230 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 9, 1898. 
stems. Amongst Odontoglossums, O. hastilabium 
and O. Edwardi are ornamental species now advan¬ 
cing, but the former of the two emits an objection¬ 
able odour. Gomeza planifolia is not a conspicuous 
Orchid, but it is pretty, and very fragrant. Sophron- 
ites near the glass are flowering freely. The same 
may be said of the cheerful little Oncidium cheiro- 
phorum, whose small but numerous yellow flowers 
are distinctly fragrant. The small amount of room 
which this species requires, and its graceful character, 
should always be a recommendation for including it 
in a collection. It should be grown in small pots or 
pans and hung up near the light. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The two plants here described were exhibited by 
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, Upper 
Edmonton, at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on the 28th ult., when a First-class Certifi¬ 
cate was accorded to each. 
Acalypha M.acfeeana. —The large, ovate leaves of 
this handsome, decorative, stove plant are of a dark 
bronzy-red, heavily, but irregularly splashed with 
bright red. Sometimes almost the whole of some of 
the leaves are of this brilliant colour. No doubt 
the cultural treatment is largely responsible for the 
fine appearance of the plant exhibited. 
Aglaomorpha Meyeniana. —Some botanists in¬ 
clude this handsome Fern under_Polypodium, but in 
any case it is a bold-looking Fern, reminding one of 
P. Heracleum in some respects. The plant exhibited 
was grown in a basket, and had fronds about 2 ft. to 
2j ft. in? length, and gracefully arching upwards. 
The basal portion of each frond is shallowly 
pinnatified with broad, rounded lobes ; the middle 
portion has long, narrowly oblong segments, and a 
variable length of the terminal portion of the frond 
is cut into long, linear, graceful segments, bearing 
sori or clusters of spore cases. Indeed, this is the 
only fertile portion of the frond, and adds greatly to 
the beauty of the whole by contrast with the broader 
and heavier divisions of the lower portion. On the 
whole it is well worthy of cultivation. 
_ , , _ 
EPACRISES. 
These are one of the old favourite winter-flowering 
shrubs which are by no means so generally cultivated 
as they formerly were and still deserve to be. While 
needing much the same treatment as the greenhouse 
Ericas, they are more easily propagated and grown. 
The Ericas, such as hyemalis, gracilis, melanthera, 
and Wilmoreana, need skilled treatment to secure 
presentable plants, especially after being received 
from nurseries where they are largely grown for 
market purposes. Very few succeed in keeping them 
round for a second season, but the Epacris will grow 
and bloom freely year after year. They are also 
admirably adapted for the conservatory, rooms, and 
temperate houses. While the Erica is almost useless 
for decoration as cut flowers, the subject under 
notice produces grand spikes which are thoroughly 
distinct from other flowers and easily arranged. As 
they also last fresh for a month to six weeks, and a 
good variety of colour is obtainable, it is rather sur¬ 
prising they are not so generally grown as formerly. 
J udicious watering is the chief point in their suc¬ 
cessful culture, the fine, hair-like roots being quickly 
injured by drought or over watering. The compost 
should not be dust dry at any time, nor must it be 
in the least sodden. The most thorough drainage 
should be given, and in order to keep the compost 
open and sweet, we like a little broken charcoal and 
crushed potsherds among it. Good peat, leaf 
soil, and a little sharp sand makes a useful com¬ 
post. Firm potting is also essential, and needs more 
attention with these than with any other Heaths. A's 
soon as the flowering period is over, cut the growth 
back and stand the plants in a moist temperature of 
45° to 50°. 
When young growth is commencing to push, pot 
on those plants which require it, and replace them 
upon a cool damp bottom. If the potting compost 
was in a proper state of moisture, and the plants are 
stood on a damp bottom in a cool house, there will 
be no need for any water until the new roots are 
working into the fresh soil. This is of considerable 
importance. When the roots are working freely, 
let them have plenty of light and air ; a temperature 
of 50° should never be exceeded during winter and 
early spring. Remove them to the open air in June, 
standing them on an ash covered bottom, and half 
plunging the pots to avoid the young roots (which 
favour the edges of the pots) from becoming 
scorched and dry; growth will vary from 6 in. to 
24 in., and will carry flowers almost their whole 
length. A little soot water aids them when growing; 
but the chief items are firm potting, careful water¬ 
ing, and a cool temperature.— P. 
-•**- 
HORTICULTURAL LECTURING. 
Just to set Mr. Prinsep, for whom I can but have 
the greatest respect as a first-class gardener, in the 
right, allow me to say that the statement at p. 164 
was a misprint—I am not a Sussex man. I am a 
real Hampshire Hog, and am very proud of the 
association. Also that up to within the past two 
and a-half years I was a practical gardener, although 
fqr some twenty-five years not a private gardener. 
Prior to that I had some twenty years in private 
gardens. Still, all that experience would have 
hardly fitted me for. lecturing on horticulture had I 
not had abundant experience in market and nursery 
establishments, in seeing what is well done in every 
direction, in literally going about with my eyes open, 
and noting everything worthy of record everywhere. 
Mr. Prinsep, in common with other of your 
readers, will now know that so eminent a gardener 
as Mr. Jas. Douglas has been appointed to inspect 
the horticultural classes in Surrey, and as he attends 
most of the lectures, it is obvious that only those 
well up to their work could stand so severe a test. 
What perhaps will strike some readers is that Surrey 
county less needs such a severe ordeal applied to 
its lectures than some others that have been com¬ 
mented upon by correspondents, but as to which I 
know little or nothing beyond what they have 
stated. 
Really, I have no desire to seem to criticise the 
acts of other counties or lecturers; everything is 
yet in a tentative state. Still, I do think it is a 
monstrous shame that county authorities should 
offer miserable payments, or that any lecturers 
should accept them. However, we hope all will 
come right in time. Let Mr. Prinsep see what he 
can do in a limited area round his own locality. 
That he knows plenty, if he has the capacity to 
impart it, I have no doubt. The best way is to have 
a try.— A. Dean. 
--t-- 
ORCHIDS IN 1893. 
The year that is fast drawing to a close has been 
what we may call a horticultural year, remarkable 
for its bright and sunny days. Up to a few weeks 
ago nature has been dressed in her gayest colours, 
even the trees reluctantly refused to part with their 
decaying colouration, until Jack Frost, clothed in 
his mantle of white, imparted the final stroke, which 
left her once again in her garments of mourning. 
It is then that we turn our thoughts in the direction 
of greenhouses and so forth. As we enter those 
repositories of beauty we are struck with the variety 
of flowers ; but the gem of the season is the Autumn 
Queen (Cattleya labiata), and no more gorgeous 
display than it has afforded has ever been seen in this 
country. We cannot be too grateful to Mr. Sander 
for providing lovers of Orchids with importations of 
the true type of the old labiata of form and beauty 
unknown to the Orchid world before. In remember¬ 
ing the fact of the strong statement made by Sir 
Joseph Hooker, that England was the grave of 
tropical Orchids, I am happy to know that like true 
Britons the public has appreciated Mr. Sander's 
efforts, and have purchased largely from him, so that 
in all Orchid establishments are to be found this 
formerly rare and beautiful plant. 
The old labiata has always held a prominent place 
in all collections of Orchids. When the Pendlebury 
collection was sold, over twenty-five years ago, the 
C. labiata fetched thirty-one guineas, and in 1881, 
when Mr. Day’s celebrated collection was sold, the 
C. labiata realised forty guineas ; but the various 
forms and varieties which Mr. Sander has imported 
excel all former importations, both in varieties and 
flower, and are not to be surpassed by any of the 
species with which it is grouped. Take three of the 
darkest forms that have been produced, namely, 
Cattleya labiata var. Measuresiana, C. 1 . Massaiana, 
and C. 1 . Sanderiana. These are equal if not 
superior to any of the darkest lipped forms of 
C. 1 . Trianae that I ever saw, such as C. 1 . Trianae 
Osmanni, C. 1 . T. Backhousiana, etc. Other 
varieties of C. labiata which I have seen are as 
chaste as any C. 1 . Mossiae var. Reineckiana, ha%dng 
white sepals and petals, orange lip. with rosy-purple 
lines running down the throat. I enclose a flower 
of the pure white variety which bloomed with us 
last year, and was so highly commented upon in 
your valuable columns at that time. This goes to 
show without a shadow of a doubt that it W'as the 
first white C. labiata that ever flowered in cultiva¬ 
tion, and which, to my mind, stands out as unique 
as C. 1 . Bluntii does amongst the forms of C. 1 . 
Mendelii, and which is the finest white Cattleya 
ever introduced into this country. To see a plant of 
labiata bearing fourteen of its snow^-white flowers is 
a sight rarely met with in a lifetime. We have one 
which flowered this year, and had white sepals and 
petals, with a dark crimson lip, and it has been the 
admiration of all who have seen it.— R. Hinde,Broom¬ 
field, Sale. 
[The flower sent by Mr. Hinde measured about 
6 in. across, and although not so large as some of 
the highly-coloured forms of C. labiata it had the 
advantage of being pure white with exception of the 
ever present yellow blotch in the tube, but in this 
case it was very pale. The broadly elliptic petals 
were beautifully crisped at the margins, and so was 
the lamina of the lip.— Ed.] 
-- 5 *^- 
BOUVARDIAS AND 
THEIR CULTURE. 
I DO not know of any plant that is more satisfactory 
than the Bouvardia when well cultivated; doubtless 
many more are equally so, but I am certain none 
can surpass them. For cut bloom, or as a green¬ 
house plant, they are grand. All through the 
autumn and winter, one may rely upon a full crop 
of bloom, and as they are much less troubled wdth 
insect pests than the majority of plants, provided a 
little care be taken, and will also grow well in a 
temperate, or even cool greenhouse, they are 
essentially one of the very best plants an amateur 
can have. 
For the past six weeks I have been able to cut 
quantities of bloom, and the same plants mil con¬ 
tinue to produce such until next April and May. 
During winter there are few subjects suitable for cut 
flowers that the average amateur can grow besides 
Chrysanthemums, Cyclamens, Zonal Pelargoniums, 
and the Bouvardia. The plants now blooming are 
in two batches. One being the old stools of last 
season, cut back, repotted and grown on in a pit; 
the other, and most backward batch, being the 
result of cuttings struck from the former in March 
and April last. 
As a better guide, I propose to give a brief outline 
of the routine followed by us for many years, and 
which has invariably been successful. When the 
plants show signs of exhaustion in the spring, they 
are gradually dried off until growth is checked. By 
this time they can be placed in a pit or frame for a 
six weeks' rest. In the meantime a few of them 
have been repotted into light soil so as to induce 
quick root action, placed into a stove, and as soon 
as young growth commences propagation begins. 
We use two distinct systems of increasing stock of 
desired kinds, and I will briefly describe both. 
Cuttings. 
These are removed from the stools as soon as they 
are 2 in, long, inserted in a sandy compost of leaf 
soil and loam, plenty of silver sand being placed on 
the surface to avoid damping off. The cuttings are 
now well sprinkled, and stood in a close propagating 
case, or under a cloche. The ordinary treatment 
accorded to other soft-wooded cuttings, such as 
Heliotropium, Petunias. Verbenas, etc., is all they 
need. 
Root cuttings are made as follows:—We shake 
away the soil, wash the ball of the plant, and then 
select healthy roots about the thickness of grocers’ 
twine. These are cut up into lengths of 2 in., placed 
on the surface of similar compost to that used for 
the cuttings, very slightly covered with sand, 
watered, and stood in the case with the cuttings. 
They will soon throw up new growth, for the roots 
of Bouvardias are one mass of embryo eyes. 
Both the wood and root cuttings are potted off as 
soon as struck. It is best to use a similar compost 
at this first stage, and to replace them in the case 
for a few days until their new roots are at work 
again. Gradually inure them to a greenhouse 
temperature, and shift on into larger sizes as soon 
