426 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 8, 1890. 
We are pleased to hear that the business has not 
been lost to the family, arrangements having been 
made whereby it will be carried on by Mr. Young’s 
second and youngest sons, Herbert and Arthur, 
probably under the stjde and title of Maurice Young 
& Sons, while the eldest sou, William Thomas, will 
take up the landscape gardening branch of the business, 
which his father had for some years practised with 
much success. That the young men may speedily 
retrieve the disasters which have befallen the family, 
will, we are sure, be the hearty wish of all who 
know the circumstances of their lamented father’s sad 
misfortunes. 
- »>£<* - 
PERIVILLE. 
The number of town gardens that have been transformed 
into Orchid-growing establishments in the metropolis is 
great, and although individually of small extent, as a 
rule, they really constitute a multufn in parvo, both 
as to the number of subjects cultivated, and their 
actual value. Another aspect presenting itself is the 
wonderful amount of success attending the cultivation 
of Orchids in such gardens, notwithstanding their being 
fully within the influence of the smoke and fog of the 
metropolis, which is of increasing intensity and 
frequency from year to year. 
Periville, at Highbury New Park, N., comes, of course, 
within these influences ; but notwithstanding, 
Mr. Larkins has collected together within the last 
few years a fine collection of Orchids of increasing 
importance. Odontoglossums, Cattleyas, and others 
requiring similar treatment as to temperature and 
culture form the bulk of the kinds collected together, 
but not exclusively so. At present the finest display is 
produced by the Odontoglossums, but the Cattleyas are 
preparing to make a fine display later on by throwing 
up numerous sheaths. 
The forms of Odontoglossum crispum are very 
numerous, and some of them are of a high standard of 
merit judged according to the breadth of the sepals and 
petals. One beautiful form is a delicate blush, while 
0. e. Pacho variety, from Pacho, Colombia, is pure 
white with the exception of one spot on the sepals and 
a golden yellow disc on the lip. We noted another very 
interesting variety which had the margins of the sepals 
and petals inrolled at the margins, and a narrow brown 
lacing on the margin of the lip, giving to the whole a 
striking resemblance to the flower of Narcissus poeticus. 
A large number of specimens of 0. triumphans are also 
in flower, and show great variation. A handsomely 
spotted variety was also notable for its broad, deeply 
toothed petals, whereas they are usually nearly or quite 
entire in the type. 0. t. Larkin’s var. is equally 
distinct and beautiful. Here the blotches are few, 
large, and deep chocolate-brown. That on the upper 
portion of the lip is sharply defined from the basal 
half, which is of a golden yellow. Other species are 
0. Rossii majus, in variety, and of high quality ; 0. tri- 
pudians, 0. gloriosum, 0. Coradinei superbum, which 
latter is notable for the number of reddish-brown 
blotches on the basal half of the sepals and petals. 
The flowers of 0. Cervantesi rubrum are of a beautiful 
rose-pink all over, besides the usual transverse banding 
at the base, but are even darker when they first 
expand. The leaves of 0. C. variegatum have a broad 
but irregular creamy white margin, a very unusual 
thing amongst Orchids. 
A goodly number of the best Oncidiums are grown 
here, including 0. serratum, which has been flowering 
for seven weeks past. The flower stem attained a 
length of 12 ft., and produced twenty-two flowers, 
which are notable on account of the manner in which 
the petals are infolded over the lip and serrated at 
their margins. All the other parts of the flower are 
much undulated and crisped at the margin, adding 
greatly to the interesting character of the flower. 0. 
sarcodes, with a flower stem 7 ft. to 8 ft. long, bore 
ninety-three flowers last year, and now gives greater 
promise. 0. pubes is a grand sight, bearing 474 flowers 
on a scape 3| ft. high. The Butterfly (0. Papilio), and 
its near ally, 0. Krameri, also lend their influence in 
beautifying the Cattleya house. Possibly the finest 
form of the latter we have seen is here. The petals are 
densely blotched with intense orange, while the lip has 
a broad margin of the same brilliant hue. The petals 
and upper sepal are of an intense purple-brown. 0. 
ampliatum majus and 0. Reiehenheimii were notable 
for the great vigour of their scapes and pseudo-bulbs. 
There is also a fine form of Pilumna nobilis. Cattleya 
intermedia superba, a very dark form, flowered twice in 
eight months, and C. superba splendens had eight 
spikes ; both were imported pieces. The pure white 
Lycaste Skinneri alba also finds a happy home here. 
The large yellow Tulip-like flowers of Anguloa Clowesii 
were pushing up ; and the attractive flowers of Den- 
drobium Findleyanum were conspicuous close by. In 
all the houses the Orchids presented a clean and healthy 
appearance, silently testifying to the care and attention 
bestowed by the gardener, Mr. Cr Rann, upon his 
favourites. 
-- 
CELERY CULTIVATION. 
In many gardening establishments—chiefly, perhaps, 
those that are presided over by old practitioners—it is 
usual to find that they have certain landmarks, as it 
were, in the shape of races, fairs or fetes, when crops 
should either be sown or gathered, and probably it is 
the custom in many gardens to dig the first Celery on 
the first day of partridge shooting. I have at least 
known it so, and where such is required, it is now 
necessary to sow seed according to the quantity needed 
for the earliest batch. Fill a pan or shallow box with 
light loamy soil that has been run through a sieve, 
placing the coarser material in the bottom for drainage 
over the crocks ; avoid sowing the seed too thickly, and 
cover slightly with fine soil. It is preferable to give the 
soil a good soaking of water before sowing the seed. 
If the pan or box can be placed on a gentle hot-bed, so 
much the better, for germination will be quicker and 
more sure than if placed in a heated structure. "When 
the seed is nicely up it should be removed to a shelf 
close to the glass in a warm-house for a time, so as to 
gradually inure the little plants to cooler quarters. 
As soon as they are large enough the earliest batch 
should be pricked off, about 3 ins. apart, on a slight hot. 
bed covered with fine rich soil, pressed down rather 
firm to a depth of 2 ins., under which should be placed 
—on the top of the slight fermenting material—2 ins. 
or 3 ins. of good rotten manure. After the soil has 
become warmed dibble in the seedlings, water them 
through a fine rose, and shade from bright sunshine. 
Keep them close until they have got root-hold, after 
which air must be given when the weather is favourable, 
the light being removed altogether when planting 
time approaches, as the aim should be to keep the 
plants stocky until they are fit to plant out. As 
soon as the weather is favourable, and the plants are 
large enough, transplant in the trenches, as Celery 
in many cases is spoiled through remaining too long in 
the bed. The plants grow apace, and very soon draw 
one another upwards like a plantation of Larch, so 
that when put out in the trenches the leaves droop, 
because they lack substance. Such plants are some 
time in starting kindly, and thereby valuable time 
is lost. 
The main crop may be pricked off in a prepared bed 
outdoors. Choose an open place with a hard bottom, 
mark out the size of the bed, and place round it, 
on edge, boards about six inches wide ; first put in some 
good fat rotted manure to a depth of 3 ins., making it 
firm and level, upon which place 2 ins. of fine soil, 
composed of loam and leaf-soil; prick out the seedlings 
4 ins. apart, give them a good watering, and shade 
from bright sunshine until they begin to take hold of 
the soil, slightly damping them overhead in the after¬ 
noon on bright days, when not actually requiring 
water at the roots. Keep them going, and on no 
account let them suffer for the want of water. It is a 
busy time in most gardens when the main crop of 
Celery requires planting out, but an effort should be 
made to get the trenches ready before it is actually 
necessary, that the plants may be shifted from their 
quarters in the bed, as when established and the roots 
have permeated the manure their growth is quick, and 
if allowed to remain long in that position, either from 
neglect or force of circumstances, their constitution is 
ruined. 
Some growers prefer to sow later and prick out 
the seedlings straightaway into the trenches, but all 
kitchen-gardeners have not ground available for such 
practice ; they have, perhaps, to await the demolition of 
some of their Pea rows before they can put out their 
Celery. But for my own part I cannot see any gain in 
the seed-bed-to-trencli system, as in hot dry weather 
shading and damping are necessary, or else the little 
seedlings are very soon frizzled up ; and I think that 
plants grown in such a bed as I have described, planted 
out as soon as ready, and given a good soaking of 
water, will run neck and neck, if not actually beat the 
seed-bed-to-trench system. 
Perhaps for the greater convenience in earthing, 
Celery is mostly grown on the single row system, but 
where ground is scarce, I would prefer a trench 4 ft. 
wide, digging into the bottom some good rotted 
manure, and planting four rows. The plants should 
be cut out of the bed with a sharp spade, carefully 
handling them, when each can be planted with a square 
ball, like half a brick, and a mass of roots, which have 
permeated the manure, and not gone down consequent 
on the bed being, as I have mentioned, on a hard 
bottom. 
It is a mistake to earth up Celery too soon, 
neither should that operation, as I have seen it, be 
performed all at once, about three earthings being gener¬ 
ally necessary. Celery planted in beds is rather more 
trouble to earth than single rows, but it is easily done 
by handy workmen with a little care. I have seen 
Celery grown on the bed system that fetched Is. 6d. a 
dozen from the greengrocer, so that it was not puny 
stuff.— Geo. Potts, Junr., Elmside Gardens, KortKiarn. 
-- 
THE FLORISTS’ LAOED PINK. 
"With reference to the comment of “Wild Pink” in 
your issue of the 15th inst., p. -37S, one may be 
excused for imagining, from Mr. Paul’s silence, that he 
feels indignant at “Wild Pink” presuming to dictate in 
these great days of perfection. Now I am not going to 
quarrel with “ Wild Pink,” neither is it my intention 
to encroach upon the columns of this journal, by 
following up the discussion. My present view is that 
he ought not so peremptorily to have challenged the 
views expressed in Mr. Paul’s paper, as to the origin of 
the Pink, and which are not the least bombastic, 
because they are those of very old and reliable botanists, 
references to which he quoted. 
Now “Wild Pink” surely cannot believe that men 
with reasonable ideas will give an “Alias” credit, with¬ 
out any corroborative authority, for knowing more 
about the origin of plants than the men who have 
passed away more than a century ago, and who, in their 
lifetime, had far better opportunities than any of us 
have now, or ever shall have, of proving the actual 
origin of plants, such as the Pink, Carnation, and 
similar old Florists’ Flowers. [?] 
I may inform “ Wild Pink” that I have had seedlings 
with foliage as wide as any ordinary Carnation foliage, 
and in all shades of greeu, from light to almost purple, 
and I have also had them with perfectly smooth edges, 
although I am quite aware that the foliage of Pinks -are 
generally “ serrulate ” on the edges ; but supposing the 
latter to be always the case, it does not follow that the 
Pink does not belong to Dianthus Caryophyllus, 
and I may ask “ Wild Pink ” how he accounts for the 
true Clove scent being always in the Pink, and for it to 
be the exception in most Picotees, and al ;o in a great 
number of Carnations. 
The following are a few extracts of old authorities, 
supporting the views as to the Pink being not only a 
British plant, but that it is the Dianthus Caryo¬ 
phyllus, and parent of the Carnation. If “Wild 
Pink ” can convince us to the contrary by any better 
authority, then I for one shall be both gratified and 
enlightened. 
In James Donn’s Rortus Cantabrigiensis, or an 
accented catalogue of plants, published 1831, there are 
sixty-five varieties given under the Dianthus Pink, 
amongst them Caryophyllus (clove) and Plumarius 
(feathered). The native home of the former he shows to 
be British, quoting as his authority English Botany. 
The nationality of Plumarius he give? as Eur<pe. 
Curtis, in his Botanical Magazine published 17S7, says, 
“The Dianthus Caryophyllus,or Wild Clove, is generally 
considered the parent of the Carnation.” Dr. Jonathan 
Stokes stated more than 100 years ago that Hudson 
pronounced Miller’s Red Pink, Damascenus, as a var¬ 
iety of Caryophyllus, and remarks that the leaves of 
this (the red Pink) are microscopically serrated. The 
English Botany, quoted by “ British Flora,’’ speaks of 
D. Caryophyllus as the Clove Pink Carnation, or Clove 
Gilly-flower; and the Rev. G. E.Smith, in his comments 
which appear in the same work, says, “Few persons 
on seeing this plant, as it grows on old walls, would 
suppose it was the origin of one of the fairest flowers of 
the season—the curious, choice Clove, July flower, or 
Carnation of our gardens, with its endless diversity of 
colour and form, yet such it appears to be.” 
Sweet, in his Manual or Botanical Cultivator, says, 
“Dianthus is a pretty genus, belonging to the 
Caryophyllece, to which the Pink, Carnation, kz., 
belong.’’— James Thurstan, Finsbury Rouse, Richmond 
Road, Cardiff. [All modern authorities are agreel 
that Dianthus plumarius is the wild type of the 
garden Pink, statements made by ancient botanical 
writers notwithstanding. “Wild Pink” is perfectly 
able to clear up the botanical differences between the 
“ authorities ” if he cares to do so. —Ed.] 
