278 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 30, 1893. 
sometimes with advantage a moderate amount of 
pruning when done properly, hut the piece-meal 
method of taking the wood with flowers at uncertain 
intervals is highly injurious to the well being of the 
plant.— W.B.G. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS, 
The Orchid Growers' Calendar. 
Disas. —Owing, no doubt, to the exceptionally 
mild weather, these beautiful greenhouse Orchids 
have started into growth much earlier than usual, 
and as there is always a danger of the roots be¬ 
coming damaged if the repotting is left until the 
growths have attained any length we shall at once 
repot them. Shallow pans, perhaps, are more 
suitable than pots to grow them in, not but what 
they can be grown equally as well in pots if sufficient 
drainage is allowed. The compost in which they 
delight to grow consists of good, rough, fibrous peat, 
a little well-rotted cow or other manure, sphagnum 
moss, and silver sand, well mixed together. Pro¬ 
viding the compost (as it should be) is moderately 
moist when the potting is done very little water will 
be required other than a light syringing on bright 
days, until they have made good headway ; but 
when growing vigorously they must be treated 
liberally as regards moisture. The small suckers 
should be taken off when the annual potting is done 
if the stock is to be increased, and be potted up into 
small pots. These must be watered sparingly for a 
time, or the young growths will damp off. The best 
position for Disas during winter is at the coolest end 
of agreenhouse. Ours are standing on a bed of ashes 
in such a structure, close beside a flowering batch of 
Freesias, where they get plenty of air both night and 
day. Here they are allowed to remain until about the 
end of March, when they are transferred to a cold 
pit where they remain until they come into 
flower, which is about the end of July. They re¬ 
quire shading from bright sunshine and plenty of 
atmospheric moisture to do them well. The lights 
of the cold pit should be taken off at night on all 
favourable occasions during the summer months, 
allowing the plants the benefit of the dewy nights. 
Greenfly, red spider, and sometimes thrips attack 
them ; dipping in a solution of tobacco water will 
keep them in check. We dip ours once or twice in 
the spring time, even if there are no signs of these 
pests, believing that prevention is better than cure. 
Ada aurantiaca. —This is generally considered a 
cool-house Orchid, but like a great many others 
that have " C ” marked against them in some trade 
lists, it does not object to a few more degrees of heat 
during the winter and spring months, but during the 
summer the Odontoglossum house is the best place 
for them. We used to keep ours in this house all 
the year round, but they always made stunted 
growths, and the spikes were not thrown well above 
the foliage. The spot, too, similar to that which 
attacks the Masdevallias when kept too cold, affected 
the foliage, but since affording them the extra 
warmth they have quite grown out of it. Ours are 
just now pushing out large fleshy roots from the 
partly made up new growths, and will now receive 
attention as regards fresh compost. Good peat and 
sphagnum grows them well with plenty of drainage. 
There will be no necessity to alter the tempera¬ 
ture unless severe frost sets in, when they may be 
reduced accordingly.—C. 
Cypripedium Morganiae. 
Amongst the numerous hybrid Cypripediums raised 
at the present day, few of them have the boldness of 
C. Morganiae, raised from C. superbiens crossed 
with C. Stouei. The form of the flower does in¬ 
deed show considerable affinity with the last named. 
The upper sepal is ovate and rosy-pink, with deep 
purple veins. The drooping petals are oblong, 
thickly spotted with crimson-purple on a pale ground, 
and 4 in. long. The lip is of a dull, dark purple like 
that of the seed parent in form, but in shape like that 
of Stonei. The latter, notwithstanding the fact of 
its being the reputed pollen parent, has, undoubtedly, 
the greatest prominence in the flower, and gives it 
that boldness which readily catches the eye. The 
spotting of the petals is the most important feature 
of the flower, and nowhere, perhaps, is it excelled, 
except in C. Stonei platytaenium. It is flowering in 
the collection of Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, 
Upper Holloway. 
Cypripedium Arthurian um. 
All the hybrid Cypripediums which have been raised 
and in which C. Fairieanum has played a part, show 
the well-marked and unmistakeable characteristics 
of that parent. This refers to the shape and beauti¬ 
ful markings of the upper seaal; but the deflexed and 
wavy petals are even more noticeable and character¬ 
istic. The hybrid under notice was raised from C. 
insigne crossed with C. Arthurianum. It may be 
observed that C. Fairieanum has always been used 
as a pollen parent, no doubt on account of the 
exhaustive nature of seed bearing and the weakening 
effect, it would have upon a plant that is by no 
means constitutionally strong. The ovate, upper 
sepal of C. Arthurianum is pale yellow, irregularly 
spotted with purple in lines along the principal veins, 
and white at the top and sides. The deflexed petals 
are heavily lined with brown on the upper longi¬ 
tudinal half, and spotted with brown on a pale yellow 
ground over the corresponding half. The lip is 
suffused and netted with brown on a yellow ground. 
The habit of the plant is dwarf as might be expected 
from the parents used, and it is considered very 
choice by those who grow it. Flowering plants may 
be seen in the nursery of Messrs. B. S. Williams and 
Son, Upper Holloway. 
Laelia Autumnalis alba 
The contrast between this variety and the type is 
considerable, and more so if we compare it with C. 
a. atrorubens. The flowers are in all respects similar 
in form, but pure white with exception of a sulphur 
yellow crest which is by no means prominent. Those 
who grow the white variety of L. anceps alba would 
find in this a beautiful companion, as it flowers about 
the same time. It may be seen in the nursery of 
Messrs. B. S. Williams and Son, Upper Holloway, 
in company with the typical form. 
Limatodes rosea. 
While closely allied to Calanthe, and indeed, it be¬ 
longs to the genus, according to some of our best 
authorities, it does not enjoy that popularity which 
is accorded to Calanthe Veitchi, a hybrid of which 
Limatodes was one of the parents. It is of dwarf 
stature compared with the hybrid to which it gave 
rise, being usually g in. to i2 in. high, with 
lanceolate, rosy sepals and petals. The lip is 
obovate, and of a darker shade of rose, with a white 
eye in front of the column, round which it is con¬ 
volute at the base. The merits of the plant then 
are its beautiful rosy flowers, and dwarf habit, 
which should secure for it a place in all collections 
of Calanthes. It is now flowering in the nursery of 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway. 
-- 4 -- 
YELLOW ROSES. 
We have not so much as a tinge of yellow among 
the Hybrid Perpetual Roses now that Gloire Lyon- 
naise has been relegated to the new class for Hybrid 
Teas. Nor was it more than a very pale lemon tinge 
that I could ever distinguish in this variety. For the 
best yellows we must go to the Teas and Noisettes, 
the Banksian, and the Austrian and Persian Briers. 
Among the Teas and Noisettes we may select the 
following as being six grand climbers of an almost 
pure yellow colour. Climbing Perle des Jardins, 
Belle Lyonnaise, Marechal Niel, Henriette de 
Beauveau, Celene Forestier and Mademoiselle M. 
Berton. Orange and Apricot yellows are found in 
W. A. Richardson, Bouquet d'Or, Reve d’Or, 
Madame Berard and Tour Bertrand; all fit for 
climbing. Ophire and L’Ideale give us bronzy 
metallic yellows. Other pure yellows of normal 
growth are Perle des Jardins, M. van Houtte, Jean 
Pernet, Isabella Sprunt, Triomphe des Rennes, La 
Boule d’ Or, Etoile de Lyon and Comtesse 
de Frignense. Orange and Apricot, Madame 
Falcot, Sunset, Safrano, Franzisca Kruger, . Le 
Nankin, Jean Ducher, and Comtesse de Nadaillac. 
As yellow Roses are so popular with ladies, I thought 
this list might perhaps be useful to your readers. 
All are good and reliable, but Mademoiselle Marie 
Berton Is rather shy, although a rampant grower 
with handsome foliage.— P. 
-- 
Chrysantfemum Show at Ghent. —The next annual 
horticultural exhibition of the Royal Agricultural 
and Botanical Society of Ghent will be held from 
the nth to the 13th November, 1894. The show 
will consist of Chrysanthemums, ornamental plants 
and Orchids. The members of the Royal Agricul¬ 
tural and Botanical Society as well as amateurs and 
foreign nurserymen alone will be admitted to exhibit. 
When the programme does not establish special 
classes for amateurs and nurserymen, the competi¬ 
tion is open and the two categories can take part in 
it. 
EVENING PRIMROSE AS 
A VEGETABLE. 
The Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) belongs 
to a family of plants of which the Fuchsia is perhaps 
the best known to most people, although the plant 
in question is also widely disseminated in this 
country. On the Continent it is known under the 
names of Asses’ Herb, Gardeners' or St. Antony’s 
Bacon, and Red Corn Salad. The Bulletin d'Arbori¬ 
culture de Floriculture, e‘c.. says, that the fleshy roots 
are eaten to some extent Germany, but were more 
in vogue at an earlier period. M. Lippold, who has 
translated the Bon Javdinur into German, recom¬ 
mends it in these terms:—"The seeds are sown 
very thinly in April in well worked soil ; the young 
plant having developed some leaves are transplanted 
about a foot apart in beds manured the previous 
autumn. In autumn the roots are lifted in order to 
preserve them in a cellar or in the vegetable house, 
after having cut the leaves with exception of those of 
the heart or centre, or they are stored somewhere 
conveniently where they may be readily got at 
whenever desired for use, the plant not suffering in 
the least from frost. The roots are eaten cooked 
or cut into slices and put into salad, or they are 
prepared with white sauce as in the case of Salsify. 
The vegetable is recommended by some doctors for 
weak stomachs; it is easy to digest and is 
nourishing. 
The roots which are tap-.shaped, thick, fleshy, red, 
with a rosy-white flesh, ought to be consumed at the 
end of the first year, when the plant has only yet deve¬ 
loped a rosette of leaves. The plant considered from 
the market gardener’s point of view offers only a 
mediocre interest. But latterly, since honey pro¬ 
ducing flowers have been studied, beekeepers have 
given it a place of honour. Some people have con¬ 
sidered it as indigenous to the Continent, but that is 
a mistake, as it is only an escape from gardens there 
as in Britain. It furnishes nectar for bees, but 
particularly pollen in great abundance. L. A. De 
Lathauwer in his Belgisch Kruidbuk says that when 
flowering plants of Oenothera are suspended in 
dwellings they drive away flies, gnats, and other 
inconvenient insects. That property seems con¬ 
tradictory with the attraction that the plants have 
for the honey bee. I 
FLOWER SHOW FIXTURES, 1894. 
January. 
16.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
February. 
13.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
March. 
13, 27.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
14. —Royal Botanic Society. 
14, 15.—Preston Spring Flower Show. 
April. 
10, 24.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
18.—Royal Botanic Society. 
May. 
8. -R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
23, 24, 25.—R.H.S., Temple Show. 
23.—Royal Botanic Society. 
June. 
12, 26.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
13, 14, 15.—York Floral Fete. 
20.—Royal Botanic Society. 
27 .—National Rose Show at Windsor. 
July. 
4.—Reigate Rose Show. 
4.—Royal Botanic Society. 
7.- -National Rose Show at the Crystal Palace. 
10, 24.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
11, 12.—Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s 
Show. 
ig, — National Rose Show at Halifax. 
August. 
14, 28.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
15, —Cuckfield Flower Show. 
September. 
11, 25.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
12, 13.—Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s 
Show. 
October. 
9, 23.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
10, II, 12.—N.C.S. at the Royal Aquarium. 
November. 
6, 7, 8.—N.C.S. at the Royal Aquarium. 
13, 27.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
13, 14.—Kingston Chrysanthemum Show. 
14, 15.—Birmingham Chrysanthemum Show. 
14, 15.—Bristol Chrysanthemum Show. 
14, 15.—Hull Chrysanthemum Show. 
14, 15.—Tunbridge Wells Chrysanthemum Show. 
15, 16, 17.—Edinburgh Chrysanthemum Show. 
16, 17.—Bolton Chrysanthemum Show. 
December. 
4. 5. 6-—N.C.S. at the Royal Aquarium. 
11. —R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
