J une 1, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
633 
THE HABENARIAS. 
The three British species of Habenaria can give no 
conception of the variety of form and colouring to 
be met with in the genus, which is of vast extent, 
running to something like 400 species, but two at 
least of them are both pretty and interesting when 
one is fortunate enough to fall in with them in their 
native habitats, which get so plundered in the 
vicinity of towns and other populous districts. They 
are known as the Butterfly Orchis, for the term 
would apply equally to both kinds owing to their 
close similarity, and the fact that one may be mistaken 
for either by the general public. The more common 
species is H. bifolia, the specific name being given 
from the fact that the plant never has more than 
two leaves, as is the case with the Tway Blade. 
The accompanying illustration of H. chlorantha will 
give a conception of the plant as seen in the grassy 
meadows and damp upland pastures in the hilly 
districts, where it is most plentiful. Those who go 
in quest of wild flowers consider themselves lucky 
to find it in many rural districts where it used to 
abound, while in other districts, especially on cool 
moist meadows, it is still very abundant. The 
flowers have long narrow segments, and being only 
of a pale yellow hue, have not much attraction com¬ 
pared with Cattleyas, Odontoglossums, and other 
exotic Orchids ; but all the same it is pretty, and 
considered a choice find by those who go plant 
collecting. The flowers are also strongly scented, 
particularly when a light dew is upon them, and 
many would be highly de¬ 
lighted with them on this 
account alone. The light- 
coloured flowers and their 
odour are doubtless of 
great economic import 
ance to the plant itself in 
attracting the moths that 
fertilise the blooms during 
the dusk of the evening. 
Rarer and even more in¬ 
teresting is H,chlorantha, 
which has even larger 
flowers of similar colour. 
Some authorities consider 
it only a variety of H. 
bifolia, but the structural 
differences of the flowers 
are so great that Darwin 
considered that different 
moths were necessary to 
fertilise them. It may 
sometimes be found in fine 
condition in damp spots 
or wet meadows at the 
foot of the chalk downs of 
Surrey. In such places it 
attains a height of 18 in. 
or ? ft., and constitutes a 
conspicuous feature of Ihs 
grassy vegetation around it during the month of 
June. For some reason or other the cultivation of 
British Orchids, with few exceptions, has been any¬ 
thing but a marked success. Some of them are very 
easily grown, however, when placed in situations 
offering conditions similar to that of their native 
habitat. Moisture is the chief requisite, and next to 
that, shade in the southern parts of England, but 
they must not be overhung with trees nor other tall 
vegetation. Another thing to be remembered is that 
those who make an attempt at their cultivation 
never think of looking for nor digging up the plants 
till they are in full bloom. Then all the soil drops 
away from the roots, and the latter to a certainty 
are more or less injured, and the stronger descending 
ones broken off. A better plan would be to look fcr 
the plants soon after the leaves appear above ground, 
or mark the old plants after the foliage dies down 
and remove them to the garden in the resting con¬ 
dition. A patch of the native soil about them 
would be an advantage, and give more security for 
the safety of the roots. 
Several of the exotic species have been introduced 
from time to time, but at the present none are more 
interesting nor beautiful than H. militaris and H. 
carnea, remarkable for the wide contrast of colours 
which they present us. The first-named has been 
brought before the public in quantity on several 
occasions by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. The 
species is a native of Cochin China from whence it 
was introduced as recently as 1886. The plant is 
about a foot high, erect, and confined to a single 
stem bearing a long raceme of flowers. The sepals 
and petals are green and unattractive, but this is 
more than compensated for by the large size of the 
bright scarlet and four lobed lip. The contrast of 
colours is in itself remarkable and gives the whole 
plant character not soon forgotten by those who can 
appreciate terrestrial Orchids at their true worth. 
Being a native of a warm country it, of course, 
requires relatively warm treatment to bring it out in 
its true character. A small batch of plants is a cheer¬ 
ful and attractive sight. 
The more recent introduction above named was 
introduced from Singapore and flowered for the first 
time in 1891. H. carnea well describes its colour, for 
the flowers are of a beautiful and delicate flesh colour 
in the typical or normal form. The deeply four 
lobed lip is here again the most conspicuous feature 
of the flower, but all parts are coloured pretty much 
alike. A pure white and equally interesting variety has 
turned up amongst importations, and has frequently 
been brought before the public. H. militaris, H. 
carnea and its white variety have all been honoured 
with certificates, which is more than can be said of 
any of our native species, but the latter will always 
command our interest independently of such awards 
of horticultural societies. What is of greater 
importance in the case of native species is to take all 
possible care that they do not get exterminated; but 
in the case of H. bifolia, which we illustrate, that is 
not likely to happen for another century at least, 
Habenaria chlorantha. 
judging from the wild localities in which we have 
seen it. 
-=--r*.- 
IVY-LEAVED PELARGONIUMS AT 
RYECROFT NURSERY. 
From the comparative easiness with which they 
may be grown Pelargoniums of all classes are held 
in great esteem by all who love flowers or who take 
an interest in their cultivation. If any one section 
has been neglected more than the other it is un- 
doubedly the Ivy-leaved. This is singular enough, 
but still it is true; for it is only a very few years 
since florists woke up to the fact that the Ivy-leaved 
Pelargonium was capable of vast improvement, and, 
as such, was well worthy of their attention. Nor 
has their confidence been misplaced, as resulting 
circumstances have triumphantly proved ; for among 
the ranks of this section to-day may be found many 
gems of the first water, plants of exceeding great 
decorative value. Among others who make a 
specialty of these beautiful subjects Mr. H. J. Jones, 
of Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham, takes 
a foremost place, as those who saw his meritorious 
exhibit of them at the late Temple Show can 
abundantly testify. At Ryecroft the plants are 
accommodated in a light span-roofed house some 
130 ft. in length, amongst a number of zonals of 
some of the best varieties. None of them are more 
than a twelvemonth old, but they are marvels of 
health and vigour in thirty-two sized pots, and as 
full of flower as could possibly be wished. Doubt¬ 
less the fine display of bloom that greeted us upon 
entering the house owed much to the judicious use 
of Ichthemic guano, an artificial manure to which 
Mr. Jones attaches a good deal of value, and it would 
seem advisedly so to judge from the results achieved. 
Amongst many good sorts which were represented 
the under mentioned double varieties were especially 
noteworthy at the time of our visit:—Ryecroft 
Surprise, obtained by crossing Madame Thibaut and 
Souvenir de Charles Turner about two years ago. 
Besides being of vigorous habit this variety is ex¬ 
ceedingly floriferous, and the flower trusses are of 
immense size, the blooms being of a delightful 
salmon-pink shade. Galilee is another sort that is 
worthy a place in any collection. It has flowers 
soft pink in colour, and the plant is of rather dwarf 
habit, as well as a most profuse bloomer. Very 
telling is the effect produced by the rich coloured 
blooms of the seedling known as Ryecroft Scarlet, 
whilst Percy Surman, which came from the same 
sowing is not less meritorious, bearing large magenta 
coloured flowers. One of the finest of the pink 
flowered varieties is Beauty of Castle Hill. Very 
charming indeed is Surcouf, carrying large bold 
trusses of deep rich pink flowers. Souvenir de 
Charles Turner, although an older variety than some, 
must yet still find a place in all modern lists. Its 
blooms are of a deep pink hue, prettily feathered 
with maroon. 
The large bold flowers, rosy-scarlet in colour, 
shaded magenta, of H. Cannell are not behind the 
others in beauty and 
effectiveness. Liberty has 
blooms of a light magenta 
shade, and is of sturdy 
and robust habit withal. 
Somewhat similar to this 
is Cuvier, both varieties 
being of great value, pro¬ 
ducing as they do flowers 
of a colour that is at 
present all too rare among 
this class of plants. 
Mention must likewise 
be made of La France, 
the blooms of which are 
of a delicate mauve-lilac 
hue, very pretty and 
distinct. Jersey Beauty 
is also an acquisition, 
and should find a place 
in any collection. Its 
blooms are of large size 
and rich purple in colour, 
whilst the huge trusses of 
orange - scarlet flowers 
which distinguish Lam ar- 
tine are very striking and 
effective. 
Although it may not be 
within the reach of every 
cultivator to obtain the whole of the varieties which 
have been mentioned, each and all cf them are 
thoroughly deserving of a trial; for, whether grown 
in beds in the flower garden, or in pots in the green¬ 
house, or in the cottage window, Ivy-leaved Pelar¬ 
goniums are always handsome plants, and seldom 
fail to give complete and entire satisfaction, 
more especially when a little care is exercised in 
looking after them. 
-- —.*» -- 
ROSE BELLE SIEBRECHT. 
This is a new and beautiful Rose, and one of the 
sensation plant novelties of the year. It was raised 
in England some years ago, where (at Chester) under 
the name of Mrs. W. J. Grant, it received the 
highest award possible to a Rose, namely, the 
National Rose Society’s gold medal; and also several 
First-class Certificates at various other exhibitions 
in the country. The whole stock of the Rose was 
then bought by Messrs. Siebrecht & Wadley, florists, 
New Rochelle, N.Y., and brought to this country, 
and since then it has been held and propagated by 
them alone till this season, when they are offering it 
for sale. As they owned the complete stock of the 
Rose they have changed its name to Belle Siebrecht. 
Although we have never seen it growing we have 
had the pleasure of examining the flowers on two or 
three occasions : for instance, some months ago at 
the dinner given by some of his florist friends to 
Dean Hole in New York, when a vase of splendid 
blossoms of this Rose graced the table ; at a Chry¬ 
santhemum exhibition in New York ; and a week or 
