November 23, 1889. 
187 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
distinct appearance from Poinsettias, which are of loose 
and spreading habit, whilst the bracts of the Amasonia 
are borne upon erect and stiff stems that are furnished 
with lanceolate, serrate, bronzy-green leaves. A few 
healthy plants in about 5-in. or 6-in. pots will always 
be acceptable where colouring matter is required in 
arranging plants for effect. — IV. O. 
Cassebeera triphylla. 
The species of this genus are described as stove Ferns, 
probably because they are natives of Brazil. That 
under notice, however, comes from the south of that 
country, and can be grown to perfection in a cool 
greenhouse, as is evidenced by a specimen in the tem¬ 
perate Fern-house at Kew. This was imported from its 
native habitats about eighteen months ago, and 
although only 3 ins. or 4 ins. high, has attained its 
full development. It is therefore of dwarf and tufted 
habit, with deep brown wiry petioles, surmounted with 
three to five, usually three, pinnre, suggesting the 
specific name. 
-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
The thorough overhauling of the plants which takes 
place at this time of the year, when the houses are 
being cleaned through, affords a good opportunity for 
examining any which may need attention, for though 
it is not advisable to disturb the roots if the plants will 
go until spring, yet in the case of any that are sur¬ 
rounded by rotten compost, it is better to attend to 
them now, and so make them snug for the winter, than 
to leave them until spring. In the case of Pleiones 
which have flowered, it is best to re-pot them at once 
if needful, as it is the best time of the year for the 
operation, shallow pans being most suitable for the 
purpose, using good peat and sphagnum. 
Vanda tricolor, V. insignis, V. suavis and its 
varieties will be benefited by having the old sphagnum 
picked out and a fresh layer put in its place. Our 
plants of these are in pots filled nearly to the rim with 
crocks and roots, and about 1 in. of sphagnum laid on, 
and remain in the house which we devote to Orchids 
in flower, which is kept at a night temperature of 55° 
in winter, and somewhat drier than the other houses. 
They grow vigorously and make good background 
plants associated with Lrelia purpurata, Cymbidium 
Lowii and Lrelia elegans, and as they have not lost a 
leaf during the past three years we conclude they are 
happy. 
Thanks to the efforts of the hybridists, even 
November produces a good number of flowers, especially 
Cypripediums. The most notable of these in flower 
now are C. cardinale, C. Arthurianum, C. Crossianum, 
C. Harrisianum, C. H. superbum, C. cenanthum 
superbum, C. Schroder®, C. orphanum, C. Sedeni and 
C. calurum, while amongst imported varieties the most 
useful are C. Spicerianum, C. Schlimii, and the many 
forms of C. insigne, C. concolor, and C. Godefroyse.— 
W. P. 
Dendrobium chrysanthum. 
When at the Swiss Nursery, Hammersmith, recently, 
I saw a remarkably well-grown plant of this handsome 
Orchid in flower. On two growths, the longest close 
on 5 ft. long, were 163 expanded flowers, and instead 
of the blooms being produced in twos and threes, as is 
usually seen, here they were produced in clusters of 
four, five, and six from each internode. The plant 
while in growth is grown in a strong heat and plenty 
of moisture with'little shade, Mr. Prewett does his 
Dendrobes remarkably well, and in the same house 
may be seen D. Dearii, with growths about 3 ft. long, 
and in the rudest health. Before one growth is 
finished another is pushing up from its base, and each 
growth flowers in profusion. D. chrysotoxum and D. 
suavissimum have made growths almost double the 
size of the imported pseudo-bulbs, showing that his 
treatment suits their requirements.— A. IV. 
Dendrobium infundibulum Jamesianum. 
There is much similarity between the type and the 
variety here mentioned, although both are considered 
distinct species by some authors and by many growers. 
The flowers of both are white, and characterised by the 
longish, narrowly and bluntly-conical spur projecting 
behind the lip, and the variably coloured blotch on the 
lip of the type, for there it varies from cinnabar-red to 
pale yellow. The cinnabar-red blotch of D. i. Jamesi¬ 
anum is, however, more constant. The side lobes of 
the latter are also somewhat differently formed, and 
covered all over on their inner face with minute points. 
Cypripedium Haynaldianum. 
While this handsome species is very similar to C. Lowii, 
in many respects it differs considerably in minor 
botanical particulars, and more especially in the 
marking of the flowers. The standard or upper sepal 
has the upper half nearly white and tinted with rose, 
whereas in C. Lowii, green is the most prominent 
colour. The petals are spreading or somewhat drooping 
and of great length, the lower half being yellowish 
green, with a number of large brown spots, with the 
upper portion purple. The scapes bear live or six 
flowers that expand in succession from the lowermost 
to the uppermost. It flowers chiefly during the winter 
and spring months, and is therefore valuable on that 
account, added to which the flowers are indeed hand¬ 
some. 
-—- 
Gardeners' Improvement Societies. 
Birmingham. 
At the meeting held on November 12th, Mr. J. Udale, 
Elford Hall Gardens, Tam worth, read a paper on 
“Select Annuals for the Stove and Greenhouse,” 
instancing only a dozen kinds as an example of what 
were adapted for this purpose, namely, Didyscus 
cceruleus, Browallia elata, Martynia fragrans, the pretty 
varieties of Thunbergia alata (especially with a view to 
encourage their drooping, trailing habits in baskets or 
pots), Celosia plumosa pyramidalis varieties, Torenias 
from seed, Nierembergias, Balsams, Mignonette, and 
the variegated Japanese Maize. Cultural instructions 
were given, and although a more extended list might 
have been given, Mr. Udale confined himself to these 
few varieties. An interesting discussion followed, 
especially as to Balsams and their culture, and the 
question was asked, “Was it advisable to remove the 
early blooms, as is frequently done 1 ” and it was not 
considered necessary. Mr. Spinks state 1 that from his 
own experience it was advisable to select seed ings that 
showed two growths, in order to make good pyramidal 
plants. Mr. Hughes pointed out that a difficulty often 
experienced by gardeners was in procuring seed of a 
really good strain. Other members also joined in the 
discussion. 
A valuable addition has just been made to the library 
by the presentation of twelve volumes of Sowerby’s 
British Botany, bound in half morocco, the generous 
gift of Mr. Hughes’ employer ; and also the Hereford¬ 
shire Pomona, completed to this date, which was pur¬ 
chased by subscriptions collected by Mr. Hughes, the 
secretary. 
Ealing. 
A very interesting meeting of this society took place 
at the Victoria Hall on Wednesday the I3th inst. The 
exhibits were numerous and attractive. Mr. J. Baird, 
gardener to C. A. Daw, Esq., Holmfield, showed 
Lycaste Skinneri, with twin blooms, and Japanese 
Chrysanthemum, Brise du Martin, with pink and 
white flowers, it having sported to the latter. Mr. 
Harman, gardener to F. A. Cappe, Esq., exhibited a fine 
box of Dahlia blooms for the time of year, and a 
branch of a Dahlia that had sported to a variegated 
form ; Mr. Simmonds, gardener to W. Williams, Esq., 
a fine Gloxinia ; Mr. C. Holden, florist, a fine plant 
of Chrysanthemum, Peter the Great ; Mr. Green, 
Acton, blooms of Chrysanthemums ; Mr. Gates, gar¬ 
dener to the Rev. Professor Henslow, a box of Mush¬ 
rooms and a specimen Cineraria ; Mr. Edwards, 
gardener to W. Owen, Esq., Apple, Court of Wick, 
and bunches of Bouvardias, President Cleveland and 
Priory Beauty ; Mr. Griggs, gardener to A. J. Dixon, 
Esq., two Orchids, Lrelia autumnalis and Sophronitis 
grandiflora, the last an excellent specimen, finely 
bloomed ; Mr. Cox, gardener to Mrs. Bland, The 
Haven, Lobelia fulgens and Queen Victoria ; Mr. 
Viner, gardener to R. D. Dawes, Esq., a fine Epacris 
Magnum Bonum ; Mr. Long, gardener do E. P. Oakshot, 
Es<p, six dishes of Apples, Stirling Castle, French 
Crab, Dumelow’s Seedling, Blenheim Orange, Aromatic 
Russet, and King of Pippins ; Mr. Roberts, gardener to 
J. Harris, Esq., a standard Chrysanthemum, Elaine, 
and scarlet zonal Pelargonium ; Mr. G. Chadwick, gar¬ 
dener to E. M. Nelson, Esq., Cypripedium insigne and 
two fine blooms of Richardia aethiopica. 
These exhibitions are a source of great pleasure to the 
members, and they look with much interest for the 
awards of marks, which are made by three judges 
selected from the members who are not exhibiting. 
Mr. Harman’s exhibition of Dahlias was a very 
remarkable one for the season of the year. Dahlias 
in the open—fresh, bright, and of good character—on 
November 13th are indeed something remarkable. There 
was a full attendance of members, and several new ones 
were elected. It was announced that Mr. J. Hudson 
would read a paper on “Grape Culture" on the 27th 
inst. 
The Gar deners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Temperature. —A low rather than a high temperature 
should prevail in the stove at this season of the year 
and for the next two months, in order to keep the 
plants resting till the turn of the year, when, with 
the increased light and sun-heat, many of them will 
begin to move away again. They will also respond 
all the more readily to a rise of temperature afterwards 
if kept proportionately cool now. A correspondingly 
small quantity of water must be thrown about the 
plants and stages, or a damp and stagnant atmosphere 
will be the result. A night temperature of 60° will be 
quite sufficient in mild weather, and should it be frosty 
outside 2° less heat is recommendable. By day a rise 
to 75° or 78° may be permitted, provided it is so raised 
by sun-heat. 
Forcing Flowering Plants.— At this season of 
the year it often happens that a few things must be 
hurried or forced, in order to keep up a bright appear¬ 
ance in the house. This may be done in a forcing, 
propagating or other pit, whichever may be at work. 
In such a place, batches of Poinsettias, Jasminums, 
Eucharis, and other things may be forced on by a high 
temperature, and then taken to the stove, warm con¬ 
servatory or wherever wanted. In the comparatively 
cool atmosphere of the stove they will remain a long 
time in bloom, while the more permanent occupants of 
that structure will not have been inconvenienced by 
the preparatory process. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Chrysanthemums. —Ovvmg to the continued mildness 
of the weather, there will still be an inclination for the 
flowers to damp, especially in houses where no fire-heat 
at all has yet been used. Where a display of flowering 
plants generally is kept the temperature is maintained 
at 45° or 50° at night, so that there is far less danger 
of damping in such cases, unless ventilation is very 
much neglected. The plants should, however, be gone 
over occasionally to remove decayed flowers and withered 
leaves, which do much to retain the purity of the 
atmosphere. 
Cuttings of Chrysanthemums. —With some kinds 
there is no difficulty in obtaining the requisite number 
of cuttings, as they send up suckers freely, but there 
are others that do so very sparingly. Furthermore 
the suckers are very liable to get drawn and weakened 
where the plants are crowded, and the more especially 
where artificial heat is used. In such cases it is better 
to take what cuttings there are before they get spoiled, 
and insert them moderately thickly round the sides of 
60 sized pots. The latter may then be stood on a shelf 
in the intermediate house and watered. No other arti¬ 
ficial heat may be given, and the cuttings will by-and- 
bye form stubby, short-jointed plants. There are 
others, however, who assist them by plunging in a 
slight bottom heat, while the tops are kept cool ; and 
there are good growers who prefer this method. They 
must, however, be taken out of this before they have 
time to get drawn. 
Cold Pits. —Such things as Calceolarias, Stocks and 
Mignonette in pots should be kept cool and well 
ventilated on all favourable occasions ; and the weather 
has been such as to favour the operation. See, however, 
that the Calcolarias do not get crowded in any way, or 
the foliage will suffer. 
-=>--<-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
Birmingham. 
Our Birmingham correspondent telegraphing on Wed¬ 
nesday afternoon says :—We have a grand exhibition 
here to-day. For the handsome centenary prize offered 
for forty-eight blooms (twenty-four incurved and 
twenty-four Japanese), there are eight competitors, and 
the leading prize has been won by Mr. Parker, gar¬ 
dener to John Corbett, Esq., M.P., after a very close 
contest with Mr. W. Marshall, Belmont, Taunton. 
Mr. Lambert, gardener to Col. Wingfield, Onslow, 
Shrewsbury, came in third ; Air. Lindsay, gardener to 
Sir T. Ehvardes-Moss, Liverpool, fourth ; Sir R. Moon, 
fifth ; and Air. Idorsefield, Heytesbury, Wilts, sixth. 
For nine specimen plants, and also for six, Air. Cooper, 
gardener to the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, ALP., is 
first, and Sir Thomas Alartineau’s gardener second. 
For a large group of Chrysanthemums the same gentle¬ 
men take the first and second awards, and in the same 
order ; Air. F. A. Walton being third. Air. Cooper’s 
group is an exceptionally good one. There is a great 
