November 2, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
141 
Cypripedium insigne albo-marginatum. 
There are several very distinct varieties of this good 
old-fashioned Cypripedium. That under notice is 
characterised by the broad white margin to the upper 
sepal, which extends to the base. A large portion at 
the apex is also white, similar to what occurs in C. 
insigne Maulei; but the violet blotches, so noticeable a 
feature of the latter, are here absent. The petals are 
of a shining brownish yellow, with darker lines and 
spots at the base. The lip is also brownish yellow and 
lustrous. 
Maxillaria picta. 
There is a small-flowered species—namely, M. punctata, 
which often does service for M. picta ; but there is not 
the slightest difficulty in distinguishing the two when 
both have been seen. Both flower very profusely, but 
as might be expected, the smaller-flowered one produces 
the greatest number of individual blooms from a pseudo¬ 
bulb. A very noticeable feature of M. picta is the way 
in which the sepals and petals are incurved at the tips, 
while in most species they are straight. The inner 
surface of these organs is orange, but mostly hidden 
owing to the unfolding of the tips, which brings the 
outer surface more into the view of the spectator. This 
is of a creamy white, more or less heavily blotched with 
deep dull purple. The lip is creamy white, spotted 
internally with purple, and striped with that colour 
on the lateral lobes. The column is wholly of a deep 
chocolate-crimson. At a certain stage of their growth 
the flowers give off a heavy aromatic perfume. It is 
now flowering in the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill. 
The Tiger Oncid. 
With the dull, foggy and wet days of October and 
November comes Oncidium tigrinum, with its large and 
gratefully fragrant flowers diffusing their aroma all 
through the Orchid house. The lip is of great size, 
and clear pale yellow, with a curiously-elongated claw 
to the middle lobe, while the lateral lobes are low 
down, rounded, and hug the column. The specific 
name and the popular title are derived from the broad 
chocolate-brown bars on the sepals and petals, which 
are strongly undulated on the margins, and spreading. 
It is a strong-growing species, with flowers ranking 
amongst the largest in size. Flowering specimens may 
be seen in the collection at Forest Hill, in the nursery 
of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Berry-bearing Plants. —Many of these are ex¬ 
tremely serviceable for the decoration of the stove or 
warm conservatory during the winter months. Amongst 
the Ardisias may be mentioned A. crenulata, A. c. 
fructu-albo, with red and white fruit respectively ; the 
berries of A. mamillata are bright red, of A. poly- 
cephala black, and of A. japonica deep red or almost 
crimson. Then we have Rivinia laevis and R. humilis 
with red, and R. flava with yellow berries. Some of 
the Capsicums are very effective, including the Prince 
and Princess of Wales, Gem, and Tom Thumb, the 
bright colour of the fruits being always attractive. The 
numerous purple berry-like fruits of well-grown plants 
of Calliearpa purpurea offer a feature of attractiveness 
quite different from any of the foregoing. Batches of 
the several kinds, according to taste, should annually 
be grown on, to help to brighten the houses during the 
autumn and winter months. 
Bougainvilleas. —Both B. glabra, B. speciosa, and 
B. spectabilis should now be gradually induced to rest 
by the partial withholding of water, and after this they 
should receive what necessary pruning they require. 
If grown in a stove, B. glabra generally makes long 
rambling shoots, producing but a moderate amount of 
bloom. This is especially the case if the roots are 
allowed to ramble at will in a large bed. This can be 
remedied by growing the plants in tubs or in brick- 
built enclosures of limited dimensions, so as to restrict 
the amount of space at their command. The bottom 
may be made of concrete, but means should be taken to 
ensure perfect drainage, for if the superfluous moisture 
is not allowed to pass away the soil is apt to become 
sour, and would then be anything but favourable to the 
well-being of the plants. After allowing a means of 
escape to water, cover the bottom with bricks broken 
into moderately small pieces, for the roots delight to 
cling to these in order to absorb the moisture clinging 
to them. B. spectabilis, as well as B, speciosa, will 
flower all the better by this confinement, and by being 
kept on the dry side during the winter. 
Bouvardias. —Some of these in full bloom may be 
placed in the greenhouse or conservatory, kept suffi¬ 
ciently warm to maintain the plants in a flowering 
condition ; but it must be remembered that although 
they are frequently spoken of as greenhouse plants they 
are in reality more at home in the stove or intermediate 
house in winter, and they must be kept there if a large 
amount of bloom produced successionally is required. 
Do not neglect them in the matter of watering, for 
while growth and flowers are being produced the roots 
are active and require constant supplies of water con¬ 
taining food ingredients. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Plants in Flower. —As the more forward of the 
plants of Chrysanthemums come into bloom, have them 
transferred to the show house unless they are intended 
for exhibition purposes. Frequently, however, a 
number of plants are grown specially for decorative 
purposes, by pinching the plants early so as to make 
them bushy, and by thinning the buds very moderately 
so as to get quantity instead of size. With such the 
house may be rendered gay. To these may be added 
Richardias, Salvias, Ericas, Primulas, Begonia Knows- 
leyana, Browallia elata, Marguerites, and others. 
Ventilation. —Great attention should now be given 
to houses containing plants in a growing state, but 
more especially to those occupied by soft-wooded 
subjects in a flowering condition, while the temperature 
must necessarily be kept low. All watering should be 
done in the morning, and if there is any inclination to 
damp, the pipes should be slightly warmed about nine 
or ten o’clock, and the top ventilators opened, in order 
that the moisture may escape. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Figs. —If ripe fruit is desired about the beginning of 
May, the house intended for forcing should be got in 
readiness immediately. The Fig is very liable to 
attacks of red-spider and scale during the ripening 
period when the atmosphere is being kept dry ; there¬ 
fore, everything possible should be done to exterminate 
the pests before the house is closed for forcing. Every 
part of the interior—both glass, wood-work and the 
back wall—-should be thoroughly washed with warm 
water and soft-soap. The back wall should then be 
whitewashed, using a little sulphur in the lime em¬ 
ployed. 
Strawberries. — There is no necessity to house 
plants intended for forcing, as it is not only more 
natural for them to be exposed, but the crowns will 
plump up better, and ripen when fully exposed to what 
sunshine they may possibly get. The pots should, 
however, be plunged in clean coal ashes, or one 
of the several materials used for such purposes, in order 
to protect the roots from frost when such occurs. 
There is no likelihood of plants in the open air getting 
dry at the present time ; but in the case of those 
removed indoors preparatory to forcing, this is a matter 
that mu it not on any account be neglected, as it is 
very prejudicial to the roots. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Frames. —These should no w be wellstored with Lettuce, 
Cauliflower, Endive, and other subjects of that nature, 
that could not with safety be left much longer in the 
open air. To keep them healthy and strong it will be 
necessary to take the sashes right off on all occasions, 
both night and day, in the absence of heavy rain or 
frost. 
Broccoli.— In order to be prepared for a severe 
winter, a part, at least, of the Broccoli should be heeled 
over, so that the crowns may face the north. By this 
means they will be protected against the freezing and 
thawing to which they may be subjected by a severe 
winter. The produce is not so great when plants are 
treated in this manner ; but in the event of a hard 
winter, the chances are that the whole of the stock gets 
destroyed. 
-->$<-- 
Gardeners’ Improvement Societies. 
Ealing. 
The usual weekly meeting of this society was held on 
Wednesday evening, the 23rd of October, Mr. G. Cannon 
presiding. There was a large attendance, and several 
new members were proposed and admitted. Mr. Wright, 
The Gardens, Devonhurst, Chiswick, read a paper on 
‘ 1 Bees and Fertilisation, ” and after showing by diagrams 
the construction of flowers and pollen grains, put several 
varieties of the latter under the microscope. Mr. 
Wright endeavoured to show how important a part the 
work of bees and insects was to the fertilisation of 
flowers, especially to that of fruit trees in the early 
spring months, and his opinion, after much observation 
and experience, was that much of the failure in the fruit 
crops was caused by the want of bees in the garden and 
orchard. By their assistance were gained two points— 
more fruit and plenty of honey. Several questions 
were asked, and answered by Mr. Wright, and a hearty 
vote of thanks was passed to him for his paper. The sec¬ 
retary announced the awards of the judges, Mr. A. F. 
Barron and Mr. R. Dean, for the essays on Hyacinths 
and Tulips, indoor and out, with a list of the best 
varieties. There were three competitors—viz., first 
prize, “Bulbil,” Mr. H. Dee, foreman, The Gardens, 
Hanger Hill House ; second, “Gardenia,” Mr. Edwards, 
gardener to W. Owen, Esq., Castle Bar, Ealing ; third, 
Mr. Gates, gardener to the Rev. Professor Henslow, 
Drayton House, Ealing. There was an excellent exhi¬ 
bition, both in quality and quantity. The first and 
second prize papers on the Hyacinth, &c., were read at 
the meeting of the society on Wednesday, October 
30th, the day originally fixed for a concert arranged by 
the members in aid of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, 
but which had to be postponed, after all the necessary 
arrangements had been made, to November 20th, owing 
to the neglect of those who have the letting of the hall 
in not obtaining a musical license. 
Ware and District. 
We understand that the gardeners in the Ware district 
of Herts have established an improvement society on 
the lines of that at Chiswick, with Stanley Gray, Esq., 
as chairman, and Mr. J. B. Riding as honorary 
secretary. The meetings will be held fortnightly, 
when papers will be read and interesting discussions 
initiated by the members. 
-- 
We regret to record the death, on the 22nd ult., at 
Clapham, of Mr. John Buxton, on his seventy-ninth 
birthday. He was a regular exhibitor at the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society’s (Southern Section) 
shows, from the first one at the Royal Aquarium in 
1877 to that of two years ago, failing health having 
latterly compelled him to partially relinquish active 
work amoDg his plants. Mr. Buxton was an instance 
of a keen specialist, who was at the same time a 
thorough all-round man. He received his earliest 
training at the nurseries of Messrs. Young, of Epsom, 
then famous for their collection of herbaceous plants 
when these were in their hey-day. Thence he went to 
the R. H. S.’s garden, at Chiswick, and eventually 
established himself in business as a nurseryman in the 
Wandsworth Road, retiring about fourteen years ago. 
He was at one time one of the largest growers of Pansies, 
many varieties of his raising having been in high favour 
as exhibition flowers in their day. For many years a 
grower of border Carnations, he caught his enthusiasm 
for the class varieties from Mr. Dodwell when the 
latter became his neighbour, and retained it, as florists 
do, until the last. 
-- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Brussels Sprout and Savoy. — Battle: The big sprout you 
sent us is very good in its way, and although we cannot vouch 
for its being new, yet we should consider it worthy of preserva¬ 
tion and cultivation for the sake of variety. Something similar 
is obtained from early Cabbages, by leaving the old stems in the 
ground after the head has been cut, when a large quantity of 
small but very usable heads are obtained for the table. If such 
are acceptable then, we should say that such miniature heads 
would be equally so in winter. The little head sent us (for wo 
can hardly speak of it as a sprout) measured 3 ins. long and 2J 
ins. in diameter, and was so compact and solid that we cannot 
doubt its utility for the purpose named. There is nothing im¬ 
possible about its being a cross between the Brussels Sprout and 
the Savoy; but we should not call it a hybrid, because both 
have been derived from the Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), 
of which they are merely garden varieties. We presume the 
terminal head would he of moderate size, and together with the 
eighteen small ones would be a good return of a useful vegetable 
from the ground occupied. 
Dion^a muscipula.— Perthshire : Your specimen of Venus’ 
Fly-trap would be too far from the glass in a vinery unless 
placed close to the front lights. You do not say at what tem¬ 
perature you keep the vinery. It will be well to remember that 
the plant is nearly hardy, and should he kept in a very cool place, 
say in a greenhouse or even in a frame from which the frost is 
just excluded, and as near the glass as possible. It is a marsh 
plant in its native habitats, and should therefore he kept con¬ 
tinuously moist by standing the pot containing it in a pan of 
water. Also keep it covered with a bell-glass to prevent the 
