December 21, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
253 
surface, and toothed or crenate'at the margin, while 
the throat and crest are pale yellow. The flowers are 
of large size, and produced singly on the scapes, but 
there are several of the latter from a pseudo-bulb. It 
has been flowering for some time past at Syon House, 
Brentford. 
Cypripedium insigne. 
The value and utility of this old-fashioned species is 
well recognised by those who grow Orchids in quantity 
for cut-flower purposes. A fine bank of it occupies the 
whole of one side of a north-aspect house at Syon 
House. None of the named varieties of C. insigne 
are flowering at present, but several exhibit 
well-defined colour markings, and that, coupled with 
good cultivation, has resulted in a fine display, the 
lateness of which is, no doubt, owing to the northern 
aspect of the house, because the main display in other 
gardens, where the plants are under different conditions, 
has been over for some time. Mr. DYythes grows them 
in good, rich, fibrous loam, with a little peat, using 
large-sized pots. In summer he places them in a cold 
frame, so that they are at all times kept cool. The 
floriferous nature of the plants justifies this treatment. 
Maxillaria picta. 
This small but pretty and fragrant species is now 
flowering with many growers, and we noted a fine piece 
of it at Syon House the other day. It was grown 
in a pot, and the loDg arching leaves formed a 
canopy overhead, underneath which the flowers, borne 
on scapes about 3 ins. long, clustered in large numbers. 
They are rather hidden when looked at from above, but 
when the plant is raised on a level with the eye, or 
used as a subject for a vase, the effect is very pretty. 
The sepals and petals are of a pale yellow, spotted with 
purple, while the lip is creamy white spotted purple. 
The pale yellow column surmounted by a prominent, 
blackish-maroon anther cap is very curious as seen pro¬ 
jecting from between the erect petals and the tube of 
the lip. A flower of a larger and more deeply-coloured 
variety (the external spotting and the internal yellow 
here being much better defined) was sent us by Mr. 
Geo. Walker, gardener to H. Druce, Esq., The Beeches, 
43, Circus Road, St. John’s Wood. 
Masdevallia coccinea. 
This species was originally discovered by Linden in 
1842 or 1843, from whose dried specimen it was described 
by Lindley. It was re-discovered by Gustav Wallis in 
1869, who sent it to Linden at Ghent, when it flowered 
for the first time in Europe in 1870, and was described 
and figured under the name of M. Lindenii, which 
must now be dropped, the proper name by right of 
priority being M. coccinea. The popular M. Harryana 
only ranks as a variety of it, namely, M. c. Harryana. 
The variety of colouration of the latter in its native 
habitat is something enormous as far as colour is con¬ 
cerned. On the eastern Cordillera of South America, it 
ranges in altitude from 7,000 ft. to 10,000 ft. It is 
most abundant on that part of the Cordillera known as 
the Sierra Nevada de Chita ; and here it presents a 
feature sufficient to make the mouth of an orchidist 
water. Acres of ground on these upland slopes are 
covered with it, and one might travel over miles of 
ground, and still be trampling down this handsome 
Masdevallia. Varieties occur with scarlet, orange, 
yellow, crimson-purple, crimson-scarlet, magenta-crim¬ 
son and creamy white flowers, the latter being the 
rarest, and both that and the pale yellow varieties 
occur at the highest elevation, where also the flowers 
are largest. At the lowest limits of M. c. Harryana, 
the typical form, with its colour varieties, prevails. 
-- 
Gardeners' Improvement Societies. 
*** We should be greatly obliged if Secretaries of 
Gardeners’ Improvement Societies would favour us with 
brief notices of the papers read and business done at 
their respective regular meetings. Such reports should 
reach the office not later than Tuesday. 
Birmingham. 
1 ‘ The Big Gooseberry’’ formed the subject of a paper read 
by Mr. John Pope at the meeting of this association, 
held on October 10th, and he drew attention to the 
great size attained by the Lancashire prize varieties in 
comparison with that of the ordinary culinary kinds ; 
and advocated the cultivation of many of these fine 
varieties as dessert fruits, as such were not only pro¬ 
lific bearers, but were so excellent in flavour. Allusion 
was made to the fact that some kinds which are the 
most popular now have been grown for a great number 
of years, such as Champagne, Crown Bob, Warrington 
or Ashton, Whitesmith, Pothus. That old well-known 
variety, Crown Bob, has been in cultivation going on for 
a hundred years, and was then considered the heaviest 
berry of all ; and it is even now a popular market 
variety, and extensively grown for that purpose. 
Whinham’s Industry seems now to be fast growing into 
popularity for general use, but our old friend the Red 
Warrington, or Ashton Red, will hold its ground yet. 
Many persons have an impression that the large-fruited 
prize varieties are shy croppers, and of indifferent 
flavour, and it is true that some are ; but many varieties 
fruit freely, and it must be borne in mind that if some 
soTts produce a lesser quantity of berries than others, 
the weight is made up by the greatly increased size of 
the berries. There are varieties, such as Companion, a 
red variety ; Leveller, yellow ; Lord Derby, and several 
others which possess flavour, and such kinds richly 
deserve more attention at the hands of practical 
gardeners and amateurs. Mr. Pope alluded to the 
cultivation of the Gooseberry, and said that as a rule 
sufficient attention was not paid to the preparing of 
good sized holes with good soil for the roots to get into, 
in place of which a spadeful or two of soil taken out 
sufficed with many, a little manure added, and the tree 
hurriedly planted with very little care. The Gooseberry 
caterpillar was, as Mr. Pope stated, one of the greatest 
troubles to the Gooseberry grower, and he recommended 
a removal of the top soil underneath the tree, and re¬ 
placing by fresh soil, and a covering of manure ; also 
well dressing and syringing the trees with a mixture of 
soft-soap, paraffin oil, and water, both operations to be 
done early in December. A discussion followed, and 
much useful information resulted. 
Ealing and District. 
The usual weekly assembly of this society took place on 
the 11th inst., and was presided over by Dir. Geo. 
Cannon. The subject of the evening was introduced by 
Mr. George Gordon, and was entitled “ Shakesperian 
Gardening.” Mr. Gordon delighted his audience by 
his references to, and quotations from, the celebrated 
bard, whom he submitted had a larger knowledge of 
the gardening of his day than many were willing to 
admit. As evidence of this, he drew copiously upon 
the philosophy of Shakespeare on this subject, and, 
with reference to the art of grafting or budding, intro¬ 
duced the well-known lines in the “ Winter’s Tale ” 
“ You see, sweet maid, we marry 
A gentle scion to the wildest stock ; 
And make conceive a bark of baser kind 
By bud of noble race : this is an art 
Which does mend nature—change it rather ; but 
The art itself is nature.” 
Numerous allusions to gardens are here to be found, 
and the flowers cultivated therein, and these form some 
of the most faithful pictures of country life of those 
distant days. He thought a good deal of the beauty 
and poetry of gardens was entirely lost on account of 
the modern rage for things new and rare. Although 
the love of flowers was great and on the increase, yet 
this love was not peculiar to the nineteenth century, 
as a perusal of Shakespeare, Bacon, and others would 
disclose. 
An animated discussion ensued, in which the chair¬ 
man, Mr. A. Wright, and Mr. Dee, the secretary’s 
foreman, who said he hailed from Stratford-on Avon, 
and had been employed in Shakespeare’s Gardens, took 
part, and a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Gordon ter¬ 
minated a pleasant and profitable evening. 
The subjects exhibited comprised three fine speci¬ 
mens of Cypripedium from Mr. Chadwick ; two well- 
grown plants of Libonia floribunda, with a Justicia 
carnea, from Mr. Long (gardener to Mr. Oakshott) ; a 
collection of berried Solanums, and cut Chrysanthemum 
blooms, from Mr. Roberts (gardener to J. Harris, Esq.); 
a fine Lycaste Skinneri, from Mr. Griggs (gardener to 
A. G. Dixon. Esq.). Mr. Cox (gardener to Mrs. Bland) 
had a dish of Apples ; Mr. Gates (girdener to Professor 
Henslow), a pretty white Primula sinensis ; and Mr. C. 
Holden, three blooms of Camellias. These weekly 
exhibitions are a strong feature of this society, and 
much interest and friendly rivalry are thus displayed. 
Mr. A. Wright was to the fore with the microscope, and 
exhibited pollen grains of Hibiscus rosea sinensis, and 
mounted specimens of the insect called the yellow 
thrip, so destructive to Orchids, Gloxinias, &c. 
Reading and District. 
A well-attended meeting of this association was held 
on the 9th inst., Mr. Wm. Lees presiding. The paper 
real was on the “Primula sinensis from 1819 to 1SS9,’’ 
and the author was Mr. James Martin, of Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons’ London Road Nursery. Some good 
specimens of Chinese Primulas were exhibited by 
permission of Messrs. Sutton, and served to illustrate 
Mr. Martin’s remarks, and bear testimony to his 
skill as a cultivator and hybridist. After commenting 
upon the early history of the Primula, and tracing its 
progress down to the present time, Dir. DIartin gave 
cultural instructions from the sowing of the seed to 
the flowering period, and gave it as his experience that 
it was not the amount of labour, so much, as the 
greatest amount of thoughtful attention to details that 
ensured success. In the course of the discussion which 
followed, various questions were put and answered. 
At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded 
Mr. Martin. 
Shrewsbury. 
On the 12th inst. a fairly well-attended meeting was 
held in the Dlusic Hall, Shrewsbury, with a view to 
reviving an Improvement Society which formerly existed 
in the town, and we hope will be attended with success. 
Dir. A. Gaut, gardener to J. Watson, Esq., M.P., 
Berwick House, read an admirable paper on manures, 
and gave point to his text by exhibiting a good collection 
of crystalline and fossil phosphates as used in the 
manufacture of superphosphates, also a good collection 
of artificial manures in glass tubes, which proved of 
great interest to his audience. Dir. W. T. Pritchard, 
Frankwell Nurseries, Shrewsbury, has undertaken the 
duties of secretary. 
-- 
The Gard eners’ C alendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Plants for Christmas Decorations. —All plants 
requiring stove temperature, and intended for decorative 
purposes in the mansion during the festive season, 
should be inured to a lower temperature for about a 
few days previous to the 25th. This will harden the 
foliage, and enable it better to withstand the arid 
atmosphere and the effects of gas. This applies to 
Palms, Ferns, Pandanus, Aralias, Dracaenas, Crotons, 
and similar things, which are brought into requisition 
on such occasions. With the lower temperature it will 
also be necessary to maintain a drier atmosphere, or 
harm will follow by the condensation of moisture upon 
the plants. 
Forced Plants. —In order to prevent a dearth of 
flowers after Christmas, fresh batches should be intro¬ 
duced to the forcing pit or stove without delay. These 
may consist of Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Aralias, 
Deutzias, Lilacs, Laburnum, Astilbe japonica (Spiraea), 
and other subjects which may be in hand. 
Aspidistra lurida. —The greatest drawback with 
this plant is the slow rate of growth it makes, and the 
difficulty of propagating it fast enough to meet the 
requirements of the age. If old plants are pulled to 
pieces now, re-potted, and placed in heat, they will 
soon re-establish themselves and be ready for use again. 
With this object in view, the pieces should not he 
made too small, or it will take them some time before 
they get of sufficient size to be of any value for decora¬ 
tive purposes. There are three forms in cultivation— 
namely, the type, A. 1. punctata and A. 1. variegata. 
The last is the most popular and ornamental. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Cinerarias. —The late-flowering batch should be seen 
to before they get pot-bound, otherwise they will suffer 
permanent injury, and throw up a central stem only, 
bearing comparatively insignificant flower-heads. The 
present shift should be the last one. Even at flowering 
time well-grown specimens will be furnished with leaves 
to the very base, covering the pot. To ensure this 
every plant should have plenty of space to develop 
without crowding of the foliage, otherwise the latter, 
owing to its thin texture, will suffer in a very short 
time. 
Hard-wooded Plants. —Such things as Heaths, 
Epacrises and Camellias, with fine fibrous roots, require 
careful watering during the dull season, and although 
easily managed by the experienced, yet the younger and 
less-practised members of the profession frequently find 
difficulty with them, and find evidence ot it by the 
dying of a Heath, or by the Camellias in pots dropping 
their bu Is. Sufficient water should be given to moisten 
the whole ball, and no more till the soil gives evidence 
of again becoming dry. A little manure-water given 
alternately with soot water will assist the Camellias. 
If the buds are too numerous, thin them, and a light 
sprinkling of water on fine days would also assist them. 
