216 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 3, 1892. 
the general colour is somewhat similar to that of the 
sepals, but there is a crimson-purple blotch in the 
centre, and the tip is deep purple, while there are 
many purple spots at the base. The species is now 
getting rather rare in a wild state. We noted it 
flowering in the gardens at Falkland Park, South 
Norwood Hill. 
Cattleya labiata. 
The Cattleya house need hardly be dull at any time 
of the year with the numerous varieties of C. labiata, 
one or other of which may be in bloom at all times 
of the year. The typical old species is now very 
plentiful in every collection of any importance, 
making gay the dull autumn months. There are 
numerous pieces of it in the Orchid houses at Falk¬ 
land Park, South Norwood Hill, and hardly two of 
them are exactly alike. One has short pseudo-bulbs 
with a dark cuneate blotch on the lip. Some of 
them smell deliciously of Tuberoses or something 
very similar. There are four fine flowers on a spike 
in one case, and they measure 7J in. across the 
petals ; the petals are in. across, while the width 
of the lip is 2 in. The sepals and petals are rosy 
mauve, and the lip which is similar has a small 
cuneate, rich-purple blotch on the lamina and a 
yellow blotch on each side of the throat. No doubt 
some would consider that if the dark terminal lobe 
of the lip of some of the other varieties were placed 
on this, it would make a grand thing. On the other 
hand if all were worked up to this standard there 
would be nothing left for variation. As it is we con¬ 
sider it distinct and well worthy of a place in the 
collection. The dark-lipped varieties, and the 
scented ones all serve to add interest to the whole. 
Cypripedium Pitcherianum Williams van. 
In this fine variety we see the utility of using the 
best coloured forms as parents. It was raised from 
C. Harrisianum superbum crossed with the pollinia 
of C. Spicerianum. The upper sepal is very large, 
rolled back at the sides, ovate and white suffused 
with rose and light green at the base. The influence 
of C. Spicerianum is seen in the claret coloured 
midrib. The petals are also of large size resembling 
those of C. Harrisianum, the upper longitudinal 
half being of a deep shining brown and the lower 
one yellowish. The lip is of a deep dull purple. 
The effect of the-pollen parent is also seen in the 
wavy upper edge of the petals. The variety was 
raised by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper 
Holloway, with whom a considerable number of 
seedlings have been brought to the flowering stage, 
and all have proved to be identical in all respects. 
The first of them commenced to flower in four years 
from seed and are now five years old. A few plants 
have not yet reached the flowering stage, and may 
be different judging from their tardiness and slow 
progress. The reverse cross from the same parents 
shows by the much smaller size of the flowers, that 
the seed-parent has most potency in this respect. 
Cypripedium vexillarium superbum. 
The original C. vexillarium has always been much 
admired on account of the strong resemblance it 
bears to the pollen-parent, C. Fairieanum. Judging 
from analogy with other hybrids, one would readily 
suspect that the latter species was the seed-parent. 
C. barbatum is, however, credited with that honour. 
The leaves of the variety under notice are oblong 
and tessellated with deep green. The one-flowered 
scape is about 12 in. high, and therefore robust com¬ 
pared with that of C. Fairieanum. The upper sepal 
is broadly ovate and suffused with rose on a white 
ground, with numerous deep purple or vinous veins 
almost covering the central portion. The petals are 
strongly pendent or declinate, wavy on the edges, 
and rosy purple with a paler midrib. The lip is 
comparatively narrow and deep purple. The whole 
plant is neat and compact yet robust and easily 
grown. We noted it in the collection of Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Gardenias. — Cuttings for an early batch of 
plants may be taken off now and rooted. They will 
take longer time to emit roots than cuttings taken off 
in spring, but they will be better established before 
the fine weather sets in, and therefore ready to grow 
away rapidly. They will also flower earlier without 
hard forcing, so that where Gardenia flowers are 
much in request this batch will prove serviceable 
before the rest is ready. 
Ardisias. —As a rule Ardisia crenulata, and oc¬ 
casionally its white fruiting variety, are all that are 
grown in gardens, but the number of kinds might be 
increased to advantage. A. polycephala, with black 
fruit, and A. mamillata, with red fruit, are very suit¬ 
able for cultivation in the stove, as are A. crenulata 
and its variety. On the other hand, the deep red or 
crimson fruited A. japonica will stand a lower tem¬ 
perature, and is therefore useful for the greenhouse, 
where it may be kept during the winter months 
while in fruit. All may be raised from seeds, which 
should be sown at once by those who want to add 
them to their stock or increase it. 
Ruellia macrantha. —The few cultivators who 
have already made their acquaintance with this fine 
plant find it very useful at this time of the year in 
the decoration of the stove or warm conservatory. 
The flowers are several times larger than those of 
the other Ruellias in cultivation, and of a warm rose 
colour. The treatment it requires is similar to that 
of the other Ruellias, Eranthemums, and allied 
plants, and when well grown and bushy is an object 
of beauty during several of the autumn and winter 
months. 
Carnations in pots. —To bring out the flowers 
in their best form, the plants must be kept in a house 
where a minimum night temperature of 50° is main¬ 
tained, and kept as near the glass as possible, giving 
judicious ventilation at all times when the weather 
is favourable. Too low a temperature cripples the 
flowers while expanding, but too much fire heat 
with a close atmosphere makes the flowers puny. 
Chrysanthemums. —As the plants go out of 
flower the stems should be cut down, and the plants 
placed in a pit, where the young shoots will be en¬ 
couraged to make sturdy growth. In taking cuttings 
for next year's stock, all plants that have been 
highly fed should be avoided if possble ; indeed, it 
would be a good plan to have a few young stools in 
the open ground of every variety required, to furnish 
the requisite stock for next year's work, as well as to 
plant out again for cuttings. 
Vineries.— If the earliest house was closed about 
the beginning of last month, the buds of the Vinek 
will now be commencing to push. In that case the 
minimum night temperature may gradually be in¬ 
creased to 6o°, with a rise of io° early in the day, so 
that every encouragement may be given the Vines to 
grow during daylight. Top air may be admitted on 
bright days to prevent the temperature from rising 
too high. Syringe the rods frequently with tepid 
water during the day to encourage growth. The 
evaporating pans shoulj also be kept filled with 
diluted liquid manure. Artificial heat must be used 
to dispel damp in houses where Grapes are still 
hanging. 
Figs on open walls. — In localities where pro¬ 
tection is considered necessary for Figs, the work 
should be set about without further delay, as we can¬ 
not depend upon the weather remaining so mild as it 
has been for the past two months. Rampant 
suckers from the base of the tree should be cut away, 
unless they are required to fill certain bare portions * 
of the wall. Cut away all those shoots which were 
shortened back in summer to encourage the develop¬ 
ment of the fruit they were carrying, provided 
always there is a good young shoot to take its place. 
Having thus reduced the bulk of the plants by the 
removal of the useless wood, the rest may be tied up 
in bundles for the winter and protected by matting 
or bracken. 
Plums on walls. —On old trees, the spurs are 
liable to get crowded and too far removed from the 
wall. The duty then of the pruner is to remove the 
older and longest spurs so as to leave more space for 
those that remain. The greater amount of sunshine 
and air that can be given them in this way, the 
better the fruit will be. See that all the main 
branches are well secured and safe from being 
broken down in summer. 
Peaches on walls. —It is a common practice to 
delay the pruning of Peaches and Nectarines till 
spring, but the advantage is a doubtful one. One 
great disadvantage is that other kinds of work be¬ 
come pressing as the season advances, and Peach 
trees if left untied or unnailed till then entail a great 
amount of work. The shoots that bore fruit last 
summer should be cut away to make room for the 
young wood that has been left for this purpose at 
the summer pruning. Well ripened shoots will re¬ 
quire very little shortening so long as they do not 
interfere with the shoots next above them. 
Quesnons add AnsmeRs. 
Handbook of the Iride.e.— J. IF. G. Parnell : 
This book has been written by Mr. J G. Baker, of 
Kew, in exactly the same style as the Handbook of the 
Amaryllidea, and both are published by Messrs. 
George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, at 
5s. each. 
Pritchardi\ grandis .— Young Irishman : Another 
name for this plant is Licuala grandis, which is con¬ 
sidered by botanists to be the correct one. The 
original and large old plant in Europe was sent to 
the Royal Gardens, Kew, some ten years ago or 
thereby. Since it made its appearance at London, 
England, many young plants have been raised by 
various leading nurserymen in London, and we 
believe also that the leading nurserymen on the con¬ 
tinent of Europe have got it. We know that it was 
pretty plentiful with the London nurserymen a few 
years ago, and we do not think you would have any 
difficulty in getting it. 
Names of Plants. — IV. Davis : Gomeza plani- 
folia.— A. White : 1, Pyrus floribunda ; 2, Retino- 
spora plumosa ; 3, Spirsea Douglasii ; 4, Forsythia 
viridissima ; 5, Fatsia japonica variegata, generally 
known as Aralia Sieboldi variegata ; 6, Agave, 
species not recognised.— J. W. G. Parnell : 1. Aster 
Novi-Belgii angustifolius; 2, Solidago puberula; 
3, Aster lsevis (not the A. laevis of gardens, which is 
A. Novi-Belgii densus). — J. M. K. : 1, Franciscea 
calycina. 
Communications Received. — D. M.—J. R.— 
A. H.—W. O’N.—S. H. S.—J. O.—E. A.—G. S. A. 
— C. T.— S. & S.—J. B. S.— J. J. 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
November 2gth, 1892. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C., report demand for 
Clover seeds slow. Prices of English and Foreign 
Red unchanged. White Clover steady. English 
Alsike offers more freely, values not established. 
Trefoils dearer. 
COVENT 
HARD E tM 
November 30 th. 
MARKET. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d s. d. 
s. d. 
s.d. 
Grapes.... 
.... per lb. 06 20 
Pine apples. 
Kent Cobs 
...ioolb. 120 0 150 0 
—St. Michael's, each ^ 6 
6 o 
Peaches .. 
per dozen 
Apples...per 4 sieve i o 
3 6 
Melons ... 
.each 
Plums...per J sieve 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s. U. s. d. 
s. d. 
i. d. 
ArtichokesGlobedoz. 30 60 
Lettuces ...per dozen i 6 
2 0 
Beans, French, perlb. 
Beet.per dozen 
Cabbages ... per doz. 
Carrots ... per bunch 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 
Celery.per bundle 
Cucumbers .each 
Endive. French, doz. 
Herbs .per bunch 
Horse Radisn, bundle 2 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket 1 3 
Onions.per bunch 0 4 
Parsley ... per bunch 0 6 
Radishes... per dozen 1 6 
Seakale .per bkt 3 6 
Smallsalading,punnet o 4 
Spinach ... per strike- 1 6 
Tomatos. per lb. o 9 
Turnips_per bun. 0 6 
Potatds. —Kent Regents, Bos. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to ioos. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesalb Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Begonias ...per doz. £ o 12 0 
Cyperus .per doz. 40120 
Dracaena term., doz. 24 o 36 o 
Dracaena viridis,doz. 9 o 18 o 
Erica Hymalis. doz. 12 o 18 o 
,, Gracilis, doz... 90120 
Evergreens,invar.doz 6 0 24 o 
Ferns, invar.,per doz. 4 o 18 o 
Ferns, small, per 100 60100 
Foliage Plants, doz. 12 o 60 0 
s. d. s. d. 
Chrysanthemum, doz. 40 90 
— large, doz.12 o 30 o 
Heliotrope, per doz. 40 60 
Marguerites, perdoz. 60120 
Mignonette, per doz. 6 o 12 o 
Palms in variety,each 2 6 10 0 
Palms, Specimen ... 15 o 63 o 
—scarlets.perdoz. 60 90 
Primula Sinensis 
per doz. 40 60 
Solanums.perdoz. 9 o 12 o 
Cut Flowers.— 
s. d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 3 o 
Bouvardias, per bun. o 6 
Carnations, 12 blooms 1 o 
Chrysanthemum,dz bn4 o 
— .doz. blooms 1 o 
Eucharis ...per doz. 3 o 
Gardenias 12 blooms 3 o 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays o 6 
Hyacinths Roman 
doz. sprays o 6 
Lilac, White, F'rench, 
per bunch... 5 o 
Lilium Harrisii, 
doz. blooms 6 o 
Liliums var., dz.blms. 2 o 
LilyoftheVadeydz.sps.4 o 
MaidennairFern,i2bs. 4 o 
Margueiites, 12 bun. 1 o 
Mimosa (French)p.bh. 1 o 
Average Wholesale Prices. 
s d 
6 o 
5. d. 
Mignonette... 12 bun. 3 o 
Pelargoniums, 12 sps. 0 9 
3 o —scarlet.12 bchs. 6 0 
9 o Primula, double, bun. o 6 
6 o Pyrethrum doz bnchs 2 o 
60 Oi chid Bloom in var. 
5 o per bloom, from o 3 
0 9 Roses, yellow, dozen 2 o 
— French, per bnch 3 o 
10 — French, 100 blms 6 o 
— Red.doz. blms. 1 o 
60 — Saffrano...per doz. 1 o 
— Tea.per dozen 1 o 
9 o Stephanotis, dz. sps. 6 o 
4 o Tuberoses, per doz 0 3 
9 o Violets,Parme,French 
6 o per bunch ..30 
3 c — Czar, French, bun. 2 o 
1 6 I — Small „ doz. bun. 1 6 
s. d 
6 0 
1 o 
8 o 
o 9 
4 o 
4 o 
2 6 
2 o 
OOISTTEaNT'J. S. 
PAGE 
Abies as Forest Trees .214 
Amaryllis Mrs. William Lee2i5 
Apple Golden Russet.215 
Artichoke, Sutton’s White 210 
Begonia Semperdorens 
rosea .215 
Brisbane Botanic Garden...209 
Cattleya labiata .216 
Chrysanthemums and the 
mild weather.214 
Chrysanthemums at 
Chilwell.213 
Chrysanthemum Notes.209 
Chrysanthemum shows ...210 
Cypripedium Pitcherianum 
Williams var.216 
Cypripedium vexillarium 
superbum .216 
Cooking Vegetables .20S 
Dendrobium McCarthiae ...215 
Fruit Culture and the 
Allotment system.210 
FAGE 
Gardeners’ Calendar.216 
Green Flowers.210 
Herb border, the.210 
Judges at the International 
Horticultural Exhibition 212 
Kew Gardens.209 
Maranta roseo-picta .215 
Market Gerdening .208 
Nidu arium splendens .215 
Odontoglossum grande.213 
Orchid Flowers, packing ...209 
Orchids in the Black 
Country .215 
Palms at Upper Holloway 213 
Pandanus, a smooth-leaved2i5 
Plants, new, certificated ...209 
Primulas and Cyclamens ...214 
Raspberry Plantations .215 
Sale Season, the .207 
Strathallan Castle .212 
Vegetable Garden, the .21a 
