March 1, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
411 
stemmed Nonpareil. It requires to be allowed to 
hang a long time on the trees. For several seasons 
past it has proved to be our best dessert Apple from 
March onwards. The fruits are not particularly hand¬ 
some as regards colour, being of a greenish hue, but 
red next the sun.— Con. 
The Parsley-leaved Blackberry. 
There is a specimen of this in the gardens of J. 
Crossfield, Esq., Walton Lea, Warrington, which last 
season made a growth of 30 ft. in length. Forty quarts 
of fruit were gathered from the plant, which is sheltered 
on the north side, but is fully exposed on the south.— 
W. P. JR. 
Camellias at Walton Lea. 
In this well-kept garden there is a three-quarter 
span house, 100 ft. long, with a central path and, in 
which there are twenty-four of the most unique 
pyramidal specimens of Camellias it has been my 
lot to gaze upon. The largest is C. alba plena, 
measuring 14 ft. high and 7 ft. wide. All are 
remarkably healthy and well covered with buds. By 
this time they must be a sheet of bloom.— IF. P. P., 
February 24 th. 
Short-Top Potatos. 
I can assure “A. D.” (p. 394) that Sharpe’s Victor 
Potato is an extremely short-topped variety. It is also, 
in addition, about the earliest and most productive of 
varieties, and of excellent table quality. We have 
grown it largely since its introduction, both for forcing 
and for early outdoor crops, and find it as yet un¬ 
surpassed.— John Roberts, The Gardens, Tan-y-Bwlch, 
N. Wales. 
Cinerarias at Hill Place. 
Lx'the conservatory at Hill Place, Bishop’s Waltham, 
there is at the present time a capital lot of these plants 
in flower. It is not the great size of the plants that is 
remarkable, but the high quality of the flowers that is 
so conspicuous. Some individual blooms measure 
2f ins. in diameter, are perfectly circular in form, the 
petals of excellent substance, and the colours most 
varied. Especially noticeable is one, the flowers of 
which are a deep velvety blue on the edge, which is 
broad ; another with a black disk, white ring and 
purple edge, is also very fine ; in fact, many finely- 
coloured varieties could have been picked out as 
noteworthy. Mr. Blake, the gardener in charge, in¬ 
formed me that the strain was from Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, who certainly deserve credit for placing in the 
hands of gardeners such a capital assottment of Ciner¬ 
arias.— E. Molyncux. 
Adiantum Capillus-Veneris imbricatum. 
The great size and overlapping character of the pinnules 
of this species, as well as the light green colour of the 
frond, remind us of what occurs in A. tenerum Far- 
leyense. Like that variety, it also seems to be partly 
affected in its powers to fructify, but it is not so sterile. 
The pinnules are broadly cuneate or fan-shaped, and 
deeply cut up into lobes, constituting as it were an inter¬ 
mediate form between that and the variety A. C.-V. 
fissum ; but for decorative purposes is altogether 
superior in every way. Its cultural requirements are 
simple, as are those of the type. 
Azalea, Deutsche Perle. 
The raising of this fine variety was a great acquisition 
to horticulture, and the more it is known the more it 
will be appreciated. The flowers are of large size, pure 
white, and very distinct from other double or semi¬ 
double kinds owing to the breadth and rounded outline 
of the segments of the corolla. Another point recom¬ 
mending the variety is that the flowers expand with 
very little or no forcing, by merely being kept in a 
moderately warm greenhouse, as may be seen at High 
Elms, in the garden of the Plight Hon. Sir John 
Lubbock, Bart., M.P. 
Croton ovalifolia. 
The long, narrow-leaved and gracefully arching 
varieties are generally in most request for decorative 
purposes in a small state ; but that under notice is of 
an entirely different stamp, and yet a very beautiful 
kind. The leaves are short, oblong, rounded at the 
ends, and spread loosely on short petioles. There is a 
broad yellow stripe down the centre, from whence 
netted veins of the same colour are given off. It is 
highly esteemed at Gunnersbury Park, Acton. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Aeranthus Leonis. 
The most frequent name of this plant in gardens is 
Angi'iecum Leonis. But under whatever name it may 
be grown there can be no doubt it is one of the most 
ornamental of dwarf compact-growing Orchids. The 
leaves are sickle shaped, and much compressed laterally, 
so that they appear to be set on edge. They are, 
moreover, of a deep green, arranged in two ranks, and 
last a long time in perfect condition. The flowers are 
pure white, with a long spur reminding us of what 
occurs in Angnecum caudatum for size. Some healthy 
specimens, suspended from the roof in small baskets, 
have been flowering for some time at Clare Lawn, East 
Sheen. Each raceme bears ’from four to six flowers, 
and some of the specimens, although really very small, 
bear two racemes of bloom. 
Goodyera discolor. 
This Brazilian Orchid is seldom seen in such thriving 
condition as I saw it in a stove at Walton Lea, 
Warrington. Flowering in the same house were 
Dendrobium fimbriatum and D. nobile, Cattleya 
Percivaliana, Phaius grandiflora, Ccelogyne cristata, 
and Yanda suavis. — W. P. P. 
Oddntoglossum RAMOSISSIMUM VAR. 
A fine variety of this Odontoglot was exhibited at the 
Drill Hall on the 11th ult. by A. H. Smee, Esq., The 
Grange, Wellington. The panicled scape stood about 
18 ins. to 20 ins. high, bearing a large number of 
flowers. The sepals and petals are lanceolate, acumi¬ 
nate, wavy, and white spotted with pale violet on the 
lower half. The small lip is kneed in the middle, and 
is dark violet, with a white tip and crest. The leaves 
are numerous, ligulate, channelled, ascending, and 12 
ins. to 15 ins. long. A First Class Certificate was 
awarded. 
Masdevallia leontoglossa. 
Tiie leaves of this singular species are lanceolate and 
oblong, deep green, leathery, and from 3 ins. to 6 ins. 
long, by ^ in. to 1 in. broad. The scape is shorter than 
the leaves, an l bears a solitary large flower of curious 
gaping aspect. The tube is wide and short. The 
upper lobe of the calyx is greenish, with three purple 
lines, and runs into a tail about 1 in. long, but the 
lateral lobes are ovate, acuminate, heavily spotted with 
purple on a white ground. The small petals are half 
sagittate aud white with two purple lines, while the 
lip is deeply spotted with purple. It was exhibited by 
A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington, at the 
Drill Hall, Westminster, on the 11th ult., and was 
awarded a Botanical Certificate. 
Masdevallia polysticta. 
Some of the smaller Masdevallias are really beautiful 
when seen covered with their interesting flowers. That 
under consideration is not merely interesting, but 
exceedingly pretty. The scapes rise above the foliage, 
and each bears numerous flowers in a short raceme. 
The ground colour of the segments of the calyx is 
white, closely spotted all over with crimson-purple ; 
and the segments end in deep yellow tails about j in. 
in length. The petals and yellow lip are small, and 
do not form any conspicuous part of the flower. The 
flowers last a long time in good condition. We noted 
this species in the cool Odontoglossum house at 
Gunnersbury Park, Acton. 
Cypripedium Germinyanum. 
The seed parent of this hybrid was Cypripedium 
villosum, and the pollen parent C. hirsutissimum. The 
upper sepal is very hairy on the back, greenish yellow 
in front, reticulated with brown, intensified and 
spotted with purple at the base, showing the influence 
of both parents. The obovate-spathulate petals are rosy 
purple on the upper longitudinal half, strongly wavy 
on the margin, and hairy, showing the influence of C. 
hirsutissimum markedly, while the corresponding lower 
half is brownish yellow, pointing to C. villosum. The 
lip is large and purplish brown. A fine form of it was 
shown by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, at the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, on the 11th ult., and received a First 
Class Certificate. 
Lycaste Skinneri Regin/e. 
The sepals of this variety are of a soft rosy hue, while 
the erect petals are of a deep reddish purple on the 
inner face and paler externally. The lip, especially 
the upper portion, is intensified to a reddish crimson. 
The crest on the contrary, and curiously enough, is of a 
dusky yellow. The flowers are noble and telling, and 
an Award of Merit was accorded it at the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, on the 11th ult., when it was exhibited 
by E. A. Roberts, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Simon), 
Woodland House, Greenhithe, Kent. 
SEASONABLE WORK IN THE 
GARDEN. 
Crotons. —Where propagation has been delayed till 
now, it may be carried out with even more success than 
if done during the earlier part of the year, when light 
is deficient. Good useful plants for table decoration 
may be obtained in a short time by the selection of 
strong cuttings, which should be inserted in thumb 
pots, and the latter plunged in strong heat in the 
propagating frame. 
Dracaenas.— It is now well known that the tops of 
leggy plants may be taken off with their full comple¬ 
ment of leaves, inserted in small pots and rooted. 
Such hard-wooded kinds as D. Goldieana are a little 
more troublesome to induce to emit roots, but they 
can, however, be propagated in this way. Those who 
have not a good command of heat may ring the stems 
below the leaves and tie some sphagnum round the 
part, or surround it with a small pot split in half and 
afterwards filled with sandy soil. 
P and anus and Variegated Pine Apple. —Suckers 
near the base of the stems of these plants may now be 
taken off and rooted with great facility. One point to 
remember in connection with the variegated Pandanus 
Veitchii is, that the smaller and more variegated the 
cuttings are, the better. The young plants arising 
from them are more serviceable for table decoration, 
and last a longer time in usable condition. They are 
also more graceful than plants raised from large 
cuttings with broad leaves. 
Salvias.— A stock of cuttings should now be taken 
off the old plants, rooted and grown on for next autumn 
and winter use. Amongst those that should not be 
overlooked are S. splendens, S. involuerata, S. i. 
Betlieli, S. rutilans, S. elegans, S. angustifolia, S. 
patens, and S. p. alba. If a stock of the latter two are 
required for bedding purposes, the old tubers should 
now be introduced to heat, and encouraged to produce 
young shoots for cuttings. 
Achimenes. —A batch of these may now be put into 
heat for early summer flowering. Introduce the pots 
or pans containing the old soil and the tubers to stove 
heat, give a slight watering, and syringe occasionally 
to induce the tubers to start. When they have made 
a start, give a good watering before turning them out, 
to cause the old soil to part readily from them. Then 
pot in rich light soil. 
Chrysanthemums. — The potting off of rooted 
cuttings should now no longer be delayed, otherwise 
the young plants will get drawn and weakly, while 
the lower leaves will be liable to drop early. Beplace 
them in heat after the operation, to establish the roots 
in the fresh soil before they are finally hardened off 
and placed in a cool house, preparatory to placing them 
in frames or outside. 
Vines. —Close attention to the disbudding and tying 
down of the shoots in succession houses must be given. 
In ventilating be careful to avoid cold draughts during 
the prevalence of cold, cutting east winds, which would 
check the growth of tender shoots and foliage. Close 
the houses early in the afternoon, and should the tem¬ 
perature in the earliest house run up to 90° with sun- 
heat, no harm will result if the foliage has been 
syringed and the house well damped down. 
Peaches.— It is not improbable that red-spider will 
obtain a foothold on the foliage of trees near the hot- 
water pipes during the long continuance of cold winds, 
entailing the necessity for a great amount of artificial 
heat. The syringe should therefore be freely used, 
especially on the lower part of the trees, to destroy or 
dislodge the destructive little enemy'. 
Fruit Trees.— All necessary planting of fruit trees 
should now be completed as early as possible. The 
tying in of Peach trees should also receive attention, or 
the buds will be liable to get knocked off during the 
operation owing to their size. Newly planted trees 
should be staked or nailed up as the case may be and 
mulched. A little allowance for sinking should be 
made to trees on walls. 
Broccoli. —Varieties that are intended for spring 
use next year should be sown now in beds where they 
can be protected until fairly good weather sets in. Sow 
moderately thin, and afterwards thin out to secure good 
growth and short stocky stems. The situation should 
be exposed and the ground moderately rich, otherwise 
the plants will make vigorous growth during summer, 
but will be less hardy. 
Cabbages. — A general sowing of Cabbages, Brussels 
Sprouts, Savoys, Borecole, Cauliflower, and other 
subjects of a similar nature should be made during the 
early part of this month, and, if necessary, be made 
secure against the depredations of birds by the use of 
old netting. 
Autumn-planted Cabbages and Onions.— There 
will, no doubt, be blanks amoDgst the Cabbages, which 
should be filled up at an early date. See that the beds 
of autumn-sown Onions are quite free from weeds. Any 
plants which may have been partly up-rooted by the 
frost should be pressed firm down into the soil with 
the fingers. 
