly increase the size and brilliancy of the blooms. 
Where the flower spikes are large and heavy, 
support must be given in time, as we are sure to get 
a fair spell of rough weather presently to make up 
for the fine summer, and in that case the Gladioli 
would suffer sorely. 
Hollyhocks.— The present is a good time to 
propagate these grand old fashioned flowers by the 
insertion of eyes. These may be obtained from side 
shoots which are just getting nicely firm. A single 
leaf should be left upon the eye as this affords a con¬ 
venience for handling as well as assisting the 
speedy development of roots. The eyes should be 
dibbled into a bed of sandy soil in a cold frame and 
covered with bell glasses or handlights. Careful 
shading will be necessary until roots are formed. 
This method of propagation is not always a sure one, 
as the result will vary somewhat from year to year, 
but the practice is well worth a trial, if only a com¬ 
paratively few plants are obtained, as these make 
nice little stuff before winter sets in. 
* 
Strawberries. —In all establishments the Straw¬ 
berry crop is one of the most important of the year, 
and it is necessary each year to make new planta¬ 
tions to take the place of those which are too old to 
be of much service. Many good growers treat their 
Strawberries as annuals, that is, they only allow the 
plantations to fruit for one season. In any case it is 
not advisable to allow the plantations to remain for 
longer than three years, as after the lapse of that 
time the fruit begins to deteriorate greatly in size 
and quality. Even in this case it is advisable to 
renew part of the plantation each year, as a division 
of labour is thus obtained, no single season having to 
bear the brunt of the whole. 
Runners will have been layered into small sixty 
pots or upon small square pieces of turf some weeks 
previously, and these will by this time have made 
sufficient roots to warrant their being cut from the 
parent plants. No time should be lost now in 
getting them into their permanent quarters, indeed 
the sooner they are planted out the better, as they 
will have all the more time to get thoroughly estab¬ 
lished before winter sets in. 
Any ordinary garden soil will suit the Strawberry 
provided it be not of too tenacious a character. A 
fairly moist situation should be chosen for preference, 
although where the soil varies in different parts of 
the garden it will be wise to have the plantations 
scattered likewise, so that in the event of a very dry 
or a very wet season ensuing, all the eggs will not be 
in one basket, to use a homely simile. The ground 
should be thoroughly trenched and manured, the 
manure being buried fully 1 ft. below the surface, 
where it will be found by the roots of the plants as 
they strike downwards. 
With regard to the distance to allow between the 
plants it will be impossible to lay down a hard and 
fast rule, as the space given nyist be determined by 
the relative strength of the varieties planted, as well 
as to a less extent by the nature of the ground, 
whether heavy or comparatively light, In a general 
way the rows may bi 2 ft., and the plants 
18 in. apart, although the strongest growing sorts 
may require as much as 2I ft. between the rows. In 
this matter the cultivator must use his own judge¬ 
ment. Many good growers favour the plan of allow¬ 
ing 3 ft. of space between every second or third row 
so as to admit of easier access to the plants during 
harvest time. In planting, avoid burying the plants 
too deeply. The soil must not be allowed to cover 
the hearts of the plants, although the roots must be 
well covered. Make the soil nicely firm after plant¬ 
ing, and follow up immediately after with a good 
soaking of clear water, administering subsequent 
waterings as occasion requires until the plants are 
established. When possible it is advisable to choose 
a dull day for planting, but should this not offer 
itself, and planting has to be conducted in bright 
weather, take every precaution to prevent the plants 
being disturbed at the roots or kept out of the ground 
for too long.— A. S. G. 
