November 17, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
189 
modern build. When I grew a large collection of 
the best varieties I was obliged to flower them in 
lean-to houses, heavily raftered and badly ventilated. 
The result was similar to “ G’s ” remarks, the 
flower-stalks of many became too weak to support 
the heavy blooms, and they likewise lost a great deal 
of lower foliage. Being down south last week I 
called at Woodcote House, Epsom, and there saw a 
splendid collection of plants, arranged in a large and 
light conservatory, built a few years ago by, I 
believe, Messrs. Boulton & Paul. It is just the 
house to show a collection off to advantage. What 
struck me was their singular dwarfness, strength, and 
splendid foliage which clothed the stems down to 
the pots. I was too early to see them in their prime, 
but they must produce a splendid effect about the 
20th of this month. The gardener (Mr. Pledger) 
does not go in for exhibiting, but through the kind¬ 
ness of his employer (the Rev. E. W. Morthey), the 
collection has for some few seasons past been thrown 
open for public inspection when at its best. Should 
any of your readers be “ down Epsom way ” I think 
that they would meet with a cordial invitation to 
have a look round. They are the best lot of plants 
I ever saw in a private place, and are certainly a 
credit to the grower.— Geo. Potts, The Gardens, Farm¬ 
ing Woods, Thrapston, Nov. gth. 
APPLE—COX’S POMONA. 
As a culinary Apple of first-class quality, coming 
into season in October, it would be hard to beat this 
well-known variety. The fruit is rather over the 
medium size, roundish, and somewhat flattened in 
shape, and of decidedly handsome appearance, the 
skin being yellow, heavily striped or streaked with 
crimson. To those growers who from lack of 
sufficient space are limited to the growing of a very 
few varieties, it is advisable to make a judicious 
selection of the sorts to be grown. Certainly Cox’s 
Pomona should find a place even in a limited collec¬ 
tion. It was raised by Mr. Cox of Colnbrook 
Lawn. 
PEAR—JOSEPHINE DE MALINES. 
This well-known sort is well-nigh an indispensable 
to the gardener who has to prolong the hardy fruit 
season as much as possible, and the above variety 
cannot be too highly praised for its splendid keeping 
qualities, as it will keep in good condition until the 
month of May. Another point to be urged in its 
favour is that it possesses an excellent constitution, 
and is, as a rule, a free and abundant bearer, although 
of somewhat straggling habit. For this great 
acquisition to our fruit rooms we are indebted to 
Major Esperen, of Malines, who raised it in 1830. 
BLANCHING OF ENDIVE. 
It is said with regard to this useful salading that 
those who once taste it prefer it to the best of 
Lettuce. This is, perhaps, saying a good deal, but 
certain it is that for filling the salad bowl in autumn 
and winter it is an indispensable subject. If it is not 
intended to lift it and place it in frames to afford a 
winter supply, it may be blanched very readily in 
the open ground by tying up in the same way as is 
usually practised with Lettuce. It often happens, 
however, that the later made plantations have not 
attained a sufficient size to render this an easily per¬ 
formed operation. In such cases the hearts may be 
blanched very nicely if a common house-tile be laid 
flat upon the crown of the plant. It takes rather 
longer, however, to get well blanched heads by this 
means than when the leaves are tied up as before 
mentioned. 
MANETTIA BICOLOR. 
It is scarcely possible to say too much in the favour 
of this handsome plant, and there can be no doubt 
whatever as to its usefulness to the gardener, 
possessing, as it does, so large a share of intrinsic 
beauty. Although the genus contains several 
ornamental and interesting plants, M. bicolor is 
perhaps the one best known to us. At the present 
moment several plants of it in the Begonia house at 
Kew are full of flower, and present such an attractive 
appearance as to make it well nigh impossible for 
even a casual observer to pass them by without 
noticing them. The plant is exceedingly easy of 
culture, and may be propagated easily enough from 
cuttings composed of the young shoots inserted in 
pots in light sandy soil in good bottom heat. Trained 
upon a trellis, or balloon shape in the stove, it has 
an opportunity of showing off its real beauty to 
advantage ; its orange and scarlet flowers, although 
of no great size, being produced in great profusion. 
BASKET FERNS. 
In reference to the difference between Adiantum 
caudatum and Adiantum ciliatum, I should like to 
say the difference is always very apparent though 
not always to so large a degree as in the specimens 
sent you. Still, there never need be the slightest 
doubt as to which is which, though, probably, one is 
a variety of the other. It is quite likely that many 
purchasers of these Ferns have had one supplied for 
the other, just as Lygodium japonicum is hundreds 
of times sold for L. scandens, from which it is 
totally distinct. Another case which may be cited 
is Selaginella Kraussiana, perhaps the commonest 
of all Selaginellas, times out of number being sold 
for Selaginella denticulata, from which it is very 
distinct.— J. Birkenhead, Sale, Nov. 12th, 1894. 
ADIANTUM CILIATUM. 
Although a continuation of the argument concern¬ 
ing the distinctness or otherwise of Adiantum 
ciliatum of gardens, and A. caudatum, may not be 
attended with a great deal of profit to anyone, I 
should like to mention that as the Editorial note at 
the foot of Mr. Birkenhead's letter of last week 
states, the supposed distinctions between them may 
not be constant. I have had the pleasure of seeing 
the specimens of the two supposed varieties that Mr. 
Birkenhead sent in support of his contention, and I 
ask now to be permitted to say that if Mr. Birken¬ 
head will pay a visit to the Tropical Fernery at Kew, 
he will find there a plant of A. caudatum in which 
the primary fronds are evidently those of A. cau¬ 
datum. But (and here the curious part come in), 
the secondary fronds, that is to say, those that 
result from the bud borne at the extremity of the 
primary ones have the pinnules much deeper cut, 
farther apart from each other, and are certainly 
more like the description Mr. Birkenhead gives of 
A. ciliatum than anything else. This is only an 
instance of the extremely variable nature of the 
plant as well as being illustrative of the inconstancy 
of these variations.— Filices. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM—MISS ROSE. 
Two round beds filled with spendidly floriferous 
plants of this exceedingly pretty single-flowered 
Chrysanthemum are specially noticeable at the 
present time, close to the entrance of the southern 
wing of the Palm House at Kew. The plants are of 
dwarf and bushy habit, from eighteen inches to two 
feet in height, and present a singularly attractive 
appearance. Grown in small pots as bushy speci¬ 
mens, moreover, this lovely variety is of the utmost 
service for all kinds of indoor decoration, whether it 
be for the filling of vases in the boudoir and drawing¬ 
room or for the decoration of the dinner table, it 
takes a lot of beating. Those who complain of the 
stiffness and formality of blooms of the incurved 
section, and the unnatural appearance of large 
flowers of the Japanese type should here find their 
ideal of floral perfection. Nothing can be more 
useful for cutting purposes, and certainly any trouble 
expended in the growing of two or three dozen plants 
of it in pots would meet with ample reward. 
--f.- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, 13#? Nov.. —The meeting on 
Tuesday last was noted for the display of Orchids 
if anything. Chrysanthemums were also pretty 
abundant, as well as Cyclamens, Pelargoniums, 
stove and greenhouse plants and fruit. A large and 
well-flowered group of Cattleya labiata was exhibited 
by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton. The amount 
of variation was considerable, the dark-lipped ones 
being abundant, but the most distinct variety we 
noticed was a light-coloured one named C. l.lilacina, 
the sepals, petals, and tube of the lip being of the 
faintest lilac, while the lamina was of a peculiar 
shade of blue-purple. Vandas were also conspicuous, 
including V. caerulea and V. Sanderiana with large 
and highly-coloured flowers. Mormodes tigrinum is 
by no means a common species and is certainly 
curious (Silver Banksian Medal). Messrs. W. L. 
Lewis & Co., Southgate, had a mixed group of 
Orchids, in which Oncidium tigrinum, Cattleya 
Bowringiana, and numerous Cypripediums, of which 
C. insigne montanum was conspicuous and telling in 
its markings. Masdevallia tovarensis was well 
flowered (Silver Banksian Medal.) A mixed and 
varied group was also exhibited by Messrs. F. 
Sander & Co., St. Albans. The varieties of Dendro- 
bium Phalaenopsis Schroderianum were numerous, 
beautiful and grandly flowered, dark and light kinds 
being equally conspicuous. Cypribedium Cyris was 
a hybrid of great merit and richly blotched. Curious 
and interesting was Dendrobium Platycaulis with its 
flattened stems. A grand group of Catasetums, 
including C. Bungerothii and several very distinct 
varieties, some of which, such as C. B. Lucienianum 
and C. B. Lindeni were named, was exhibited by 
Messrs. Linden, Parc Leopold, Brussels. They 
also had varieties of C. macrocarpum and Cattleya 
Alexandrae elegans, a light variety (Silver Banksian 
Medal.) A large group of Cypripedium insigne, 
Cattleya labiata, and Oncidium varicosum 
Rogersii, was staged by Messrs. Collins & Collins, 
Cumberland Park, Willesden Junction (Silver 
Banksian Medal.) Cattleya labiata Mrs. Wingfield 
was shown by Mr. W. J. Empson, Ampthill House, 
Ampthill. W. A. Gillett, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Carr), 
Fair Oak Lodge, Bishopsgate, exhibited Odonto- 
glossum crispum Fair Oak var. Cut flowers and 
plants of Cattleyas were shown by E. Ashworth, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. H. Holbrook), Harefield Hall, 
Cheshire. The flowers were large and bright. Mr. 
G. Young, St. Albans, exhibited Cypripedium insigne 
Youngianum, a pale and beautiful variety. Cut 
flowers of various species and hybrids of Cattleya 
were sent up by Thos. Statter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
R. Johnson), Stand Hall, Manchester. C. Dowiana 
aurea magnifica was certainly handsome and showy. 
Flowers of Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroederi- 
anum were exhibited by the Rt. Hon. J. Chamber- 
lain, M.P. (gardener, Mr. H. A. Burberry), High¬ 
bury, Birmingham. Odontoglossum crispum Frantz 
Masereel, a splendid variety was shown by Messrs. 
Vervaet & Cie, Mont St. Amand, Ghent. Cymbri- 
dium Cyperius longifolium was staged by R. I. 
Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. Chapman), Cam¬ 
bridge Lodge, Camberwell. He also had Cattleya 
labiatia R. I. Measures' var. and Cypripedium 
insigne Ernestii. Lycasti macrobulbon was staged 
by R. G. Fletcher, Esq., Withdean, Brighton. 
Phaio-Calanthe Sedenii rosea was shown by Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway. F.Wigan, Esq. 
(grower, Mr. W. H. Young), Clare Lawn, East Sheen, 
exhibited Cattleya superba splendens, Cypripedium 
Clarense, and others. A fine plant of Saccolabium 
bigibbum was staged by H. Grinling, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. W. Rapley), Harrow Weald House, Stanmore. 
Laelio—Cattleya albanense was shown by Mons. 
Jules Hye, 8, le Coupure, Ghent. Odontoglossum 
Wilckeanum was staged by J. Forster Alcock, Esq., 
Northchurch, Berkhamsted. A pale coloured 
hybrid Cattleya named Miss Williams was exhibited 
by J. W. Temple, Esq. (gardener, Mr. E. Bristow), 
Tunbridge Wells. Earl Cowper (gardener, Mr. J. 
Fitt), Panshanger, Hertford, brought up a group 
of Cypripedium insigne and several Calanthes. 
Cattleya Fabia, C. Statteriana and Cypripedium 
Titigus. All hybrids were staged by Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
As might have been expected the exhibits of cut 
blooms of Chrysanthemums were numerous, and 
some thoroughly good examples were shown. 
Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to the Duke of North¬ 
umberland, Syon House, received first prize for 
a collection of cut blooms. Good blooms 
of Etoile de Lyon, Lord Brooke, William Seward, 
and Sunflower were in praiseworthy condition. The 
second prize went to Mr. J. M. McLeod, Dover 
House Gardens, Roehampton. Mr. McLeod was 
also successful in obtaining the first prize for twelve 
cut blooms of the Japanese section ; varieties like 
Chas. Blick and Violetta appearing to advantage. A 
Silver Flora Medal was awarded to C. E. Shea, 
Esq., The Elms, Foots Cray, for a superb collection 
of cut blooms of the Japanese and Anemone 
sections. Among the former class, Etoile de Lyon, 
Boule d’Or, John Lightfoot, Sir Edwin T. Smith, 
Mdlle ThereseRey, Amy Shea, Stanstead White and 
Dulcie Schroeter, were in first rate order, whilst 
among the Anemone division Owen’s Perfection 
and Caledonia were well deserving of recognition. 
Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, Devon, exhibited 
four dozen cut blooms of Japanese and Incurved 
varieties in good condition. Sorts like Madame 
Carnot, Lady Northcote, Le Rhone, Jules Chretien, 
Mrs. Joseph Thompson, and Mrs. H. Broomhead 
were particularly commendable. 
