August 19, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
809. 
Laelia Novelty. 
Here again we have a hybrid, and in this-case L. 
Dayana was the seed parent and L. elegans the 
pollen parent. The pseudo-bulbs at present are 
small and fusiform, about 3 in. long, and bearing 
two or three oblong-lanceolate shining green leaves. 
The whole plant is only about 8 in. high. The 
sepals and broader petals are of a warm rosy-purple. 
The tube of the lip is white, except the lower side of 
interior, which has a median band of about five dark 
purple lines. The orbicular, undulate lamina is of 
an intense crimson-purple. An Award of Merit was 
accorded it when shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea. 
Cypripedium CEno-superbiens. 
The name above given is compounded from those of 
the parents of the hybrid, the seed parent being 
C. oenanthum and the pollen parent C. superbiens. 
The upper sepal is broadly ovate and of a light green 
spotted with brownish-black in lines along the veins, 
except towards the edge which is white, suffused 
with rose. The petals are brownish-purple spotted 
with black on the lower two-thirds of their length. 
The lip is of a deep shining brown. The leaves are 
oblong, moderately wide and deep green. An Award 
of Merit was accorded it when shown by Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart, (grower, Mr. W. H. White), Burford 
Lodge, Dorking. 
Aganisia ionoptera. 
The pseudo-bulbs of this rare Orchid are very small, 
bearing a few lanceolate leaves and a racemose scape 
about 2 ft. high. The sepals are ovate, often with a 
central purple spot. 'The petals are smaller, 
oblanceolate and bluish. The lip is three-lobed and 
white, with a few transverse purple bands. The 
flowers are comparatively small individually, but 
pretty in the aggregate. The blue or violet petals 
suggested the name. The species was originally 
introduced from Peru in 1871. A Botanical Certifi¬ 
cate was awarded it when shown by Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart 
Earina suaveolens. 
About six species of Earina are known to science, 
but they are seldom seen in gardens. All are natives 
of the Pacific Islands and New Zealand. The 
generic name comes from earinos, meaning spring, in 
reference to the time of flowering in their native 
country. The specific name of that under notice 
means sweet scented, and that is the chief quality to 
recommend it to the cultivator. The stems are 
slender bearing sessile, lanceolate leaves. The 
flowers are small and white with exception of the 
apex of the column, which is orange; they are borne 
in a dense terminal spike. It was sent over from the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevein, by Mr. F. W. 
Moore, and was accorded a Botanical Certificate. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Botanic, August 10 th .—The anniversary 
meeting of this Society was held at the Museum, in 
the Gardens, Regent’s Park, Mr. C. Brinsley 
Marley presiding. Mr. Sowerby, the Secretary, read 
the report, which mentioned that the number of 
fellows remained stationary, 67 having joined during 
the past year. For the last few years the Society had 
carried on Exhibitions and floral fetes, leading to a 
more general utilisation of flowers in public and 
family rejoicings and festivities. The arrangements 
for tennis and croquet lawns had proved attractive. 
New plants, both of economic and scientific interest 
and value, had been added to the collections during 
the year, including the mangrove (Rhizphora), 
which, although many hundred plants had been 
introduced during the last forty-five years had only 
this year been successfully grown ; also one of the 
remarkable ant habitation plants (Myrmecodia), pre¬ 
sented by the President of the Linnean Society. 
The Society were constantly applied to for specimens 
and samples, and for information from medical, 
commercial, manufacturing, and other professions, 
but did not receive the smallest material assistance 
or public acknowledgment for this its special work, 
although the Society was burdened by the payment 
of heavy rent, rates, and taxes. From March to 
July there had been 17,915 visitors to the gardens. 
The statement of accounts showed receipts:— 
General subscriptions, £2,785. ; exhibitions and even¬ 
ing fetes, £1,909 ; loan from bankers, £1,000 ; balance 
in hand, £104. The payments included liabilities of 
1891 and previous years, £1,162; garden labour, 
£2,430; meetings, exhibitions, and fetes, £1,324 The 
liabilities of the Society amount to £17,781 
The Chairman expressed regret that the gardens 
were not more popular ; but was glad that they 
answered a very high purpose in the botanical world. 
Mr. E. Ledger was of opinion that the position of 
the Society was anything but satisfactory. The pre¬ 
sent was the worst balance-sheet that they had ever 
had, and now the lease had only eight years to run. 
He objected very much to smoking being pro¬ 
hibited, and thought it ought to be allowed in cer¬ 
tain portions of the gardens. 
The Chairman would be very glad if the gentle¬ 
men would smoke in the conservatories (laughter). 
Mr. Sedger said there were no gardens in Europe 
where smoking] was prohibited. What the Society 
wanted was young blood upon the committee. 
Mrs. St. Aubyn Hasket observed that in many 
public gardens in Germany smoking was prohibited 
on fete days. 
The Chairman promised that the question of 
smoking in particular portions of the gardens 
should be considered. The Council had adhered 
to the original objects for which the Society was 
formed. 
Mr. Arthur Rigg thought the Council acted 
wisely in not introducing changes too rapidly. 
The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to 
the Chairman for presiding. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Epiphyllum tnuncatum. —This, having finished 
its growth, may now be relegated to a cooler house 
with more ventilation, so as to encourage the ripen¬ 
ing of the wood, for by this means a greater quantity 
of bloom can be secured in winter. 
Cyperus alternifolius variegatus. —Many of 
the plants of this old-fashioned subject are liable to 
go back to the green state. Therefore, when propa¬ 
gating for a fresh stock, the best plan is to select the 
best variegated specimen from which to take the 
cuttings or divisions as the case may be. 
Variegated Pineapple —Small suckers taken 
from the tuft of leaves on the top of the fruit are the 
best to employ forgetting up a stock of young plants. 
They grow more slowly, and make useful table and 
other decorative plants that last a long time, and 
are of a handy and useful size. 
Greenhouse Rhododendrons. —Plants that are 
getting too large to be wintered in their present pots, 
should receive a shift into pots a little larger. Over 
potting is a disadvantage, especially when the plants 
have completed their growth and we are nearing the 
end of the season. Make the fresh soil quite firm to 
prevent the water from making its exit before 
saturating the whole of the ball. 
Late flowering Azaleas. —When the latest 
flowered batch have completed their growth in the 
stove, they should be placed in a cool greenhouse. 
But previous to that, they should be hardened off 
partly by ventilating the house pretty freely in which 
they are in. Cuttings of any of them may be rooted 
by taking them off with a heel of the old wood, and 
inserting them in pots of peaty soil, and kept close 
with a bell-glass. 
Calceolarias. —Those who have sown an early 
batch had better keep their eye upon the seedlings, 
and prick them off before they get crowded, other¬ 
wise many of them will damp off in a short time. It 
is not yet too late for sowing a final batch if desired. 
Gloxinias. —The batch that flowered in early 
summer should be kept on the dry side and placed 
where the atmosphere can be regulated to suit them. 
The late display will now consist of seedlings that 
were sown about the beginning of February. If still 
making growth, assist them with weak liquid manure, 
but do not spill it upon the leaves. 
Cinerarias. —Late sown batches should be potted 
on as they require it. Those intended for early 
winter flowering should now be in their flowering 
pots. Keep an eye upon insect enemies, such as 
green fly and thrips, fumigating upon their first 
appearance to prevent their spreading. Should 
mildew put in an unwelcome appearance, dust the 
leaves with flour of sulphur. 
Chinese Primulas. —As in the case of Calceo¬ 
larias and Cinerarias, cold frames are the best for 
this class of plants. Late batches should be potted 
up singly before they become crowded in the seed 
pans. Those sown in April should now be growing 
freely in 5-in. pots. Some of them may be inclined 
to throw flower trusses, but they should be removed. 
Double kinds that were top-dressed in June should 
now be well rooted, and the crowns, with their 
young roots, should be severed from the mother 
plant and potted up singly, if not already done. 
Cyclamens. — Plants sown last autumn should 
now be put in their flowering pots, using good, turfy, 
mellow loam chiefly. Low span-roofed houses, pits, 
or frames are the best structures in which to grow 
them, as they should be as near the glass as possible. 
Even those sown early in the year will be ready for 
their final shift. As old plants commence to throw 
up fresh leaves, they should be re-potted. Keep the 
crown of the tuber well above the soil to prevent the 
damping of the buds. 
Peaches.—With the renewal of hot dry weather, 
the late houses in which the fruits are swelling will 
require liberal supplies of water. Elevate every fruit 
so as to expose it to sunshine as much as possible, 
tie down loose and growing shoots, and stop the 
laterals on strong ones. Trees from which the fruit 
has been gathered, should be kept as cool as possible, 
and heavily syringed twice a day, in fine weather 
particularly, to keep down insects. 
Melons.—The last batch of plants intended for 
late autumn and early winter fruiting should now be 
planted out if not already done. Give a good amount 
of ventilation on fine days to ensure a sturdy, short- 
jointed growth, and although it should be the aim to 
encourage a free growth, yet it would be a mistake to 
do so by keeping them too close. 
Onions.—When the bulbs give evidence of having 
completed their growth by the tops dying down or 
bending at the necks, have them pulled up and laid 
on the ground with their roots towards the sun at 
mid-day, so as to ensure their thorough ripening or 
drying off, for upon that will depend their power to 
keep during winter. They may be turned at 
intervals of a few days to complete the drying process 
as quickly as possible. 
-- 
©bituarp. 
The Late Mr. Thomas Laxton. —The news of 
the death of this most energetic and able horti¬ 
culturist came to hand too late for reference last 
w'eek. It seems to have been very unexpected, but 
few persons probably, outside of the deceased's 
domestic circle, had heard of his illness. 
Mr. Laxton was a real amateur gardener. His pro¬ 
fession was the law, and he was long a solicitor at 
Stamford, from which town came many of his earlier 
products. Removing later to Sandy, and again to 
Bedford, he seems to have become not only an 
energetic hybridist, but also a trader, as he pub¬ 
lished lists and traded as an ordinary florist. He 
seems to have taken in hand a host of diverse 
subjects—Potatos, Peas (both edible and sweet). 
Strawberries, Runner Beans, and other things. 
Almost myriads of diverse variet^s came from his 
hands, some of which will live for a time ; others 
will soon be forgotten. We say this much, not in 
discredit, but simply because in all things horti¬ 
cultural change is the order of the da)-, for sort 
soon succeeds to sort. That Mr. Laxton was a 
wonderfully industrious and devoted hybridist there 
can be no doubt; but it is given to few men, however, 
to produce many new things that are really first- 
class. His new first Early Laxton Potato is his 
best of that vegetable, and ought to live long, for it is 
excellent. William the First and Omega are perhaps 
his best Peas, and Royal Sovereign and Noble his 
longest lived Strawberries. What he may have left 
behind, him the produce of his intense love for inter¬ 
crossing, we shall no doubt learn of later on, as his 
sons will continue to conduct the business the de¬ 
ceased had built up. 
Questions add ansajGR*. 
Names of Plants. — B. L. : Tilia petiolaris. 
H. F. R. : Eucomis punctata. —Skimmia : 1, Genista 
prascox; 2, Amelanchier vulgaris; 3, Spiraea Lind- 
leyana.— J. S. C. : The Norway Maple, Acer 
platanoides.— B. H. : 1, Dendrobium aduncum ; 2, 
Brassia verrucosa.—A’. : Sedum spectabile, some¬ 
times called S. Fabaria. 
Rating Glass.— E, B. : The Worthing case was 
decided under the Public Health Act, 1875, whereby 
it was held that a market gardener or nurseryman, 
who had erected greenhouses and glasshouses on 
land in an urban district, was only liable to be rated 
to the general district rate in the proportion of one 
