.November 30, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
205 
Oncidium varicosum Rogersi. 
Amongst a few of the choice Orchids now in flower in 
the collection formed by S. Pearse, Esq., South Villas, 
Church Street, Brierly Hill, is a superb variety of 
Oncidium varicosum Rogersi in a 5-in. pan suspended 
from the roof of the Cattleya house. It is carrying 
three splendid spikes, one with eighty blooms, another 
with sixty, and the third with thirty-six. The indi¬ 
vidual flowers measure 1J ins. across. I noted in the 
cool house a very attractive display of Orchids in 
flower, comprising Odontoglossum grande, 0. Insleayi, 
0. Pescatorei, Lycaste Skinneri, Oncidium Forbesii, 
and a superb variety of Cypripedium insigne. Mr. 
Ford, who is the gardener in charge, is a keen 
orchidist.— J. Me Nab. 
Cattleya Walkeriana. 
The variable character of this species is remarkable, 
both with regard to the stem, the form of the lip, and 
the production of flowers, either on leafy or leafless 
stems. The flowers are also developed at various 
seasons, and even now, in some collections, are at their 
best. They appear on the top of short, thin, leafless 
stems arising from the rhizome, and covered with large 
scales which are green at first, but ultimately become 
dry and membraneous. One or two flowers are pro¬ 
duced together, and after these wither a new bud arises 
which develops into a leaf-bearing stem or pseudo-bulb. 
Amongst the smaller or dwarfer Cattleyas, that under 
notice is exceedingly pretty and interesting ; and the 
flowers measuring 3J ins. to 4J ins. in diameter, are 
therefore large in comparison with the size of the plant 
hearing them. In good forms the sepals and petals are 
of a bright rosy purple, while the three-lobed lip is 
paler in the lower part, and the lamina amethyst- 
purple, with a yellow blotch on the disc. 
Choice Orchids in Flower. 
A few good things are now in bloom in the collection 
of 6. C. Raphael, Esq., at Castle Hill, Englefield 
Green, under the care of Mr. W. Swan. The first is 
Lrelia autumnalis alba, a most charming variety. L. 
Gouldiana in its way is equally beautiful. The rare 
and very distinct Lycaste grandis, commonly called 
Paphinia grandis, is also in bloom ; and in a few days 
the new Vanda Amesiana, with a spike 2 ft. long, and 
several laterals, will be in flower. 
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Gardeners’ Improvement Societies. 
Manchester. 
At the fortnightly meeting held on the 21st inst., 
Mr. E. Griffiths Hughes presiding, Mr. H. Ranger, 
Liverpool, read a paper on “Plant Culture Under Glass 
and Insect Pests. ” He said more care was at the present 
time paid to the cultivation of plants under glass than 
at any period in the history of horticulture, and he did 
not hesitate to say, that besides the quantity being 
greater, the quality was now much better, but the 
great difficulty in the way of the successful growing of 
plants under glass was the insect pest. One of the 
first principles to be observed by gardeners, especially 
with regard to plants under glass, was cleanliness, 
more so as regards insects, and to achieve that was one 
of the most difficult tasks which fell to their lot, for 
the great trouble was to destroy the insects without 
injuring the plants. It was almost impossible to 
altogether avoid insect pests. One of the most trouble¬ 
some was the mealy-bug, which was the most difficult 
to destroy. Many remedies were recommended for 
their destruction, and among the most effective he had 
found Fir Tree Oil and paraffin oil. Thrips also gave 
much trouble, and one of the best methods of getting 
rid of these pests was fumigation by tobacco smoke. 
The red-spider was most destructive to plants, and a 
good remedy was flour of sulphur applied in a dry 
form, or mixed in water and applied with the syringe. 
The best way, however, was to paint the outside of the 
hot-water pipes with sulphur, and fill the place with 
fumes. A moist growing atmosphere was the best 
preventative of the spread of red-spider. He knew no 
means which were perfectly satisfactory in destroying 
these insect pests without injury to the plant, and it 
was a matter of surprise to him, that in these days of 
scientific discovery, no entirely new mode of dealing 
with insect pests had been discovered. He thought it 
would be a long time before the old remedies were 
altogether superseded, but he was sanguine enough to 
hope that at no great distant date a simple, °safe, 
inexpensive, and effectual way of destroying insect 
pests would be discovered. All gardeners were agreed 
as to the great need for such a remedy, for in order to 
keep pace with the times, a gardener found it necessary 
to produce the best possible results with the least 
possible labour and expense. The chairman, Messrs. 
A. Stansfield, W. Plant, Flowers, W. Elkin, W. B. 
Upjohn, and F. Robinson took part in the discussion 
that followed. 
Reading. 
There was a large attendance of the members of 
this excellent society at the usual place of meeting 
on Monday last, to hear a paper on “Vegetables 
for Exhibition,” read by Mr. A. Dean, of Bedfont, the 
method dealing with which might perhaps be better 
described as Vegetables as Exhibition subjects. The 
chair was occupied by Mr. W. Lees, and the attendance 
included many of the leading gardeners of the district. 
Mr. Woolford, gardener to A. Palmer, Esq., exhibited 
some excellent Cypripediums, but the exhibits of 
interest were fewer than usual. Mr. Dean referred 
deprecatingly to the ordinarily inferior position awarded 
to vegetables at exhibitions, in schedules, and in 
newspaper reports—in all cases tacked on to the tail- 
end, and apparently rather tolerated than appreciated. 
Without doubt there has been during the past twenty 
years a wonderful development in the matter of beauty 
and quality in vegetables, hence a first-class collection 
did display points of interest and of beauty which 
even the most attractive of flowers could not always 
excel. Taking the various popular garden vegetables 
seriatim, he defined what should constitute their 
leading features to make them good exhibition sub¬ 
jects. He also gave a list of the best kinds to show at 
Midsummer and Michaelmas. Further, the proper 
method of judging was referred to, and some hints 
giv^n as to the most effective way of setting up collec¬ 
tions at shows. An interesting discussion followed, 
taken part in by the chairman, Messrs. Jones (Sutton & 
Sons), Coombs (Englefield), Turton (Maiden Erleigh), 
Bowerman (Hackwood), &c. Mr. Dean replying, a 
vote of thanks to the latter concluded the proceedings. 
Mr. James Martin (the Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ 
clever foreman, at their London Road Nurseries) will, 
on December 9th, discourse on “ Primula sinensis from 
1819 to 1889,” and no man is better qualified to treat 
on this interesting subject. 
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CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
Birmingham. 
The twenty-ninth annual exhibition was favoured with 
fine mild weather and an enormous increase of visitors, 
while the exhibition in itself was remarkable for the 
increased number of exhibits and their quality. The 
very large centenary prizes offered for forty-eight 
blooms no doubt helped to bring about so great an 
attendance, and in this class eight fine collections of 
flowers were staged. It was a very close fight between 
Mr. Parker and Mr. Marshall, but the judges, who 
gave the blooms a thorough examination, decided in 
favour of the Impney lot. The awards were made as 
follows:—First, Mr. Parker, gardener to J. Corbett, 
Esq., M.P., Impney; second, Mr. W. Marshall, 
Taunton; third, Mr. Lambert, gardener to Colonel 
Wingfield, a very fine lot also ; fourth, Mr. Lindsay, 
gardener to Sir T. E. Moss, Bart. ; fifth, Sir Richard 
Moon, Bart. ; sixth, Mr. Horsefield, gardener to Lord 
Heytesbury. 
In the classes for twenty-four and eighteen blooms, 
Mr. Parker was also first in each, so that he was the 
champion exhibitor in the Chrysanthemum classes. 
The other classes for cut blooms were also well filled. 
The first prize lot of twelve Anemone-flowered was won 
by Mr. Coombe, The Gardens, Himley, with a very 
pretty lot, and as this section will come more promi¬ 
nently to the front at exhibitions, we give the names :— 
Fabian de Mediana, Madlle. Cabrol, Miss Annie Lowe, 
Souvenir de Madame Blandineries, Duchess of Edin- 
burgh, Georges Sand, Fleur de Marie, and Princess 
Louise. Special classes are arranged for local growers 
who reside in the Birmingham district, and Chrysan¬ 
themums are now very extensively cultivated in and 
about the city. For twelve incurved and twelve Japanese, 
Mr. Brasiere, gardener to Sir Thomas Martineau, was 
first with very fine blooms, and there were other 
highly meritorious exhibits in these classes. A very 
interesting display of new varieties came from Mr. R. 
Owen, Maidenhead, and many promising novelties 
were amongst them. Mrs. Alpheus Hardy was thus 
seen, and we shall have to wait until November, 1890, 
to see her in her true character. Then there were 
blooms of the new single, Admiral Sir T. Symonds, 
rich in the yellow colour, and very showy, but semi¬ 
double. In the reflexed Japanese are a few promising 
sorts, viz., James Carter, M. Girena, Putney George, 
Adirondac, Fort Harte, Marsalia, Carnea Maxima, and 
La Scabienne. Mr. Owen had a few beautiful Anemone- 
flowered — Mrs. J. G. Price, E. C. Jukes, Mrs. Judge 
Benedict, Madame Robert Owen, and M. Charles 
Lebocqz. In incurved, Lady Dorothy, lighter than 
Charles Gibson ; and Mrs. S. Coleman, a sport from 
Princess of Wales, yellow, shaded with rosy bronze. 
Perle Precieuse and Ada Spaulding, a new American 
incurved, light rose base, and the upper part white, 
and very promising. Amongst the Japanese, Mr. T. 
H. Spaulding, W. W. Cowles, Madame Alfred Carriere, 
Gold, Robert Crawford, Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, Mr. 
A. II. \ eve, Leon Frache, Mr. F. Thompson, and 
George Atkinson will find their way into collections. 
In the class for large groups of Chrysanthemums, 
three lots were set up. First, Mr. Cooper, gardener to 
the Rt. Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., with a 
superb display ; second, Sir Thomas Martineau ; third, 
Mr. I. A. Walton. In the class for smaller groups 
there were several exhibitors. 
Chrysanthemums in pots are always a feature at this 
Chrysanthemum show, but the season being so early 
and the show rather late, many of the plants that 
otherwise would have been exhibited were past; still 
there was a fine display. Mr. Cooper, gardener to the 
Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., was first for 
nine plants, and also for six plants; Sir Thomas 
Martineau was second in both classes ; Dir. Denning, 
florist, was third for nine ; and Mr. W. W. Dyer extra. 
The other classes for plants in pots were also well 
filled. 
Three fine lots of six ornamental plants were set up, 
in which there were many specimens of great excellence. 
Two collections of six Orchids were staged, and the 
first prize was awarded to Charles Winn, Esq., Selly- 
oak (Mr. C. Barnes, gardener), amongst them being 
Oncidium tigrinum, Cypripedium Sedeni, a large pot 
of C. Spicerianum, and Masdevallia Veitchii grandi- 
flora ; Mr. W. Powell, gardener to G. H. Kenrick, 
Esq., was second. Messrs. Heath k Son, nurserymen, 
Cheltenham, sent a few Orchids, including their new 
Laelia Tresederiana, to which a certificate was awarded. 
The display of Primulas was very extensive, more 
than three hundred plants being staged. There were 
several classes for Primulas, and the classes were well 
filled, and throughout the plants were very good. In 
the open classes, Messrs. Thomson k Co., nurserymen 
and seedsmen, Birmingham, were first for twelve and 
six plants, also for six double Primulas, six Fern-leaved 
Primulas, as well as taking the premier prize for the 
best single Primula in the exhibition, it being a fine plant 
of Her Majesty, and a beautiful tinted white variety; 
Messrs. Pope & Sons, nurserymen and seedsmen, 
Birmingham, were a good second for twelve plants, and 
also taking prizes in other classes. In the gentlemen's 
gardeners classes for Primulas, Sir Thomas Martineau 
was first for twelve and for six singles ; Mr. Cooper, 
The Gardens, Highbury, was second ; and for three 
doubles, Mr. Hyla Elkington was first. There were 
other classes for Primulas in competition for extra 
prizes offered by Messrs. Thomson and Messrs. Pope & 
Sons. 
The numerous bouquets were of the highest quality, 
both in the open class and in that for gentlemen’s 
gardeners. The fruit department of the show was a 
great attraction, the Grapes especially, which were 
numerous and fine. For six bunches, Mr. Goodacre 
was first with a grand lot of Gros Colmar, Lady Downes, 
and Gros Maroc, two bunches of each ; J. F. Campbell, 
Esq., second, and Mr. Iggulden, gardener to the Earl 
of Cork, third. For three bunches, first, Mr. Campbell ; 
second, Mr. Goodacre. For three bunches of white 
Grapes, first, H. C. Curzon, Esq., with very fine and 
well-coloured Muscats. Apples and Pears are always 
well and numerously represented at Birmingham. Mr. 
R. H. C. Neville was first for six dishes of culinary 
Apples ; and Colonel Paulet first for six dishes of dessert 
Apples. Mr. Parker, Impney, was first for eight 
dishes of superb Pears. Messrs. Rivers k Sons, Saw- 
bridgeworth, contributed, not for competition, a good 
collection of Apples and Pears, including some very 
fine varieties not in general cultivation. A fine collec¬ 
tion was also staged by Messrs. R. Smith & Son, 
Worcester, quality and colour being evident throughout 
this lot. Messsrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, sent a fine 
collection of Potatos, including some of their recently 
introduced varieties, and some very promising seedlings. 
The local nurserymen always give loyal support to 
these exhibitions by sending honorary exhibits. 
Messrs. Perkins & Co. sent a superb display of floral 
arrangements ; Messrs. Thomson & Co., a grand group 
of plants very artistically arranged, and a large and 
very handsome chaplet of flowers. Messrs. Hewitt & 
