April 5, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
493 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
--t-- 
Orohid Growers’ Calendar. 
Watering, shading and ventilating now occupy a 
good deal of time in the Orchid houses, and the 
importance of each soon becomes manifest if not done 
in a systematic way. No hard and fast rules can be 
adhered to, because of the many changes in the 
weather which we often get even during twelve hours ; 
but the plants which have now commenced growing in 
real earnest should not be allowed to suffer from want 
of water ; for dryness at the root in many cases when 
Orchids are making their growth, helps thrip to enfeeble 
plants which would otherwise make more satisfactory 
progress. 
The thorough damping of the stages, floors and walls 
is a very important matter, which has been alluded to 
frequently ; while the re-potting of such plants as need 
a shift should be proceeded with without delay. 
Ccelogyne cristata and its varieties, Lemoniana and 
alba, requiring attention now, will be found to be 
starting into growth, and can be readily increased by 
taking young plants away without greatly interfering 
with the originals, though in cases where the bulbs 
have grown over each other it may be necessary to 
thoroughly divide the plant. Good forms of C. speciosa 
are very useful for producing flowers, since they seem to 
be scarcely ever out of bloom, C. Sanderiana appears 
to enjoy a great amount of moisture in the East India 
house, but like the white forms of Lielia anceps, it 
requires more than one season to get well enough 
established to produce flowering bulbs. C. barbata 
should now be kept constantly saturated, and have a 
shady place in the Cattleya house. 
Amongst the plants adapted for flowering in baskets 
suspended from the roof at this season, Oncidium 
biflorum is a conspicuous object when well grown, 
while other showy Oncidiums now in flower include 
0. sarcodes, 0. macranthum, 0. concolor, and 0. 
Cavendishianum, all of them well-tried friends of many 
years’ acquaintance. 
Bearing in mind that the bulk of the plants of 
Miltonia vexillaria will soon be in flower, it will be 
well to dip or sponge them over before the flower-spikes 
get too far advanced, so that they may go over the 
flowering period without any cleaning being necessary, 
as the flowers are so easily bruised. Odontoglossum 
cirrhosum is another plant which with us always 
wants a deal of cleaning to keep them healthy, and the 
thrips appear to be as fond of 0. Harryanum as any¬ 
thing in our cool house. 
Temperatures for East Indian house—night, 65° ; 
day, 70° to 75°. Cattleya house—night, 60°; day, 
65° to 70°. Odontoglossum or cool house—night, 50°; 
day, 55° to 60°.— W. P. 
Erratic Cattleyas. 
We have received from Arddarroch, Gaerlochhead, 
two remarkably erratic Cattleyas, varieties of C. Trianae. 
One was of a similar shade of colour to C. T. delicata. 
The petals had become aborted or amalgamated with 
the upper sepal. The latter was broad and bifid at the 
apex, as if it consisted of two. The column bore two 
anther caps. The other variety was more richly 
coloured, and if possible more capricious. One petal 
united with the upper sepal, but was very narrow, and 
appeared only as a half. The other united with the 
side of the column, being completely amalgamated with 
it from the edge inwards, while its posterior edge was 
free, undulated, crisped, and of a pale rosy purple hue. 
L/ELIO-Cattleya Hippolyta. 
The seed parent of this bi-generic hybrid was Laelia 
cinnabarina, fertilised with the pollen of Cattleya 
labiata Mossiae. The undulate lamina of the lip and 
the new and distinct colour, take after the seed parent. 
For description see p. 476. It was exhibited by Messrs. 
J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, at the first spring show of 
the Royal Botanic Society on the 26th of March, and 
was awarded a Botanical Certificate. 
ANGR/ECUM CITRATUM VAR. 
A well-grown plant of this, bearing four long, arch¬ 
ing, many-flowered scapes, was shown by W. E. Darnell, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. Elliott), Devonshire House, 
Stamford Hill, at the first spring show of the Royal 
Botanic Society, on the 23th of March. All parts of 
the plant were much above the average size for the 
species, and the flowers were of the usual pale lemon 
hue. A Botanical Certificate was awarded it. 
Oncidium Larkinianum. 
This was brought up to the show of the Royal Botanic 
Society on the 26th of March by Mr. C. Rann, gar¬ 
dener to J. Larkin, Esq., Periville, Highbury New 
Park. The flowers are very showy and conspicuous on 
account of their size and bright colours. For description 
and supposed derivation see p. 444. A Botanical 
Certificate was awarded it. 
A Fine Spike of Dendrobium nobile. 
That the cultivation of this good old-fashioned but 
popular subject is well understood in the north we have 
evidence in a specimen grown by Mr. Robert Thomson, 
Garrald House Gardens, Dolphinston, Peebles-shire. A 
piece of stem, one half of it, measuring 14 ins. in length 
bore thirty flowers, or rather more than two to an inch. 
The greater number of the lateral clusters consisted of 
three flowers, and the remainder bore two each. Good 
foliage was also borne on the stem. The flowers were much 
of the usual size and colour characteristic of the species, 
but there was a large and richly coloured blotch in the 
throat, and the aggregate formed a spray of surpassing 
beauty, furnishing one of the cogent reasons why this 
species should be held in such estimation throughout 
the country, notwithstanding its commonness. Four 
years ago the plant might have been correctly called 
“a miserable bit,” but now has stems 3 ft. long, show¬ 
ing the excellence of Mr. Thomson’s treatment in a 
climate that is none of the best, Garrald House being 
nearly 1,000 ft. above the sea. 
- ->X<- -- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Crystal Palace. —March 29th. 
The annual exhibition of spring flowers was held on 
the above date, the plants being arranged in the central 
part of the building, extending a short way into either 
wing, because the central transept where they are 
usually staged was otherwise occupied. 
Messrs. Henry Williams & Sons, Fortis Green, 
Finchley, were awarded the first prizes in the open 
classes for Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, and Lily of the 
Yalley. Their Hyacinths were wonderfully fresh and 
included good specimens of Ida, yellow ; William III., 
deep violet-purple; Yon Schiller, red; Yuurbaak, 
intense crimson-red ; La Grandesse, white ; and King 
of Blues, a very dark blue. The first prize for Cycla¬ 
mens was taken by the St. George’s Nursery Company, 
Hanwell, whose plants were a mixture of the typical 
and C. persicum giganteum strains, all well-flowered 
and grown in 24-size pots. Mr. D. Phillips, Langley 
Broom, Slough, was a good second, but his plants were 
a little past their best, as the blooms were somewhat 
faded or injured. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, were 
awarded a first prize for Amaryllis. The Cinerarias 
staged by Mr. J. Ford, gardener to Sir C. Pigott, 
Bart., Hexham Park, Slough, were large branching 
plants from 15 ins. to 18 ins. high, and as far 
through, bearing a great quantity of flowers of 
rich and varied colours, for which he was deservedly 
awarded the first prize. Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, held their own, as usual, for a group of 
stove and greenhouse flowering and foliage plants, 
amongst which were Palms, Crotons, Dracaenas, Olivias, 
and Orchids. The group was arranged in bluntly trian¬ 
gular form, and was very effective. The group shown by 
Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, West Norwood, was 
more acutely angular, and took the second place. The 
Azaleas were small, as is usual at spring exhibitions, 
but owing to their being arranged on the floor, any 
effect they might otherwise have possessed was lost. 
Mr. R. Wells, Longton Nursery, Sydenham, took the 
first prize ; and was followed by Mr. C. Nunn, 
gardener to J. Soames, Esq., Maze Hill, Greenwich 
Park. Mr. A. Carter, gardener to Alderman Evans, 
Ewell Grove, Ewell, Surrey, had the best Mignonette 
grown in the market style; Mr. D. Phillips was 
second. 
In the amateurs’ classes the best Hyacinths and 
Narcissi were shown by Mr. H. Shoesmith, gardener 
to M. Hodgson, Esq., Shirley Cottage, Croydon. 
Mr. Wm. Clark, gardener to Wm. Sopper, Esq., 
Eversley, Herne Hill, took the first prize for Tulips. 
Mr. D. Phillips took the first prize for Cyclamens in 
this division. There was more competition for 
Cinerarias, and Mr. J. Ford again took the first prize 
with dwarfer and even more floriferous plants than he 
had in the open class. Mr. D. Phillips and Mr. H. 
Shoesmith were second and third respectively. Mr. 
J. Lambert, gardener to H. W. Segelcke, Esq., Elfin- 
dale Lodge, Herne Hill, had the best Lily of the 
Yalley. 
In the miscellaneous class, Messrs. B. S. Williams 
& Son, Upper Holloway, exhibited a large group of 
Hyacinths, Olivias, Polyanthus Narcissus, Lilacs, 
Boronia megastigma, Lily of the Valley, and dwarf 
Guelder Roses in pots. Fine varieties of Olivias were 
Cruenta, Miniata splendens, Robusta, Meteor and 
Atrosanguinea; they were awarded an extra prize. 
Messrs. Barr k Son, Covent Garden, received a similar 
award for a large group of Daffodils, including Golden 
Spur and Sir Watkin, and Narcissus Cyclamineus, 
Other spring flowers in their group were Anemone 
fulgens and Puschkinia scilloidas compact a. Messrs. 
Paul & Sons, Cheshunt, showed a group of Roses, 
including several of the Polyantha type. They also 
had a group of hardy herbaceous plants, amongst 
which were Tulipa Greigi, T. G. imperialis, Saxifragas, 
Hepaticas and Primulas, and were awarded an extra 
prize. Mr. W. H. Frettingham, Beeston, Notts, had 
a small group of Polyanthus. 
A First Class Certificate was awarded to J. Larkin, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. C. Rann), Highbury New Park, 
for Oncidium Larkinianum, described in a recent 
number. Similar awards were made to Messrs. J. 
Laing k Sons, for a Olivia named Stanstead Beautv ; 
and to Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son for another 
named Meteor. Both are described in another column. 
Messrs. Barr & Son showed a Daffodil named Mrs. F. W. 
Burbidge, with sulphur-coloured segments, and a pale 
yellow irregularly lobed crown, for which they received 
a First Class Certificate. A Cyclamen named Dame 
Blanche, of the giganteum type, with large white 
flowers slightly tinted with pink round the mouth, 
was shown by the St. George’s Nursery Company, and 
certificated. Messrs. Paul & Son were accorded 
certificates for Amaryllis Salvator rosea, a crimson-red 
variety with a white band along the centre of the 
segments ; and for a Polyantha Rose named Clothilda 
Soupert. The flowers of the latter were very double, 
compact, and of a beautiful rosy pink hue. 
Shropshire Horticultural. 
The spring show of this society, and always the prettiest 
for floral display of the three exhibitions annually held 
in Shrewsbury, was held last week, and attracted a 
great number of visitors, although it was a wet day, the 
Music Hall being crowded all the time the exhibition 
was open. The nurserymen contributed largely in 
making up a grand show, the Messrs. Pritchard filling 
one side of the hall, a stage about 6 ft. wide, with a 
fine lot of well-grown, useful plants, and receiving an 
award of a Special Certificate by the judges. Mr. 
Murrell had a large collection of nicely-flowered plants, 
wreaths and crosses ; and Mr. Myers had in front of 
the orchestra some fine blooms of good Pelargoniums, 
very bright and effective. Messrs. Jones & Sons 
exhibited principally small Ferns, cut flowers, wreaths 
and crosses ; and Messrs. Dicksons (Limited), Chester, 
contributed a very fine display of herbaceous plants, all 
growing in pans and looking very fresh and nice. Mr. 
H. Eckford, of Wem, brought a box of fine flowers of 
Cinerarias and Primulas. 
In some of the open classes there were not quite so 
many entries, but in others a greater number than 
usual. For twelve stove and greenhouse plants, Mr. 
Lambert, gardener to Col. Wingfield, Onslow, secured 
the first, and third prizes ; Mr. Farrant, gardener to 
Mrs. Juson, taking the second. In Mr. Lambert’s first 
prize lot, he showed a very fine white large-flowered 
greenhouse Rhododendron, said by many to be the 
finest flowered plant in the show, being very sweet- 
scented and one mass of white blossoms. We also 
noticed Himantophyllum miniatum superbum with two 
fine heads of deep-coloured flowers. For large Azaleas 
untrained, Mr. Lambert also took first and third prizes, 
his first prize four being well flowered and in fine 
health. Trained large Azaleas were not so good as usual 
but Arum Lilies were well shown by Major Patchett! 
Shrewsbury, and Mr. Lambert. For four Clematis’ 
Mr. Lambert took first and second. Mr. Lambert 
secured the highest awards for fifteen Hyacinths and 
twelve pots of Tulips ; also first for Hyacinths in the 
gardeners’ class for ten pots. Mr. Murrell, Portland 
Nurseries, was second for Hyacinths and Tulips, and 
A. E. W. Daly, Esq., second in the gardeners’ classes. 
With Lily of the Valley, Mr. Lambert took the first 
and second prizes ; also first for four pots of Dielytras. 
Roses were very well shown by General Jenkins' 
Cruckton (Mr. Davis, gardener). The leading award 
for a collection of bulbs and corms in flower went to 
Mr. Murrell, also the first for twenty-four hardy 
flowering shrubs. For a collection of hardy herbaceous 
bulbous plants in flower, Messrs. Dickson’s (Limited), 
Chester, secured first honours with a very fine lot 
indeed. Primulas were very fine this year, both in the 
gardeners’ and amateurs’ classes, Mr. R. Taylor, Abbey 
House, Shrewsbury, taking first and second’ia the 
amateurs, and the Hon. W. H. Herbert taking fi rs t 
and second in the gardeners’ division. Cyclamen? 
seldom grown well in gentlemen’s gardens,” were the 
best we have seen here for years, Mr. Lambert taking 
first and second with good plants of some of the bfst 
strains. The amateurs’ classes filled fairly well, Mr. 
Adams, High Street; Mr. G. Burr, Mr. R. Taylor" 
Mr. B. Phillips, Dr. Burd, Mr. W. W. Humpbrys’ 
Major Patchett, Mr. J. W. Wyley, and The Hon! 
W. H. Herbert, all showing good specimens of cartful 
cultivation.— Visitor. 
