June 16, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
6.59 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
By John Fraser, F.L.S., Kew. 
A valuable hybrid Laelia. 
The fact that good Orchids still command high 
prices was well illustrated at the sale of the late Mr. 
George Hardy’s collection, and again at Messrs. 
Protheroe and Morris’ Rooms on the 8 th. inst. in the 
case of two plants, strong healthy pieces of a most 
beautifully coloured and deliciously scented hybrid 
Laelia, the parentage of which is not known, but 
assumed to be a cross between Laelia purpurata and 
Cattleya Warnerii. It more resembled C. Lawrenceana 
in colour, but very rich and solid, while the odour 
was that of C. Schroderae. The largest plant bore 
six fine blooms, and realised loo guineas, the buyer 
being F. Hardy, Esq., Tyntesfield, Ashton-on Mersey. 
The second and smaller plant with one bloom only 
partly expanded, but a grand form, fell to the bid of 
Mr. Sander of 70 guineas. 
Laello-Cattleya elegans leucotata. 
So great is the hurry of orchidists to add the name 
alba to varieties of Orchids that the word is often 
appropriated before a really white variety has been 
obtained. This is a mistaken and misleading plan 
to adopt, and is to be regretted, for when a truly 
white variety does turn up, the proper name cannot 
be applied. L-C. elegans alba has white sepals and 
petals, but the lip is deep amethyst purple. For 
that reason the variety under notice has been named 
leucotata. The flowers are pure white with excep¬ 
tion of a faint trace of rose upon the lip. Judging 
from the illustration in the Lindenia, pi. 413 , the 
variety is chaste and hand.'ome in every way. The 
edges of the petals and lip are beautifully wavy, add¬ 
ing considerably to the pleasing effect of the whole. 
The type and all its numerous forms are generally 
regarded as natural hybrids. That under notice 
flowered last year amongst an importation in the 
collection of L’Horticulture Internationale, and 
thence passed into the collection of R. H. Measures, 
Esq., Streatham, 
Lycaste Imschootlana. 
Hybrids are by no means common in this genus, in 
fact we do not remember having seen one before. As 
Orchid nomenclature goes it should be regarded as a 
bigeneric hybrid, seeing that the raiser positively 
asserts it originated from Lycaste Skinneri, fertilised 
with the pollen of Maxillaria nigrescens. The broad 
sepals and petals are pale yellow, densely spotted all 
over with purple. The petals are smaller, more 
erect, but spreading above the middle and of a clear 
yellow, spotted with red in lines upon the lower two- 
thirds of their length. The lip is clear yellow or 
lemon yellow, but towards the base it is of a dark 
purple, more or less spotted with smaller markings. 
The hybrid was raised by M. Van Imschoot, who has 
obtained six seedlings from the cross ; the plant under 
notice is the first that has flowered. It may be de¬ 
scribed as pretty, and is figured in the Lindenia, pi. 
410 . The plant was exhibited at a meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society some months ago, when 
it received an Award of Merit. 
Cypripedium insigne montanum. 
The ordinary form of C. insigne constitutes a plant 
of considerable commercial value for the sake of cut 
flowers; but besides a few really distinct and beauti¬ 
ful varieties of it in cultivation, the species seemed 
little inclined to variation. Within the last few years, 
however, importations from a fresh district gave a 
fresh impetus to collectors owing to the many beauti¬ 
ful variations that turned up. The name C.i. mon¬ 
tanum, has been applied collectively to all the plants 
obtained from this new district, The blotches on the 
Upper sepal are frequently of large size, and vary 
greatly in intensity. A good type of the mountain 
race is given in the Lindenia, pi. 414 . The petals and 
lip are of a rich brown, while the broad, upper sepal 
is heavily blotched with rich brown on a greenish 
yellow ground ; the blotches are of large size, but on 
the upper third of the sepal they are of a rich violet 
purple on a pure white ground ; the latter extends 
down the edges almost to the base. 
Vines and Vine Culture.—The best book on Grapes. By 
Archibald F. Barron, Superintendent of the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Gardens, Chiswick ; Secretary of the Fruit Coin- 
mittee. Demy 8vo., Handsomely bound in Cloth. Price, 5s,; 
post free, 5s. 3d. Publisher, Gardenino World, r, Clement’s 
Inn Strand, W.C. 
MANUAL OF ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS* 
After a number of years of wide research 
this excellent manual has now been brought to 
completion. It makes no pretence to including all 
the species nor even the genera that are under the 
hands of the modern cultivator; but having taken 
up the principal genera, all the more important' 
species have been handled in such a manner as no 
work on the subject hitherto has attempted to do. 
The fulness of the information given makes us 
desire that all the cultivated Orchids could be treated 
in the same exhaustive manner. The book, it is almost 
needless to explain, is intended to supply amateurs 
and cultivators with the leading facts they may wish 
to know, and that in a form that can readily be con¬ 
sulted at any time. For our part the only thing we 
regret is that there is no synopsis by which we could 
readily run down and determine any given species. 
The lists are, of course, all arranged alphabetically. 
The tenth part of the work confines itself to a re- 
viewof the various matters referring to the morphology, 
physiology and cultivation of Orchids. It deals with 
the botany of the subject, 'and besides an index 
intended for each of the two volumes in which the 
work will be bound, it also gives a glossary of terms, 
so that the cultivator has it within his power to 
make himself acquainted with the science as well as 
the cultivation of his favourite hobby. There is, 
perhaps, no other order in which the flower 
undergoes so many modifications of form and 
general structure. The chapter on the morphology 
of the flowers illustrates many of the leading forms 
by a large number of well executed woodcuts. Even 
the homologies of Orchid flowers and the teratology 
of Orchids occupy two chapters, so that the work 
may well lay claim to deal fairly comprehensively 
with the science of the subject. The chapter on the 
minute structure of Orchids is fairly lengthy, and 
illustrated with well executed and original woodcuts 
of sections of the leaves, stems and roots belonging 
to different genera. The structure of the leaves 
more particularly is indicative of the climatal con¬ 
ditions under which the plants live in their native 
habitats ; and we think that if these things had been 
studied at the commencement of the attempt to 
cultivate Orchids in this country that failure would 
have been a much smaller and less discouraging item 
amongst the growers of those days. The art of 
successful culture has been acquired as the result of 
much observation and failures extending through 
long years of apprenticeship as it were. 
The illustrations of seedling Orchids are also a 
new feature, as far as books on this particular 
subject are concerned. The earlier stages of seed¬ 
lings cannot be made out by the naked eye, but they 
are all given here upon an enlarged scale with the 
various ages stated. The leading facts concerning 
fertilization and hybridisation are dealt with, and 
several illustrations given, those concerning the 
pollen tubes and ovules being least known to the 
general public. The undesirableness of bees in 
Orchid houses is getting pretty well known to 
cultivators, and hints may be gleaned here as to the 
mischief they are likely to cause by fertilising the 
flowers. The history of Orchid culture in this 
country will be interesting to those who wish to 
know the nature of the blunders committed in 
attempts to grow this popular class of plants in the 
earlier days of their introduction. 
Amateurs who now take an interest in Orchids 
may also be able to glean in condensed form, a 
history of those who promoted the cultivation of 
their favourite plants in the past. A chapter is also 
given on the results that have been obtained through 
the efforts of the hybridist; and because it cannot 
always be determined what Orchids may be hybri¬ 
dised, without trial, the would-be hybridist will 
doubtless be interested to know what can and what 
cannot be done in this way. Many amateurs busy 
themselves in making all sorts of crosses, from many 
of which it is impossible to get any results. In any 
case he will be safe in following the directions and 
noting the experiments made by skilled hands. Two 
maps show the annual average rainfall in the regions 
where epiphytical Orchids grow, so that those who 
are interested in the science of the subject may 
compare the rainfall with the structure of the leaves 
of various Orchids, and those again with their own 
practice, so that if possible they may improve upon 
present treatment. 
*A Manual of Orchidaneous Plants, cultivated under glass 
in Great Britain. Part X. ; General Review of the Orchideae. 
James Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, 544, King’s Road, 
Chelsea, S.W., 1894. 
IME VieiMiLE 6AB0EN, 
Winter Green Crops. 
It has no doubt often struck the careful observer how 
much more might be made of the kitchen garden if 
the cultivator were able to guage more accurately 
the amount of each of the various crops that were 
needed to supply the requirements of the establish¬ 
ment. Such, however, would be a difficult task, 
especially for the beginner, or those taking charge of 
fresh gardens. It is always well to be on the safe 
side, to have enough and to spare of everything rather 
than to run short. But in the limited space of the 
kitchen garden this is not always an easy task to 
accomplish, even with the most experienced of men. 
No doubt more care was taken in former days 
in making kitchen gardens than there is at the 
present time, but the ever increasing drain on the 
resources of the gardener, renders it somewhat 
difficult to cope with the various requirements. 
Much, however, may be done by taking note of the 
amount of each crop consumed ; then by making due 
allowance for failures and extras, something near 
the mark will be ascertained. By doing this much, 
labour and often a great deal of annoyance may be 
saved. 
In all places too where a change has been made in 
domestic arrangements, it is well to consult those 
who have been newly appointed, for unless the 
gardener is on favourable terms with them, things 
do not always go on pleasantly. As it is now the 
time to plant the various green crops for winter use, 
it may be well to remind those who are about to do 
so to pay particular attention to such as are likely to 
be required the most, and note down how much of 
each will be required to give a continuous supply till 
spring. We will first take those usable up till Christ¬ 
mas : of the.se we have Cauliflower, Mammoth, 
Autumn Giant, Veitch’s Protecting and Snow’s, all 
of first class quality. Now the question is, which of 
these are likely to be required in the greatest number— 
if the former then plant that, but bear in mind that a 
succession is always needed. In addition to these 
there will be Brussels Sprouts and Savoys. The 
former is often much in demand, while the latter is 
useful when other green crops are getting scarce. 
Do not crowd the ground however with too many of 
the latter at one planting, as the continuous rains in 
the autumn cause them to split. Make successional 
plantings in such quantities as are likely to give the 
necessary supply, as it is from the commencement of 
the new year onward that the skill of the cultivator 
is brought to the test, particularly if the weather be at 
all severe, for all growth is then brought to a stand¬ 
still, but by carefully husbanding the resources at 
such times much annoyance may be avoided. 
Frost sometimes comes so suddenly that we are ill 
prepared for k. A little forethought, however, will help 
the cultivator much at such times, for if a quantity 
of Cauliflower that were turning in could be taken to 
a shed, cold Peach house, or other place where frost 
could be excluded, these would no doubt help to tide 
over the bad weather. The best Broccoli to give a 
supply after Christmas that has come under my notice 
is Sutton’s Vanguard. The heads are not only well 
protected with leaves, but they are of compact growth 
and good flavour. Colewort and Spinach also play 
an important part in our winter green supply. If a 
pinch of seed of the former be sown now, good hearts 
will be formed before they are checked by winter’s 
frost. The latter however need not be sown till the 
early part or middle of August. Seakale, Chicory, 
and Celery are by no means despised in winter, 
therefore these should not be lost sight of at the 
present time. The former will need thinning when 
grown from seed ; the shoots of those grown from 
root cuttings will require reducing so that one only 
be allowed to remain on each plant in order that the 
foliage may grow robust so as to form good crowns. 
Celery should also be planted in quantity in order 
that growth may be matured by the end of the season. 
Borecole too of various kinds is much esteemed in 
winter, particularly the green curled and asparagus 
varieties, so that a goodly breadth of these should be 
got in. Their hardiness makes them the more accept¬ 
able, as it is seldom the frost of our winters has any 
effect on them. It should be borne in mind that all 
these various crops will not onjy need planting, but 
every attention should be given them afterwards to 
induce them to make a free though sturdy growth or 
they will not be had in the best condition .—Kitchen 
Gardener. 
