198 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 24, 1894. 
at certain stages. The tube of the lip is similar in 
colour, but the small lamina is of a rich purple more 
or less shaded with crimson; the side lobes are tri¬ 
angular, elongate, and tipped with purple. Award of 
Merit. Exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. 
Albans. 
Dendrobium platycaulis, Nov. sp. —The stems 
of this Dendrobium are 3 in. to 6 in. long as a rule, 
and very much flattened, reminding one of a Phyllo- 
cactus, except that the pale greenish-yellow hue and 
the presence of leaves in the younger stages consti¬ 
tute obvious differences. The small white flowers 
are borne in short racemes from near the top of the 
stems. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co. 
Cattleya labiata R. I. Measure's var, Nov. 
var. —The sepals and petals of this beautiful variety 
are pure white, as is the greater part of the lip ; the 
lamina of the latter is beautifully lined with rosy 
veins and suffused with a similar, but paler hue. 
The throat and interior of the tube, on the contrary, 
is pale yellow. Notwithstanding the endless variety 
to be met with amongst importations of the species, 
the variety under notice is chaste, distinct, and 
beautiful. Award of Merit. Exhibited by R. I. 
Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Hy. Chapman), Cam¬ 
bridge Lodge, Camberwell. 
Cypripedium insigne Ernestii, Nov. var .— 
Though not flowering for the first time, it is as 
recent an importation as to be practically considered 
new for horticultural purposes. The upper sepal is 
pale apple-green on the lower half, and the rest 
white, with exception of a faint trace of the purple 
spotting as seen in C. i. Maulei. The petals are 
pale greenish-yellow and entirely without spots. The 
lip is of a clear, shining bright yellow, without a 
trace of brown. The nearest affinity with this 
variety is C. i. Sanderae, but the colouring of the 
upper sepal will distinguish it easily. Award of 
Merit. Exhibited by R. I. Measures, Esq. 
Cymbidium cyperifolium. —This species was 
originally described by Wallich and is a native of 
the Himalayas The leathery, dark green channelled 
leaves are 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, J in. to % in. wide, and 
resemble those of a sedge, thus suggesting the name. 
The scapes bear six or more flowers of medium size 
for the genus. The long narrow sepals are greenish 
and lined with purple on the face. The petals are 
falcate, narrower, and striped in the same way. 
The side lobes of the lips are white striped with 
crimson ; and the lamina has spots round the sides 
with a curious, almost T-shaped mark down the 
middle, The two ridges forming the crest are also 
spotted with crimson. Award of Merit. Exhibited 
by R. I. Measures, Esq. 
Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroderianum 
highburyense. Nov. var. —The sepals of this beau¬ 
tiful variety are pink, but the petals are deep purple. 
The lamina of the lip is of a darker shade of purple 
and the basal portion deepens to rich crimson. 
Award of Merit. Exhibited by the Right Hon. J. 
Chamberlain, M.P. (gardener Mr. H. A. Burberry), 
Highbury, Birmingham. 
Catasetum Bungerothii OBrienianum, Nov. 
var. —The flowers of this variety as exhibited by 
MM. Linden, Parc Leopold, Brussels, are very 
fleshy and less expanded than in the typical C. 
Bungerothii. The sepals and petals are green 
externally, rosy purple internally and mottled or 
spotted with a pale, nearly white hue. The lip 
is creamy yellow and finely toothed at the edges. 
There were five flowers on a spike. Award of 
Merit. 
Catasetum Bungerothii Lindeni, Nov. var .— 
The sepals and petals are rosy purple on both sides 
and marbled or spotted with white. The lip is clear 
yellow, but rosy along the basal edge, and spotted 
there as well as having a few purple spots near the 
apex; the spur is green inside. Award of Merit. 
Exhibited by MM. Linden, 
Catasetum Bungerothii aurantiacum, Nov. 
var. —The sepal and petals in this case are of a soft 
primrose yellow. The lip on the contrary is bright 
yellow deepening to orange round the mouth of the 
spur. Like the two previous ones, it is remarkably 
distinct and gives greatly increased interest to a 
type which has hitherto been remarkably constant 
in colour. Award of Merit. Exhibited by MM. 
Linden. 
Cattleya labiata elegans, Nov. var. —The 
sepals and broad petals of this variety are white. 
The tube of the lip is white, tinted with pale lilac ; 
the lamina on the contrary is violet-purple with a 
white edge, and the tube internally is closely lined 
with purple and white. Award of Merit. Exhibited 
by E. Ashworth, Esq , (gardener Mr. H. Holbrook), 
Harefield, Hall, Wilmslow, Cheshire. 
Sacycolabium bigibbum.—The short stems of 
this species bear a few linear-oblong leaves. The 
flowers are similar in structure to those of S. 
bellinum, but are smaller and paler in colour, and if 
anything they are produced in larger corymbs on the 
same arrangement as those of that species. The 
sepals, petals and spur are pale yellow and marked 
with pale red. The lip has relatively large and sac- 
like spur, while the lamina is white, spotted with red 
and ciliated at the margin. Botanical Certificate. 
A well-flowered plant was shown by H. Grinling, 
Esq. (gardener Mr. W. Rapley), Harrow Weald 
House, Stanmore. 
Oncidium Wheatleyanum.—The sepals and 
petals of this Oncidium are of a bright Chestnut or 
reddish-brown and contrast with the large lip which 
is rendered conspicuous by its bright yellow colour. 
Award of Merit. Exhibited by F. Wheatley, Esq. 
* 
The Stove. 
Although the greater part of stove plants are 
growing more or less the whole year round, at this 
particular season vegetable life with us is at its lowest 
ebb, and in very many cases plants start away again 
at the turn of the year with all the greater vigour for the 
few weeks partial rest. With few exceptions nothing 
should be done to unduly excite root action, for 
growth made during this part of the year is always 
more or less weak and spindly. The careful 
management of the water-pot among stove plants 
during the dull, damp months is the key-note to 
success in their cultivation. 
Advantage should be taken of the present time to 
wage a consistent and thorough warfare against 
insect pests, with a view to their total eradica¬ 
tion. To start the year with a clean bill of 
health is a most important consideration for 
it often happens that from press of work 
insect pests are at other seasons allowed far too 
much scope for activity. Keep the air as sweet as 
possible, and avoid anything like a stuffy and con¬ 
fined atmosphere. A minimum night temperature of 
60S Fahr., as recommended in the last calendar, will 
be amply sufficient for the present. During sharp 
frosty weather a covering of tiffany or frigi-domo 
may be given the house. This will assist to keep up 
the required temperature without the necessity for 
such hard firing. 
Ardisias. —These beautiful plants are of the 
greatest service, possessing as they do such high 
decorative value. A. crenulata is the one most fre¬ 
quently met with, and when well berried is an ex¬ 
ceedingly ornamental plant, and a favourite and 
conspicuous occupant of our stoves. 
Another exceedingly bright and useful little plant 
is Rivinia humilis, the bright scarlet 'berries of 
which give the plant an exceedingly attractive 
appearance. Both it and R. laevis, which differs 
from it in being perfectly smooth and not hairy as is 
the former, are very easy to grow. A pinch of seed 
sown in a shallow pan will give an abundance of 
plants for all purposes, indeed, the seeds germinate 
very readily wherever they fall, and a sufficient 
stock of plants can usually be procured from these 
chance seedlings. 
Billbergias, Aechmeas, and other Bromeliaceous 
plants will need to have a sharp eye kept upon them, 
for moisture is sure to collect in the crowns, and un¬ 
less this is removed harm will be done to the young 
leaves, as the continual presence of moisture at this 
time of the year is almost sure to cause them to 
rot. 
Greenhouse and Cool Conservatory. 
A fairly gay appearance should now obtain in this 
department, to which the queen of autumn, the 
Chrysanthemum, will be far and away the largest 
contributor. Such plants as Peristrophe speciosa. 
Salvias of sorts, Cyclamens, Epacrises, etc., should 
also be affording a brave show. Continue to remove 
all blooms which are past their beauty, as well as to 
keep a sharp look out for damping among those 
left. 
Ericas. —Mildew will often cause trouble among 
the young growths of these fine hard-wooded sub¬ 
jects, and steps should therefore be taken to deal 
with it as soon as its presence is observed or damage 
will undoubtedly be done. A pinch of sulphur 
scattered over the affected parts will considerably 
check its advances. 
Camellias that are planted out in beds or borders, 
or large specimen plants in pots or tubs, which are 
well nigh fixtures from their great weight and size 
should be looked over and the leaves sponged as 
soon as possible. This is an operation that requires 
considerable caution and a great deal of care, for 
the buds are very easily knocked off. But it is quite 
necessary that the leaves should be cleaned, as 
nothing detracts more from the beauty of the 
flowers than to see leaves thickly covered over with 
the black glutinous substance so often seen upon 
Camellias. Roman Hyacinths and the early Paper 
White Narcissi which are in bloom should be neatly 
staked, taking care that the stakes used are as neat 
and light as possible. 
Pits and Frames. 
The forcing of Roses, Lilacs, Deutzias, &c., as well 
as of the bulbous subjects will now be in full swing. 
No time should be lost in introducing a batch of 
Tulips into heat. The Due Van Thol varieties bear 
forcing as well as any, still care should be taken that 
both these and the Narcissi are not subjected to too 
hard forcing or the flowers will be poor and of a 
very flimsy character. All bulbs that are being 
forced should not be kept in heat a moment longer 
than is absolutely necessary, but should be moved 
into a cooler temperature as soon as the flowers have 
commenced to open, otherwise the blooms will not 
last for any length of time. 
Cinerarias. —It will no longer be safe to leave 
these in cold frames, or in the event of a spell of 
sharp weather they will be very liable to take harm. 
They should therefore be placed near the glass in a 
house or pit where artificial heat can be applied if 
necessary. Cinerarias, however, have a great dis¬ 
like to fire heat, and therefore it should be but spar¬ 
ingly used. 
Bedding Plants. —Rooted cuttings of these 
should be occasionally looked over and all dead 
leaves removed. This must, however, be carefully 
performed, as undue disturbance of the plants would 
be attended with fatal results. 
Chrysanthemums.— No time should be lost in 
commencing to take cuttings, if the plants are 
required to produce large blooms for show purposes, 
as some kinds are very much shyer than others in 
throwing up nice cuttings. Indeed it is often a 
matter of great difficulty to obtain a sufficient 
number, so sparingly are the cuttings produced. If 
obtainable, suckers with a few roots attached spring¬ 
ing from near the surface are the best. These 
“Irishmen’s cuttings’’ should be inserted singly 
in thumb pots, and placed near the glass in a cold 
frame, where they will readily form strong and 
healthy plants. Attention must be paid to the 
ventilation of the frame or the young cuttings will 
be very liable to damp. 
During favourable weather all cold frames should 
be aired freely, the covering of course being removed 
the first thing in the morning in the absence of frost, 
or as soon as the mercury has risen above freezing 
point, in the event of its occurrence. All coverings 
whether consisting of Russian mats, tiffany or tar¬ 
paulin should be kept as dry as possible for it should 
be remembered that covering will exclude at least 
fifty per cent more frost when it is dry than it will 
when in a saturated condition. All protective 
material should therefore be spread out to dry when¬ 
ever a favourable opportunity occurs, and not, as is 
frequently the case, simply rolled up in the morning 
and thrown aside until it is needed again. 
-* 
Laelia autumnalis. — This showy Mexican 
Orchid, now opening its flowers, requires an inter¬ 
mediate temperature to do it well, and when there is 
a division set apart for the Mexican Laelias its 
culture is very simple. But when such a house does 
not exist, as is the case with us, it is not one of the 
easiest to manage. The Cattleya house seems to be a 
bit too warm for them, and the cool house too 
shady, but by suspending them close to the glass 
over the Odontoglossums during the summer months 
(where they remain until the end of October), and 
