446 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 14, 1896. 
address, the work of one of their members, Mr. 
James, and signed by the fifty-seven employees. 
Amongst other presents were a valuable gold watch 
by Mr. Randall, and an umbrella and walking-cane 
by the Manchester friends. The speeches by the 
gentlemen making the presentation, and the response 
by Mr. E. G. Monro, were marked by an earnestness 
and discretion which impressed one with the thought¬ 
fulness and sincerity of the speakers. The toast— 
“ The Health of the Chairman and Giver of the 
Feast,” was entrusted to Mr. Butt, who happily and 
worthily performed the agreeable task. Mr. Monro’s 
reply was full of feeling and earnestness, and his well- 
spoken words in praise of his staff indicated much 
personal interest in their welfare. The songs and 
recitations by the members of the company enlivened 
the evening, which was happily spent, and 
terminated by a verse or two of 11 Auld Lang Syne.” 
CARTERS’ PRIMULAS. 
Few flowers are capable of giving a longer succession 
of bloom with a minimum of trouble than the Chinese 
Primula in its varied forms which have been evolved 
in gardens by the skill of man. Last week we paid 
a visit of inspection to the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Carter & Company, Forest Hill, and found the 
Primulas still making a fine display, though they 
commenced flowering in January. As the plants 
were intended to be grown entirely for the pro¬ 
duction of seed, no attempt was made to get them'in 
bloom early. The seed was sown on July i8th last, 
and the seedlings were shifted on till large enough to 
be placed in 48-size pots, which are reckoned 
sufficient for the production of seed. The earliest 
set of flowers was brushed on January 21st, and, 
needless to say, only the central blooms of the trusses 
of these early varieties remain to be set ; but the 
later varieties are more numerous and still very 
showy. The extent of the batches of different 
varieties may be guessed when we state that there 
are 8,000 plants altogether. They occupy two long, 
low-roofed span-houses and some shorter ones. 
Single Varieties. 
The greatest novelty in this group is Carter's 
Bouquet, which behaves in a very peculiar way. 
This season's seedlings show a few solitary flowers 
in the axils of the leaves. The calyx of these blooms 
has become immensely enlarged, resembling green 
leaves about r in. to 2 in. long, and lobed like the 
ordinary leaves. The flowers are white at first, 
developing a blush tint later on, and nestle in the 
midst of the tuft of calyx leaves so that they resemble 
a buttonhole bouquet. Some of the blooms we 
measured were 2 in. across, and very fine they are 
too, for each is so excessively lobed and imbricated 
as to appear semi-double, thus making flowers of 
great depth with the segments spreading horizontally. 
The principal truss of these young plants consists of 
the axis of the plant developed into a strong stem 
bearing a whorl of bracts, developed into leaves 3 in. 
to 4 in. long, and surrounding a cluster of flowers, 
so that here again we have a bouquet of much 
larger size than the primary ones. The calyx 
of the central truss is large but not leafy, the 
greenery in this case being supplied by the bracts. 
Some two-year-old plants in 24-sized pots bear 
several of these large bouquets but no solitary 
blooms like the one-year-old specimens. We are 
pleased to note, however, that the novelty comes 
true to character from seed. An unnamed seedling, 
across between White Queen and Hercules, is also a 
novelty with white flowers flushed with pink, and of 
great size. In these respects it resembles Princess 
May, but is of much stronger habit, with better 
flowers. 
Hercules, already mentioned, is grown in large 
quantity and has flowers of a light purple on first 
expansion, but they intensify to dark purple as they 
become fully developed. Holborn Blue has also 
flowers of varying intensity, but does not seed as 
freely as might be wished. One of the best varieties 
here is that named Carmine, which has beautiful 
rosy flowers intensifying to carmine as they become 
fully expanded. The plants are of close habit, free 
flowering, and vigorous in constitution. As might be 
expected, it is grown in great quantity. The palm¬ 
leaved Elaine is the most popular pure white variety, 
if quantity is any criterion, for something like 1.400 
plants of it are grown, and a fine display it makes. 
The plant has a strong and vigorous constitution and 
red petioles to the leaves. Amongst dark flowers, 
Magenta is also of a high-class character and 
develops a semi-globular mass of bloom above the 
foliage. The plant is of dwarf habit and the flowers 
attain an intense hue when fully developed. The 
glowing, orange-scarlet flowers of Vermilion are 
quite different from those of any other, rich and 
handsome; it is a free-flowering and early variety 
with a close habit of growth. Carter’s Scarlet is 
also very early, free, floriferous, produces seed in 
great abundance, and is grown in quantity. The 
colour of the flowers of Salmon is indicated by the 
name ; it is a very late variety. 
Fern-leaved sorts. 
The Fern-leaved Elaine is the counterpart of that 
already named, except in the foliage and the fact that 
the flowers are rather finer in form. It is grown in 
quantity and is very floriferous. The same may be 
said of Ruby, whose dark ruby-red flowers are 
characterised by a circle of small white specks—one 
at the junction of every two lobes. There is also a 
distinct white zone round the greenish-orange eye. 
Rose well describes the colour of another sort, differ¬ 
ing from Ruby only in its flowers being distinctly 
several shades paler. It is equally free flowering, 
but somewhat taller, and grown in quantity. The 
Queen is a white variety, slightly tinted with blush, 
and has entirely green foliage. Imogene is of the 
same style as Princess May, but has smaller, pink 
flowers, green foliage, and is free flowering. 
Semi-double Varieties. 
Under this heading are included all those varieties 
which have a rosette of small, erect petals in the 
centre. They are often described as double, but 
not being truly so, they are generally as easily 
raised from seeds, and as fertile as the single sorts. 
They also last much longer in the cut state than the 
latter. Dwarf and free is Vivid, with glowing crim¬ 
son flowers. Very graceful is Lilac Queen, the 
earliest to bloom, and now showing whorls of bloom 
well thrown above the foliage. It meets with many 
admirers, and is grown in quantity. Snowflake is a 
second early, bears white flowers tinted with blush, 
and is very free. Rich, bright carmine are the 
flowers of Carmine Empress, which is of dwarf 
habit, and very free. Double Vermilion is the 
counterpart of the single one, and equally as rich in 
its glowing hue. Aurora is of stronger habit than 
Snowflake, which it somewhat resembles, and the 
blush-pink flowers rise well above the foliage. 
Double Blue flowers freely, but is not fertile, conse¬ 
quently only a small quantity of seed is obtained 
from it. The novelty in this group is Prince of 
Wales, with clear salmon coloured flowers, larger 
than those of any other double kind. It is distinct, 
attractive, and in our opinion decidedly superior to 
the single variety, Salmon, for the colour is clearer 
and more decisive. 
—-4-—— 
TWO GOOD APPLES. 
Amongst all our good keeping Apples,'I think Lady 
Henniker and Brabant Bellefleur deserve foremost 
places. Both are large Apples and excellent when 
cooked. Lady Henniker is not unlike Blenheim 
Pippin in flavour and requires very little sugar, a 
great consideration when so many are forbidden 
sugar. Brabant Bellefleur is a lovely Apple when 
well-grown and keeps a long time in season—from 
November to April. A gardener I know declares it 
to be the finest Apple grown, because he once gained 
a wager by taking two prizes in one class where the 
rules said three dishes distinct varieties. One might 
be mistaken by their appearance, as often they are 
different in shape off the same tree. Both the above 
varieties are superior to foreign Apples for cooking 
purposes.— IV. 0 . 
[Specimens sent of the above were of handsome 
size for the north of Scotland ; indeed they would 
have taken some beating even in the south of 
England. Brabant Bellefleur was beautifully 
coloured. Accompanying them was a more highly- 
coloured specimen of Dumelow’s Seedling than we 
remember having seen before. Duke of Cornwall 
reminds us of Catshead, and is a large Apple and 
remarkably heavy. Our correspondent's garden is 
notable for the fineness of its Pears as well as Apples. 
—Ed.] 
-«*.- 
Teacher : “ Emma, what do you know of the 
Orchid family ? ” Emma: "If you please, mamma 
has forbidden us to indulge in any family gossip.” 
Dictionary of Gardening.—A complete set of Nicholson's 
Dictionary ot Gardening, in eight volumes, in first class 
condition, as good as new, is offered for 50s. cash. — B., 
“ Gardening World ” Office, t, Clement’s Inn, Strand, London. 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
Orchids at Chard war.—The Phalaenopses are still 
a grand sight in one of the houses at Chardwar. 
One magnificent form of P. grandiflora aurea is 
very striking. There are also some grand forms 
of Dendrobium nobile in bloom, and a number 
of grand specimens of D. wardianum, some 
pseudo-bulbs of the latter being 5 ft. long. 
There are also some good D. rubens, D. Dominii, and 
D. aureum in bloom, and together make a fine display. 
One specimen of D. devonianum has 200 good 
blooms open. The cool house is very gay, no less 
than fifty good Odontoglossum crispum, and many 
other varieties being in bloom and make a good 
show; one O. andersonianum is carrying five good 
spikes, and Oncidium superbiens has a good spike of 
its distinct-coloured blooms nicely expanded. 
Several good plants of Ada aurantiaca help to 
brighten the house and make a useful colour with 
the Odontoglossums. Lycaste Skinneri is repre¬ 
sented by some really magnificent forms, and 
Trichopilia suavis makes a lovely show, one plant 
being particularly striking. Cattleya Trianaei still 
makes a good display, and several Angraecums, just 
opening, are very charming and much appreciated 
by the owner.— Visitor. 
TIE ORCHID HOUSES. 
Cool House Masdevallias. —This most interesting 
and beautiful genus of Orchids does best when 
grown cool. Like the Odontoglossums they require 
plenty of moisture at the roots when growing. A 
lean-to house facing north is perhaps the best for 
them ; here they would get plenty of light for a long 
time before having to be shaded. Failing such a 
position the warmest end of the Odontoglossum 
house would suit them admirably. I would place 
them all together at one end, as they do not like 
quite so much air as Odontoglossum crispum, neither 
must the atmosphere be allowed to become too dry, 
or they will be sure to be attacked by thrips, which 
are very partial to them. 
Potting.— The roots will now be found, on turning 
them out of the pots, to be most active, and where 
required should be afforded some fresh material. 
The compost best suited to them is good fibrous peat 
and sphagnum moss in about equal parts, to which 
may be added some silver sand. The drainage must 
be ample, as being great lovers of moisture at the 
roots when growing any defect in this respect would 
soon be reflected in the plants by the appearance of 
spots in the leaves. Water sparingly for a week 
or two until the roots begin to get hold of the new 
material; keep the moss growing by damping it with 
the syringe. 
Coelogyne cristata.— Next to Dendrobium 
nobile this is the most popular amongst amateurs, 
producing a wealth of white flowers at a time when 
flowers are scarce. Those that were pushed along 
early will now require attention as regards potting. 
There is one thiDg about them I would mention, that 
is, they do not like to be disturbed too often. It is 
therefore a bad plan (o re-pot the whole lot of plants 
the same season, as they do not flower so well until 
the second year. Pots, pans, and baskets will do 
for them to grow in, just as your fancy directs, but 
in each case alio w good drainage. The compost should 
consist of two parts peat, one of moss, with a little 
silver sand. Firmly secure the plants by aid of 
wood or chopped pegs, but these will hardly be 
required if small pots are used. After potting, keep 
them shaded from the sun,and the atmosphere moist 
about them, so that the pseudo-bulbs do not shrivel, 
as when this occurs it is a long time before they 
plump up again. A position close to the glass in the 
Cattleya house or a stove will suit them as regards 
heat, They are lovers of moisture and should be 
kept well supplied during growth, 
Calanthes.—C. Veitchii, C. vestita, etc., will now 
be ready for potting up ; use a compost of two parts 
loam, one of peat, some chopped sphagnum moss, 
and silver sand to keep it porous. Add to this some 
cow dung or other manure which has been previously 
dried and rubbed through a coarse sieve. Six-inch 
pots are a most convenient size to use; into each put 
three pseudo-bulbs. One in a 60-s'ze pot will be very 
handy, when in bloom, for decoration. After potting, 
water very carefully until the growths are 6 in. high, 
when they will require a copious supply. A stove 
temperature of 65° suits them best.— C, 
