May 16th, 1885. 
579 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1885 . DAHLIAS, 1885 . 
double pompone varieties. 
A grand collection, consisting of the varieties most 
showy in the borders, and those best adapted for 
cutting. 
SINGLE VARIETIES. 
The finest collection in the world, including 12 
beautiful new varieties of present season. 
CACTUS AND OTHER DAHLIAS. 
A most interesting group, consisting of several 
colours. All are fine decorative plants and beautifully 
fitted for cutting. 
double show and fancy varieties. 
All the leading varieties in cultivation, including 
the new ones of 1885. 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”— Bacon. 
.SATURDAY, MAY 16th, 1885. 
Triced descriptive illustrated Catalogue may be had Gratis 
and Post Free upon application. 
THOMAS S. WARE, 
BALE FARM NURSERIES, 
TOTTENHAM, LONDON. 
DANIELS BROS.’ 
SPECIAL LIST OP CHOICE 
FLOWER SEEDS 
FOR PRESENT SOWING. POST FREE. 
We can highly recommend the following choice 
Flower Seeds as being really fine strains and well 
worthy of cultivation :— 
per pkt.— s. d. 
Auricula, choicest Alpine. 1 0 
Antirrhinum majus, splendid mixed.0 G 
Aquilegia glandulosa (true), splendid . 1 6 
Aquilegia coerulea hybrida, very fine . 1 6 
Aquilegia, splendid mixed, single and double. 0 0 
Begonia, Tuberous-rooted hybrids, very fine 
mixed .Is. fid. & 2 6 
Calceolaria hybrida, finest tigred and spotted 
varieties, very choice . Is. fid., 2s. 6d., & 5 0 
Carnation, splendid double, from stage flowers, a 
remarkably fine strain . 2s. 6d. & 5 0 
Carnation, Perpetual or Tree.2s. 6d. & 5 0 
Carnation, choicest yellow varieties . 3 6 
Canterbury Bells, new double, rose .1 0 
Canterbury Bells, new double, white. 0 6 
Canterbury Bells, new double, blue .0 6 
Canterbury Bells, single, pure white. 0 3 
Canterbury Bells, single, splendid mixed . 0 6 
Cineraria hybrida grandiflora, a brilliant strain 
of large and beautiful flowers ... Is. 6d., 2s. fid., & 5 0 
Cineraria hybrida, new dwarf, a beautiful class 
of dwarf-growing, large-flowered varieties . 2 6 
Delphinium formosuin, splendid dark blue. 0 4 
Delphinium nudicaule, scarlet, fine. 1 0 
Delphinium, splendid mixed hybrids . 0 6 
Gloxinia hybrida grandiflora, Daniels’ superb 
mixed, beautiful large-flowered varieties Is. fid. & 2 6 
Hollyhock, Chafer's fine double. 1 6 
Hollyhock, new large-flowered single, very fine, mixed 
colours.16 
Mignonette, Golden Queen.0 fi 
Mignonette, “ Machet,” splendid for pots . 1 0 
Mignonette, Victoria giant red, new, fine . 1 0 
Mimulus, Daniels’ large-flowered.1 0 
Pansy, Daniels’ Show and Fancy, splendid . 1 6 
Pansy, Daniels’ Prize Blotched, magnificent varietis, 
Is. 6d. & 2 6 
Pansy, Daniels’ Improved Striped, very fine . 1 0 
Pentstemon, from newest sorts, very choice. 1 6 
Petunia hybrida grandiflora, magnificent class 
splendid mixed.Is. 6d. & 2 6 
Picotee, splendid double, mixed . 2s. 6d. & 5 0 
Polyanthus, choicest Gold-laced . Is. 6d. & 2 6 
Primrose, brilliant hybrids, mixed. Is. fid. & 2 G 
Primula, Daniels’ Crimson King, magnificent deep 
crimson-scarlet ... 3 6 
Primula, Chiswick Red, splendid.2 6 
Primula alba magnifica, very fine.2 6 
Primula, Daniels’choicest mixed. Is. fid. ... 2 6 
Pyrethrum, new single-flowered hybrids, fine varieties, 
mixed.1 G 
Stock, Brompton, giant scarlet.6d. & 1 0 
Sweet William, Daniels’ Prize.6d. & 1 0 
Viola, bedding, choice mixed .1 0 
Wallflower, single, blood-red .0 3 
Wallflower, single, golden-yellow.0 4 
Wallflower, single, choice mixed.0 3 
Wallflower, double German, 6 superb varieties ... 2 0 
"Wallflower, double German, choice mixed ... fid, & 1 0 
DANIELS BROS., 
THE ROYAL NORFOLK SEED ESTABLISHMENT, 
NORWICH* 
The Oechid Conference. — TKugh thus 
oddly entitled, the Orchid display, seen in the 
conservatory of the Royal Horticultural Society 
on Tuesday and Wednesday last, was really an 
exhibition, and a grand one. Whilst the general 
public, which attended in such large numbers, 
doubtless thought the flowers curious, pretty, 
and so on, the Orchidophilists present regarded 
the gathering of their favourite plants as some¬ 
thing more than a banquet; it was a magnificent 
feast; and we may say that, almost happily, such 
wondrous exhibitions of these costly plants are 
not common. Such a treat would lose all its 
pleasure—indeed, would he no longer a treat 
were such collections of Orchids often gathered 
together; therefore, whilst most fully acknow¬ 
ledging the marvellous array of beauty presented, 
would prefer that such sights may not be made 
common. 
Probably many who compared the Orchids with 
numerous other flowering plants thought that, 
in the matter of decorative effect, Roses, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Begonias, &c., possessed the greatest 
merit; and if the production of masses of colour 
were the be-all of decorative efforts, the preposi¬ 
tion could hardly he gainsaid. But Orchids are 
not to be judged on such low ground. They 
lend themselves to all kinds of effect, but 
must, at the same time, always he regarded for 
their individual beauties rather thau for any 
other reasons. And yet it must be admitted 
that some of the hanks of flowers as seen at 
South Kensington were singularly beautiful. 
More almost than any other group of flowers, 
they bore the most minute inspection, and the 
keener that observation, the more and more did 
the beauties of the plant develop. Very likely 
in the hands of skilful decorators, who had at 
disposal plenty of suitable greenery for base or 
carpeting, the groups might have been made 
much more striking than they were ; indeed, al¬ 
though many of the most beautiful things shown 
suffered from overcrowding, the individual merits 
of flowers, and clusters or spikes, not being 
sufficiently displayed. 
Again, it was equally evident that for educa¬ 
tional purposes the grouping of all the various 
sections would have been an admirable arrange¬ 
ment, though breaking up the different owners’ 
collections, and materially detracting from their 
displays. Still, could all the Laelias, Cattleyas, 
Dendrobiums, Cypripediums, Masdevallias, &c., 
have been put into families, or sections of families, 
there can he no doubt hut that if the general 
effect was lessened, the interest would have been 
greatly increased. Without doubt the striking 
and effective Cattleyas were the giants of the 
show. Their huge and beautiful flowers stood 
out boldly in all directions. The very finest 
forms seem to be found in the lovely C. Mossise, 
with its large lip densely pencilled with purple, 
set in an orange ground colour ; and in the rich, 
pnrple-lipped C. Mendelli. But of pure white 
forms it would be indeed difficult to excel the 
purity and freedom of bloom found in the white 
form of Skinneri, whilst this latter, having a 
body of rich, rosy-mauve, and blooming profusely, 
is not less striking. 
For the production of masses of flower of 
striking distinctive hues, these two seem to stand 
out as most valuable. Yellow hues are not so 
common in Orchids as in many other flowers, hut 
they are not wanting, and are occasionally found 
in singularly pleasing form. Such, for instance 
is the lovely Oncidium Marshallianum, which 
comes intermediate between the pale yellow of 
O. ampliatum and the orange flowers of Den- 
drobium chrysotoxum. The Oncidiums are a 
charming race, and may be generally termed the 
Butterfly Orchids. 
But if the Cattleyas were the most striking, 
the singularly beautiful sections of the Odonto- 
glossum family, found in crispum, or as it is still 
more popularly known Alexandra, must he pro¬ 
nounced the most elegant. It is doubtful whether 
any spike or cluster of flowers of any kind cau 
excel the wondrous delicacy of hue and marvellous 
beauty of form and arrangement found in spikes 
of the best of these. Many of the spotted flowers 
are indeed wonderful floral compounds of form 
and colour. The opportunity afforded the other day 
for comparison of these various forms was a treat 
which the growers and fanciers enjoyed to the full, 
because to them the most minute features and 
variations were full of interest. 
Perhaps the quaintest and most peculiar forms 
were to be found in the Cypripediums and Mas¬ 
devallias, such kinds as caudatum of the former 
family and chimsera of the latter exciting wonder 
from the uninitiated, who could hardly realize 
that these were real flowers. In the family of 
Masdevallias we get glimpses of the rich hues 
which Orchids can produce in a small way, for, if 
the majority of the Masdevallia blooms are small, 
the best forms of Harryana make up for that 
defect in richness of hue ; indeed some forms give 
us spathes like a glowing sunset or a ball of 
purple fire. If gentlemen will display an 
Orchid bloom in the button-hole, rather let it 
be one of the small but lovely Masdevallias, than 
a Cattleya as big as a cabbage. The former claims 
attention for itself, the latter calls attention to 
the wearer. 
The comparative absence of what are commonly 
termed specimen plants indicated either that 'the 
growers were reserving those for the June Show 
of Orchids, or else that ordinary growers do not 
make them up. Still farther it may be assumed 
that iu the present instance big plants were 
thought to be less meritorious than smaller ones 
in greater variety. As a result, probably, few 
Orchids in season remained unrepresented. The 
free employment of note-books betokened the 
interest which gardeners took in the Show, and 
probably we shall find an impetus given to Orchid 
culture in many directions. It is no exaggerated 
statement to aver that the plants themselves, 
so beautiful and so interesting, pleaded more 
eloquently in favour of their extended culture 
than did the essays read and speeches delivered 
at the Conference. 
We have heard it said that, given the needful 
appliances with a liberal hand, Orchids may he 
grown with comparative ease. That is no doubt 
true, and it is perhaps as true to declare that 
many plants are much more difficult to cultivate, 
though far less costly. Orchid culture seems to 
have become a speciality in gardening. The 
practised grower rather looks down upon the 
cultivator of common plants and products as 
inferior beings. Inasmuch as the Orchid is the 
special appanage of wealth, and very often of 
ostentatious wealth, it is certain that the gardener 
who is an orchidist only and nothing more has 
hardly such a permanent position in his profession 
as has the man who, though no specialist, is good 
all round and useful in a score of ways. There 
