August ^5, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. Sif 
and white, which, forty years ago, was to be seen in 
every collection. We commend this restoration to 
their true position of the good old plants. Turning 
to the left, we find ourselves in the succulent house, 
which contains a very distinct type of vegetation, 
including Yuccas, Aloes, Haworthias Cactus, etc. 
The adjoining house is filled with Cape Heaths and 
New Holland plants, consisting of Boronias, Acacias, 
Eriostemons, Aphelexis, Hedaromas, &c. Here two 
magnificent specimens of the old, but too rarely 
cultivated, Witsenia corymbosa are just coming into 
flower, and their glorious spikes of the deepest 
cerulean will shortly gladden the eyes of visitors. 
One admirable feature of this grand New Hollander 
is that it keeps in bloom for fully three months at a 
time. The front stage in the same house is filled 
just now with tuberous Begonias in full bloom. A 
further move brings us into the beautiful fernery, 
for which the gardens are famed, built and contrived 
so as to give visitors a perfect idea of a New 
Zealand gully. It is, we believe, admitted by all 
experts who have seen this charming fernery that it 
occupies the "pride of place.’’ Ascending some 
steps we find ourselves in the lofty Palm house and 
temperate house adjoining, the former presenting to 
the beholder the picture of a tropical forest. Here 
are to be seen noble Seaforthias, 50 ft. high, majestic 
Kentias, grotesque Cycads, graceful Roupalas, and 
Bamboos. In the cooler house adjoining are fine 
examples of the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria 
excelsa), Dracaena indivisa, Camellias, Oranges 
bearing fruit in hundreds, Clerodendrons, some new 
and distinct types of Japanese Honeysuckle,Brugman- 
sias, and numbers of other plants of rare botanical 
interest. The next house contains a collection of 
medicinal and economic plants, which, from their 
associations, are objects of popular interest. Here 
may be seen the Tea and Coffee plants, Cinnamon, 
Allspice, Pepper, Cotton, Ginger, balm of Gilead, 
Croton oil. Mustard tree of Scripture, Sycamore 
tree of Scripture, Castor oil. Tobacco, etc. The 
last house in this range contains some fine specimens 
of Pandanus, Beaucarnias, Chamaerops, Arecas, etc. 
Yet another move brings us into the Orchid house, 
containing a collection of these interesting plants, 
which at all times of the year forms an attractive 
feature of the gardens. And with regard to one 
class of Orchid, the genus Cypripedium, we hesitate 
not to affirm that in no collection in this country, 
either public or private, can be found a more healthy 
lot than is to be seen at Old Trafford. At the time 
of our visit we noticed in bloom some good examples 
of the Cattleya Gaskelliana, and a little later this will 
be followed by a fine display (judging by the flower 
spikes) of the autumn-flowering Cattleya labiata, 
Vandas, Dendrobiums, etc. 
The Exhibition House. 
The exhibition house may well remind the visitor 
of a lofty cathedral. The massive pillars are clothed 
with vegetation of Oriental type in the main, and 
those who have witnessed for many years past the 
glorious displays at the Whitsuntide exhibitions 
within this noble structure, cannot fail to have been 
impressed with the magnificenc "tout ensemble’’ 
then afforded. 
Descending a few steps, we enter the grand avenue, 
or gallery of approach, and as at the "Marriage 
Feast ’’ the good wine was kept till the last, so here. 
We recommend all who have an eye for the beauti¬ 
ful in nature to visit this place, which at no period 
within our recollection has presented so charming an 
appearance at this time of the year. The building 
is 340 feet long and 45 feet wide. The roof is 
covered with that favourite old creeper, the 
Virginian, and surely never did any individual plant 
contribute so much to the total beauty of a scene. 
In the centre of this huge building is a grand floral 
trophy, which excites the warm admiration of every 
visitor. The elements are of the simplest, but the 
whole effect is most striking. 
In concluding our somewhat rambling article we 
have to say—and in saying it we happeu to speak 
that which we know and testify that which we have 
seen, both in this and other countries—that the 
Botanical Gaidens, at Old Trafford, afford abundant 
evidence, in almost every department, of high 
cultural skill, and a wide knowledge of the various 
subjects. For the last six-and-thirty years the name 
of Bruce Findlay has been honourably associated 
with these gardens. Few people know, and it is not 
for us to state here, the hard battle he has had to 
fight on behalf of horticulture ; but we sincerely 
trust that he may for many years yet continue the 
good work so long carried forward, and that the 
Botanical Gardens of Manchester may continue to be 
a worthy embodiment of one of our most honourable 
traditions. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
By John Fraser, F.L.S., Kew. 
The following Orchids received awards according to, 
merit at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on the 14th inst.: — 
Laelio-Cattleya hybrida broomfleldensis, 
Nov. hyb. bigen. 
This beautiful bigeneric hybrid was raised from 
Cattleya Dowiana aurea chrysotoxa crossed with 
Laelia praestans, and the progeny is practically 
intermediate. The sepals and much broader petals 
are of a soft rose, thus contrasting with the rich 
crimson-purple lip. First-class Certificate. Ex¬ 
hibited by Matthew Wells, Esq. (gardener, Mr. R. 
Hinde), Broomfield, Sale, Manchester. 
Cypripedium tesseiatum porphyreum, 
Nov. hyb. 
The seed parent in this case was C. concolor, and 
the pollen bearer C. barbatum. The upper sepal is 
roundly elliptic and pale rosy-purple with deeper 
veins, while the central area is tinted with brown, 
forming a broad band. The petals are oblong, rosy- 
purple, and slightly netted. The deep brownish- 
purple lip is compressed laterally, shining, with 
darker netting and markings. Award of Merit. 
Exhibited by R. I. Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
Hy. Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell. 
Cypripedium Godefroyae Cambridge Lodge 
var., Nov. vav. 
The upper sepal of this beautiful Cypripedium is 
roundish, small, and heavily netted with crimson on 
a white ground. The obovate petals are very much 
larger, and the broad or heavy meshes are more 
broken. The lip is also marbled and marked with 
heavy, deep purple lines. Award of Merit. Ex¬ 
hibited by R. I. Measures, Esq. 
Cypripedium leucochiium aureum, Nov. var. 
The typical form of this Slipperwort has a pure 
white lip. In this case the lip is creamy-yellow with 
a few minute purple spots in front and heavily 
spotted upon the infolded sides of the claw. The 
staminode is also spotted. The upper sepal is 
moderate in size, orbicular, and has a blackish 
crimson blotch with heavy, radiating veins from it 
on the lower half, while the rest is creamy-yellow. 
The petals are heavily veined with a shining, 
blackish crimson on a creamy yellow ground. Award 
of Merit. Exhibited by R. I. Measures, Esq. 
Bletia Watsoniana, Nov. sp. 
The pseudo-bulbs of this Bletia are short but very 
broad and marked with the scars of fallen leaves. 
The oblong, concave sepals are purple, and the 
broadly ovate, blunt petals are a shade or two 
darker. The three-lobed lip is deep purple with a 
ridge extending from the base to the sinus of the 
bifid terminal lobe, and on each side of this ridge 
are yellow and white markings. The column also 
is purple. Award of Merit. Exhibited by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. 
Laelia elegans praestans Ingram’s var., 
Nov. var. 
The oblong sepals and obovate-elliptic petals of this 
variety are rosy purple. The tube of the lip is pale 
dull purple, but the broad, obreniform lamina is of a 
rich crimson-purple, and finely ridged with a short 
broad claw. The stems grow about 2 ft. high. 
Award of Merit. Exhibited by Chas. L. N. Ingram, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. T. Bond), Godaiming. 
Dendrobium mutabile. 
The flowers of this species are moderate in size and 
white, more or less tinted with a soft rose. They are 
borne in racemes arising from slender stems 6 in. to 
12 in. high, and are rather crowded together near 
the top. The stems are leafy with elliptic-oblong 
leaves. The sepals are ovate, the petals nearly 
round, and the three-lobed lip has three ridges near 
the base. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway. 
Cattleya Rex. 
Now that the cultivation of this Cattleya is'becom¬ 
ing better understood, good specimens of it are to 
be seen in various collections throughout the 
country. Visiting Freelands, Perth, the residence of 
C. L. Wood, Esq., recently, I noticed three plants in 
5-in. baskets, suspended from the roof of the 
Cattleya house, doing remarkably well. On each 
basket I counted two spikes, with four individual 
flowers to the spike. Mr. Sharp, the courteous gar¬ 
dener, informed me that these plants flowered with 
him in early spring, consequently, where cut flowers 
are much in demand, this is a desideratum. — 
J. McNab. 
TiE veeoablZ umm. 
PotatOB. 
Owing to so much damp weather, the tops of these 
in low-lying districts where the soil is rich and of a 
retentive nature have now died off. Where such 
is the case there will be no advantage gained by 
leaving the tubers longer in the ground, they should 
therefore be lifted when the weather is fine and 
stored away. It is a good plan to allow the tubers 
to remain on the surface for a few hours before 
storing them, as this not only gets rid of the super¬ 
fluous moisture, but it hardens the skins and so 
prevents bruising. When the large ones have been 
picked out, those most useful for seed should be 
selected and spread out on a hard path where they 
may be exposed to the weather till they become 
quite green. If turned over a time or two the skins 
will get hard, and any that show signs of decay 
may be picked out before storing. Tubers prepared 
in this manner do not start into growth so quickly 
as those stored away as soon as lifted, and they 
make stronger shoots when they do start. They 
must not, however, be put in a close, damp place, 
but spread thinly on shelves in a light, airy room, 
where frost only is excluded. If more care were 
taken in preparing the sets, we should hear less 
complaints about them starting irregularly, or fail¬ 
ing to give satisfactory crops. 
Winter Salads. 
In these days of progress the gardener must keep 
pace with the times, even in small places, therefore 
if he would be to the fore he must prepare accord¬ 
ingly. Chicory and Dandelion will now need 
attention, and if these are becoming crowded in the 
rows, they should be thinned to a greater distance, 
for the stronger the roots the better will be the 
return when the plants are forced. Should any be 
showing signs of seed, pull them up, as such will 
be useless for blanching. 
Endive. 
Those planted out now on a dry warm border will 
give a supply to use from during the winter and 
spring, therefore a good breadth ought to be put 
out where such things are needed. Some of the 
earlier sowings will now be ready for blanching, and 
this should be done with care so as to keep up a 
constant supply, no more being prepared at one 
time than is actually needed for the requirements 
of the establishment, as they soon become spoiled 
after blanching is complete. 
Radishes. 
These should now be sown on a warm border to 
keep up a supply till the winter varieties are ready 
for use. There are no better varieties to sow at 
this season than the early Olive kinds as they 
turn in so quickly. The seed should be sown thinly 
in order that they may have room to develop 
quickly. 
Weeds. 
At this time of the year these usually grow apace, 
and this season after so much wet weather they are 
more troublesome than ever. No better plan could 
be adopted to get rid of them before they go to seed 
than to pull those up between growing crops and 
then dig them under on any vacant ground. This 
saves much trouble and avoids the unsightly 
rubbish heaps so often found in out-of-the-way 
corners. With so much extra work just now any¬ 
thing that has a tendency to lessen labour ought to 
be considered and this is one of those things where 
tidyness has to be studied that ought to have 
attention. Many of the tall growing crops cannot 
now be hoed, still it is necessary to keep them 
free from all weeds, otherwise they would become 
drawn and spoiled. Not only this, when they are 
allowed to seed, this becomes scattered over the 
various plots by the wind, causing much trouble in 
the future. When the ground is dry on the surface, 
run the hoe through all young crops, as this will 
not only prevent the growth of any useless plants, 
but will sweeten the soil and therefore promote a 
healthy root action in those plants which it is 
intended to encourage .—Kitchen Gardener. 
