January 18 , 1896 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
319 
As the present season is very favourable for the 
sowing of spores of any particular species or variety 
of which it is desired to possess a larger stock than 
at present, the followiug hints upon the best method 
of procedure may be of service. 
Thirty-two-sized pots are the handiest to use. 
These at the outset should be filled three parts full 
of broken crocks, so as to insure efficient drainage. 
Next to this should be placed a layer of rough 
fibrous loam from which all the dust has been 
shaken, and lastly about half an inch of fine loam, 
with which has been mixed a little leaf soil and a 
sufficient quantity of finely-broken bricks or crocks 
to keep the soil from getting too pasty. The pots 
should be filled up with this fine compost to within 
about half an inch of the top. After a sufficient 
number of pots has been made up, they must all be 
stood upon some level surface and watered repeatedly 
with boiling water so as to kill all the seeds or spores 
of any other plant that may be present in the soil, 
and thus to leave all the available room to the de¬ 
velopment of the spores that are to be sown. Some 
gardeners prefer to put the compost that is to be 
used into a bag and to dip it into boiling water, but 
this is not so handy a plan as the one of filling the 
pots with it first, as the soil is naturally like mud 
after such an experience and does not make up 
nicely. Certainly it may be allowed to remain until 
it has dried somewhat, but that would only undo the 
work that the boiling water is supposed to have done 
—viz., the elimination of foreign organisms. 
After the heat has gone out of the soil the spores 
may be sprinkled thinly upon the surface. A piece 
of folded paper makes a handy distributor. A piece 
of glass should then be placed over the pot, resting 
upon the rim, thus keeping the atmosphere contained 
within the half inch of space between the surface of 
the soil and the glass, and which is in direct contact 
with the spores, moist and humid. Shallow saucers 
should be filled with water and the pots stood in 
these, thereby doing away with the necessity for 
watering overhead, which, no matter how carefully 
it may be performed, is sure to wash the spores 
up in heaps together. 
A great deal of attention will not be needed after¬ 
wards, although what is done must be done promptly 
and at the right time. The saucers in which the 
pots are standing must be kept filled with water. 
The pieces of glass covering the pots should also be 
taken off each morning and the moisture deposited 
upon them wiped off. As the season progresses and 
the sun begins to make its power felt, shading must 
be carefully seen to, for a few minutes’ bright sunlight 
would be very injurious to the delicate prothalli. 
With regard to temperature, the spores of most 
Ferns will germinate pretty freely in 6o° Fahr. 
Some of the greenhouse species and varieties will, of 
course, start away in a much lower temperature than 
this, although they germinate more readily in the 
higher ones. In the case of cool house Ferns, how¬ 
ever, the pots should be taken from the warm house 
to a rather cooler one at the termination of the 
prothallus stage, otherwise the plants will become 
drawn and sickly instead of strong and vigorous. 
-- 
WHAT’S IN A NAME ? 
Gardeners are often puzzled to know how it 
happens that certain flowers, fruits or vegetables 
have so many names. For a time it is understood 
that the latter represent distinct sorts or varieties till 
the results of a trial, either in their own or other 
gardens, show that the various names refer to one 
and the same thing. Two of the leading facts to be 
remembered in connection with these synonymous 
names, are, that the gardener would do well to 
ascertain whether they are synonymous or not, in 
order to avoid mistakes in ordering duplicates, and 
secondly, that the more aliases a plant has, the 
stronger the evidence that it is a good thing. How 
can that be ? says some one, remembering the 
epithet as applied to a man. The question at issue 
really is, how could so many names have been given 
to a widely disseminated, well-known, and popular 
plant ? It might not have been put into commerce 
originally in an organised and systematic way, but 
gradually conveyed from country to country and 
from place to place by individuals who may have 
recognised its merits or taken a fancy for it. By 
and by the original name may have been lost, if ever 
it had any, and succeeding cultivators, having dis¬ 
cerned its merits might imagine they had discovered 
Some new and nameless fruit, flower, or vegetable, 
and forthwith christen it. Half a dozen cultivators 
in different parts of the country, might do this, 
unknown to one another! This might happen in 
different countries. Another fruitful source of many 
names, is the custom of selecting more or less im¬ 
proved forms to which separate varietal names, etc. 
are given. The moral is, that gardeners need not 
be afraid of plants with many names, but should 
always endeavour to unravel their synonymy .—Fiat 
lux. 
--*»- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, Jan. 4th .—The meeting on Tues¬ 
day last was large and the exhibits fairly extensive, 
considering that this was the first assembly of the 
year. Orchids were well represented, and Chinese 
Primulas were very conspicuous. Stove and green¬ 
house plants came in for a fair share of attention, 
and fruit, chiefly collections of Apples, made a good 
display. 
A beautiful, very varied and rich collection of 
Orchids was exhibited by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea. Here we noted a fine piece of Vanda 
Charlesworthii, also Cypripedium insigne sanderi- 
anum, Phaiocalanthe Sedenii albiflora, Cypripedium 
Euryades, C. Schroderae candidulum, C. Niobe, 
Dendrobium glomeratum, Epiphronitis Veitchii, 
and many other very choice species and hybrids. 
Some of the above are bigeneric hybrids of great 
interest. All were tastefully distributed, and set up 
with a few Palms. In connection with this group 
was a collection of cut flowers of hybrid greenhouse 
Rhododendrons (Silver Flora Medal). 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, set up a 
varied and pretty group of Cypripediums, Laelias, 
Dendrobiums, Lycastes, &c. Laelia anceps alba 
Bull’s var., L. a. Stella, Ly caste lanipes, Dendro¬ 
bium Johnsonae, Odontoglossum aspersum var. 
humilis, and several others were all interesting and 
beautiful in their respective ways (Silver Flora 
Medal). 
A bold display was made by Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart, (grower, Mr. White), Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
A very large basket of Laelia gouldiana in full bloom 
in the centre of his group constituted a leading feature 
of the same, receiving a Bronze Banksian Medal. 
Very fine also were cut flowers of other Laelias, 
Odontoglossum coronarium miniatum, Cypripedium 
Lawrebel, C. Morganiae burfordiense var., Oncidium 
wheatleyanum. He received a Cultural Commen¬ 
dation fora fine plant of Lycaste plena measuresiana. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, exhibited a 
collection of Orchids set up with Ferns, and includ¬ 
ing a grand piece of Cymbidium traceyanum with 
two spikes of bloom. They also had fine forms of 
Cattleya percivaliana, the beautiful Cypripedium 
Bellona, C. Olenus (dwarf and dark in colour), and 
various others (Silver Banksian Medal). 
The collection of Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, 
Upper Holloway, contained a large number of Cypri¬ 
pediums, conspicuous amongst which were C. Sallieri 
aureum, C. insigneFostermanni, C. niten ssuperbum, 
the spots and markings of which were rich and heavy. 
Lycaste costata was also well flowered. Palms and 
Ferns helped to set off the flowers (Silver Banksian 
Medal). 
Cut flowers of fifty Cypripediums from as many 
distinct plants, including thirty-six hybrids and four¬ 
teen species, were exhibited by E. Ashworth, Esq., 
(gardener, Mr. H. Holbrook), Harefield Hall, 
Wilmslow, Cheshire. C. Goweri, C. Ashworthiae, 
C. Niobe, C. Calypso, and several others were very 
beautiful (Silver Banksian Medal). 
A large bunch of flowering stems of Calanthe 
Bella was shown by Earl Cowper (gardener, Mr. Jas. 
Fitt), Panshanger, Herts. Cypripedium Calypso, 
Stand Hall var., and others were shown by T. 
Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manchester. Five 
flowering plants of Cattleya Trianaei alba and three 
of C. nobilior were shown by Mr. William Bull, 
Chelsea. H. H. Bolton, Esq., Heigh Side, New- 
church, Eastwood, staged Cypripedium eastwoodi- 
anunt. C. L. N. Ingram, Esq., Godaiming, staged 
Laeliocattleya Cicero and Cattleya percivaliana 
Ingram’s var., both splendid forms, 
A large and well-flowered piece of Vanda amesiana 
numerous fine Cypripediums, including C. Calypso 
superbum, C. nitecs, C. Fascinator, and other 
Orchids were exhibited by R. I. Measures, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr, Hy. Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, 
Camberwell (Bronze Banksian Medal). An inter¬ 
esting and very varied group of Masdevallias was 
exhibited by S. Courtauld, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Alf. 
Wright), Booking Place, for which a Bronze Bank¬ 
sian Medal was awarded. Some varieties of Laelia 
anceps were exhibited by Mr. John Bradshaw, 
Southgate. Messrs. Heath & Son, Cheltenham, 
staged a small group of Cypripediums and Odonto- 
glossums. A Cultural Commendation was accorded 
to the Hon. Walfer Rothschild, for Lycaste trifohata 
(Lehman) a rather rare plant. 
One of the most notable features of the show was 
a right royal display of Primulas made by Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. A table running 
nearly the whole length of the hall was entirely 
devoted to the exhibition of this popular subject- 
The plants throughout were in remarkably robust 
health, whilst the huge flower scapes towered above 
the stout substantial foliage in a most noteworthy 
manner, especially in the grand varieties of P 
pyramidalis that were on view. Such varieties as 
White Perfection, Cannell’s Purple, Lilacina, 
Cannell’s Pink, Eynsford White, Swanley Blue, and 
Cannell's Gem, were in superb condition, and helped 
to make a most comprehensive and meritorious 
collection (Silver Gilt Banksian Medal). 
Mr. John R. Box, West Wickham, also showed a 
very nice group of Primulas in first-class order, for 
which a Silver Flora Medal was awarded. Although 
the plants were only in 48-sized pots, they carried 
huge umbels of large fine flowers. White, crimson, 
blue, and several shades of pink and rose were 
shown. 
A Silver Banksian Medal fell to the lot of Messrs. 
J. Peed & Sons, Norwood Road, S.E., for an exceed¬ 
ingly praiseworthy collection of stove foliage plants. 
Ferns, and Palms. Dracaenas played an important 
part, and comprised such well-known kinds as 
goldieana, Mme. Bergman, Splendens, Mme. Haine, 
and Bartelli, all of them being in the pink of health 
and condition. 
A very varied and exceedingly pretty group of 
plants was exhibited by Messrs. John Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, S.E., Caladiums, Dracaenas, Cypripe¬ 
dium insigne, Begonia Gloire de Lorraine Primulas, 
Cyclamens, Azaleas, Ericas, etc., were all in evidence. 
Not the least attractive feature certainly was the 
tasteful arrangement of the material composing the 
group (Silver Banksian Medal). 
A last effort for the season was made in behalf of 
the Chrysanthemum by Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft 
Nursery, Lewisham, who showed several plants of 
the new yellow decorative variety, Janette Sbeahan. 
The plants, although decidedly past their best, 
afforded ample evidence of the value of this variety 
for late work. 
The quantity of hardy fruit that found a place 
upon the exhibition tables was almost astonishing, 
whilst with regard to quality and appearance it would 
compare favourably with any exhibits made earlier in 
the fruit season. Apples, as may be expected, 
formed the bulk of the display, although a few dishes 
of Pears interspersed here and there gave token that 
there are still a few varieties in good condition, even 
now. 
Upwards of a hundred dishes, in as many varieties, 
of culinary Apples, were staged by Messrs. Geo. 
Bunyard & Co., Maidstone. Golden Spire, Mere de 
Menage, Stone's, Belle Dubois, Laue’s Prince Albert, 
Brabant Bellefleur, Bismarck, Emperor Alexander, 
King of Tompkins' County, Bauman’s Red ^Vinter 
Reinette, Tyler’s Kernel, Warner's King, and Belle 
Pointoise were a few of the best samples in which 
all reached a very high standard of merit. A Silver 
Gilt Knightian Medal was awarded Messrs. Bunyard 
& Co. for this splendid display. 
A Silver Banksian Medal fell to the share of Mr. 
J. Watkins, Pomona Farm Nurseries, Withington, 
Hereford, who exhibited a collection of new, little 
known, and local seedling Apples. Among them we 
noted Belle de Pointoise, Byford Wonder, Adkins' 
Seedling, Red Flanders, Beauty of Wilts, and 
Hitchin Pippin in first-class condition. 
Messrs. John Lairg & Sons also exhibited a 
number of dishes of Apples in good preservation, 
including Wellington, Alfriston, Beauty of Kent, and 
Lord Derby, amoDg a number of other sorts. A 
similar, but rather smaller exhibit, comprised 
twenty-one varieties of Apples, of which Jubilee, 
Bismarck, and Washington were the best. 
Mr. Farr, gardener to A, F. Pears, Esq., 
Isleworth, sent a dish of Tomato All the Year Round. 
The fruits were rather small, but well-shaped and of 
even outline, the variety evidently being a very heavy 
cropper. 
