July 29, 1898. 
t«0 THE GARDENING WORLD. 
RHODODENDRON B *LSAM/€f LORUM 
ALBUM. 
Some of the double forms of this Javan hybrid are 
not yet very common in cultivation, and that under 
notice is perhaps, the least common of any, and at 
the same time one of the most pleasingly coloured. 
The flowers may be described as a salmon-rose, and 
perfectly full, although by no means crowded in any 
way. The supernumerary petals arise in the throat 
of the tube, just where it spreads out into the 
lamina, and this would account for ease with which 
the segments can spread out. The tube is stout, 
cylindrical, and of considerable length. It has been 
flowering for some considerable time in Messrs. 
Veitch’s Nursery, at Chelsea. 
POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA. 
The shrubby Potentilla is a beautiful plant when 
grown under conditions suitable for its best develop¬ 
ment. This can only be the case when planted in 
such a position that it will not be crowded down by 
ranker growing subjects nor overshadowded by trees. 
It should therefore be planted amongst low-growing 
shrubs or isolated upon grass. Under these con¬ 
ditions it forms a round headed bush about 2 ft. to 
3 ft. high, or may easily be kept down to that height. 
The flowers individually are of large size, bright 
yellow, and are developed in succession all through 
the summer months. The species is a British plant, 
although seldom occurring now in a wild state, and 
is probably the only properly shrubby species in 
cultivation. It may be propagated by half-ripened 
cuttings of the young wood, occasionally by suckers, 
and by layers. 
MED1NILLA CURTISII. 
The flowers of this species are borne in terminal 
erect panicles, without the large coloured bracts 
which play so important a part in the decorative 
value of M. magnifica. The leaves are likewise 
smaller but very neat, dark green and contrast beau¬ 
tifully with the pearly white buds, the calyx of which 
is tinted with scarlet. The peduncles and pedicels 
are likewise scarlet or ot a beautiful coral red and 
add considerably to the value of the plant for 
decorative purposes. It flowers at various times of 
the year both summer and winter according to cul¬ 
tural treatment, and the season in which its growth 
is made. The species is a native of Sumatra from 
whence it was introduced as recently as 1884, and 
therefore requires stove treatment. It may be seen 
in the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Being naturally dwarf it may be grown in small pots 
Compared with M. magnifica, as plants about 18 in. 
high may be considered the average. 
NEMESIA FLORIBUNDA. 
The species of Nemesia are comparatively little 
known in gardens, notwithstanding their beauty, and 
the fact that about twenty of them are known to 
science and all coming from South Africa. That 
under notice bears racemes of white flowers with a 
yellow blotch on the palate, and being very freely 
produced, are very affective. They are as suitable 
for cut flowers as Antirrhinums, Linarias, or other 
flowers of that class and well fitted for border decor¬ 
ation. The Nemesias are generally stated to be 
greenhouse annuals or shrubby herbs but if treated 
as half hardy annuals and planted out when the 
weather becomes suitable they flower early and give 
no trouble. Seeds sown about the beginning of May 
in the open ground would flower later, merely requir¬ 
ing to be thinned out in good time and assisted with 
water till the plants get a fair hold of the soil. Seeds 
ripen freely in this country so that there would seem 
to be no obstacle in the way of the plant becoming 
plentiful in gardens. This as well as several other of 
the species should be taken up by somebody and 
made known to the public. 
SIPHOCAMPVLUS HUMBOLDTII, 
The long, tubular, scarlet flowers of this plant are 
very conspicuous in the stove at this time of the 
year. Although rather slender, their bright colour 
is very telling, especially with the dark foliage for 
the background. Being a dwarf bushy, plant, about 
a foot high, it is easily accommodated with house 
room. The anthers are slaty-blue, and the stigma, 
white, and being protruded beyond the tube of the 
flower, they add something to the appearance of the 
latter The plant is a member of the Lobelia family, 
is shrubby, and has ovate leathery leaves. It is 
flowering in a house containing tufa rockwork in the 
nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
HYPERICUM PATULUM. 
None of the Hypericums may be considered weedy, 
not even the most insignificant of the herbaceous 
kinds, though they may not actually be showy. 
That under notice is, however, showy and very 
suitable for planting small beds on the grass or as 
edgings to larger ones. It usually grows 12 in. to 
18 in. high, all the branches arching gracefully and 
bearing cymes of large yellow flowers at the ends. 
Every part of the little shrub is neat and without 
any coarseness whatever. It is a native of Japan 
and though generally considered hardy it frequently 
gets killed down, but springs up again from the root 
or more woody portion of the plant. Propagation 
may readily be effected by means of half ripened 
cuttings put in sandy soil under a handlight. 
TACHIADENUS CARINATUS. 
Flowering plants of bright colours are acceptable 
in the stove at any time of the year, and those bear¬ 
ing blue flowers are particularly acceptable. The 
plant under notice is shrubby, notwithstanding its 
being one of the Gentian family. Something like 
five species are known to science, all natives of 
Madagascar, but only the present one seems to have 
been introduced to cultivation. It is most nearly 
allied perhaps to the species of Exacum of any in 
cultivation, and if the flowers are smaller than those 
E. macranthum they are even neater and of a much 
deeper, almost Gentian blue, with a light shading of 
purple as they get old. The plant does not seem to 
exceed 9 in. to 12 in. high under cultivation, and is 
therefore suitable for growing in small pots to place 
on the front of the stages in the stove. Plants have 
been flowering for some time past in the nursery of 
Messrs J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Epidendrum rhiz ophorum. 
Botanically speaking the more correct name of this 
plant is E. radicans in reference to the numerous 
roots which are thrown out from the long stems. 
The habit of the plant is quite different from perhaps 
every other Epidendrum in cultivation in this 
respect. Apparently a very old plant of it, judging 
from the length of the stems, ma/ be seen in the 
nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. This 
plant has the stems twined round stakes to support 
it. The flowers are produced in long terninal 
racemes and are of a bright scarlet or as some would 
describe them, orange red. Notwithstanding the 
fact that it grows to the height of 10 ft. or more, it 
need not occupy a great amount of space. Although 
introduced from Guatemala in 1836, it is not par¬ 
ticularly common in cultivation, notwithstanding the 
brilliant colour of the flowers ; but it occasions no 
difficulty in cultivation, nor does it require a very 
high temperature. There is a yellow disc on the lip 
and this is spotted with crimson, while the top of the 
column is also yellow ; these colours are the only 
ones that contrast with the brilliancy of the rest of 
the flower. 
Laelia tenebrosa. 
One of the finest specimens of this richly-coloured 
variety of L. grandis that we have seen in bloom is 
in the possession of Mr. P. McArthur, 4, Maida 
Vale, W. The plant has forty bulbs, and nine 
growths, six of them with sheaths, one of which a 
few days ago bore two fine flowers. It is a very dark 
variety with broad sepals and petals, and altogether 
is a notable form. 
Phalaenopsis at Swanswell, Coventry. 
Few orchids require more care and give so much 
anxiety to gardeners as do Phalaenopsis, yet few are 
more useful or more lovely when well grown. 
Visiting S vanswell, recently, the residence of John 
Powers, Esq., I was greatly delighted and interested 
in his Phalaenopsis, and forthwith made enquiries as 
to his mode of treatment. The method adopted is 
the usual one, the plants being potted in peat and 
sphagnum. Some of them are suspended from the 
roof, while others are standing upon the stages. 
Particular care is given to damping and ventilating, 
and on no account is the sun allowed to strike the 
leaves. The gardener (Mr. Stuart) considers that 
his success is due more to careful damping and 
ventilating than to anything else. The most re¬ 
markable plant of Phalaenopsis Stuartianum that I 
have ever seen was grown at Swanswell. It carried 
a spike some 5 ft. in length, but curiously enough 
this plant took to bad ways and it has never been 
seen in the same state of perfection since. All the 
Orchids at Swanswell are well grown and reflect 
great credit on the the grower, Mr. Stuart — 
J. McNab. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, July 2 jth .—The meeting on 
this occasion was a small one, as it generally is 
about this date. The principal features were 
Orchids, Begonias, Sweet Peas, stove and green, 
house plants, and fruit in considerable quantity 
represented by Apricots, Apples, Plums, Tomatos, 
Cherries, Peaches, and Melons. A Silver Banksian 
Medal was awarded to Messrs. B. S. Williams & 
Son, Upper Holloway, for a group of Orchids, con¬ 
sisting largely of Cypripediums interspersed with 
Dendrochilum filiforme, Oncidium curtum, O. Gard- 
nerianum, Trichocentrum tigrinum, Pescatorea 
Dayana, Paphinia cristata grandis, and others. A 
similar award was made to Messrs. F. Sander & Co. 
for a smaller but more varied group of Orchids, 
including Mormodes pardinum unicolor, Angraecum 
citratum, Odontoglossum Roezlii alba, the scarlet 
lipped Habenaria militaris, Cattleya Batalinii, 
ASrides Sanderiana, with five long racemes, and a 
smaller piece with larger and better coloured flowers. 
A Bronze Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. P. 
McArthur, 4, Maida Vale, for a smaller group of 
Orchids, including a fine Oncidium named O. 
Jonesianum Maida Vale var., with blotched sepals 
and petals, Cypripedium Veitchi, Brassavola cordata, 
and others. Cypripedium Edwardi, a pretty hybrid, 
and Sobralia macrantha Princess May were snown 
by Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley. 
Cattleya gigas Turnbulliana and C. Dowiana Lewisi- 
anawere shown by Messrs. W. Le\vis&Co.,Sou;hgate. 
Cattleya Hardyana Tates’ var. and Cypripedium 
Tryonianum were shown by H. Tate, Jun., Esq., 
Allerton, Liverpool; Miltonia vexillaria Daisy 
Haywood was shown by T. B. Haywood, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. C. J. Salter), Woodhatch Lodge, 
Reigate; Laelia Amesiana, Cattleya Rex Stand 
Hall var., Laelia prasiata, L. elegans superbiens, and 
Cattleya crispa superba were all shown in the cut 
state by T. Statter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. R. Johnson), 
Stand Hall, Manchester, who received a cultural 
commendation for his group. A similar award was 
made to T. A. Gledstanes, Esq (grower, Mr. 
Dennison), Manor House, Gunnersbury. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for a group of double- 
flowered tuberous Begonias, sown last February, and 
now 6 in. to 10 in. high, and in all the freshness of 
the first flowering. A similar award was made to 
Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, Salop, for a most interesting 
collection of named varieties of Sweet Peas, repre¬ 
senting a great variety of colour, some of which 
were new shades. A Silver Flora Medal was 
accorded to Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, 
for a collection of stove and greenhouse plants, 
including Begonias, Caladiums, Orchids, Palms, 
Ferns, and Dracaenas. Caladium Le Nain 
Rouge was a good dwarf new kind. A 
Silver Banksian Medal was accorded to Messrs. 
E. D. Shuttleworth' & Co., Peckham Rye, 
for a group of richly - coloured Crotons, 
Caladiums, Lilium auratum, and Hydrangea 
paniculata grandiflora. A Begonia named Mrs. 
Bourne with sepals partly transformed to leaves 
were shown by Mrs. Darwin, The Grove, Hunting- 
ton Road, Cambridge. A Bronze Banksian Medal' 
was awarded to J. T. Hopwood, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
W. H. Divers), Ketton Hall, Stamford, for a collec¬ 
tion of cut flowers of Carnations including a large 
quantity of Ketton Rose. Cut flowers of herbaceous 
plants as well as some pot specimens and Clematis 
Viticella kermesina were shown by Messrs. Paul & 
Son, Cheshunt. Conical specimens of Cupressus 
Lawsoniana versicolor, and retinospora squarrosa 
sulphurea, as well as Gladioli, Carnation Celia a 
scented border variety, Lantana Drap D’Or an 
excellent dwarf bedder, Rhododendron Sylvia, and 
Didymocarpus lacunosa- were exhibited by Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. A beautiful plant of 
Cupressus macrocarpa lutea was shown by the 
