376 
February 11, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
season, the promoters of the Old America exhibition 
sustained a serious loss, and the Council had 
accepted £i,ooo less than the amount (^4,250) 
agreed upon. Several items of expenditure con¬ 
nected with the Fruit Conference held in the autumn 
of 1891, were included in this year's financial state¬ 
ment, besides which a considerable amount had been 
expended upon the buildings. It would be seen, by 
referring to the provisional arrangements for the 
year, that a new departure was recommended in 
connection with the Whitsuntide exhibition. It was 
suggested that this exhibition should consist of two 
specialities, namely Orchids and artistic groups. The 
Council had pleasure in stating that several gentlemen 
had offered special prizes to be competed for at this 
exhibition, and it w^as hoped that others would follow 
the example thus set. Another feature of consider¬ 
able importance would be incorporated' in the year’s 
proceedings, namely, that of technical education in 
connection with horticulture. The Council ventured 
to hope that this educational effort, in relation to an 
important branch of industry, would be appreciated. 
When the details were complete, the public would 
be made acquainted with the same. Special exhibi¬ 
tions of bulbs, Auricula, Roses, Chrysanthemums, 
Tulips, Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks, would also 
take place during the year. The musical days would 
be Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Council were 
most anxious to give the greatest amount of instruc¬ 
tion and pleasure to the greatest number, and they 
trusted that the public of Manchester and the 
surrounding districts would supply the means to 
bring about this result. The subscription to the 
society was small compared with the benefits it 
conferred, and the Council respectfully asked those 
who were already subscribers to exert themselves to 
get additional ones, and to bear in mind that every 
additional subscription affords the means for more 
extended benefits to the community.—On the motion 
of the Mayor, seconded by Mr. S. Barlow, the 
adoption of the report was carried after some 
discussion.—On the motion of Mr. George Donald, 
seconded by Mr. Lowcock, the Council were thanked 
for their services during the year. — On the motion of 
Mr Albert Cooper, seconded by Mr. James Collins, 
the officers of the society for the ensuing year were 
elected as follows :— President : The Earl of Derby. 
Vice-presidents: Messrs. S. Barlow, J. Broome, W. 
Grimshaw, and W. Tattersall. Treasurer: Mr, 
Joseph Broome. Council: Messrs. Charles Agnew, 
B. Armitage (Sorrel Bank), J. Bowden, J. Galloway, 
Jun., J. R. Hampson, D. M'Clure, W. H. Milner, F. 
Robinson, R. Tait, T. S. Turnbull, J. Wainwright, 
and James Brown. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS, 
Dendrobium crassinode Barberianum. 
The typical form of this is now well .known to 
Orchid growers by its short, stout and thick-jointed 
stems as implied by the specific name. The stems 
are 12 in. to 24 in., but as a rule more near the latter 
length. There is a specimen of the variety under 
notice in the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, with stems 3J ft. long, well set with 
flower buds in clusters of two and thiee, and just 
about ready to expand. It must therefore be an 
exceptionally fine form. The internodes are longer 
than usual, placing the joints farther apart. The 
characteristics of the variety, however, are that the 
mauve-purple blotches at the tips of the sepals and 
petals are larger and more richly coloured, and the 
flowers when obtained true are of greater substance. 
The latter character would often depend upon good 
cultural treatment. When Reichenbach first 
received flowers of it, he said, one could not fail to 
think of D. Wardianum, because the colours of the 
two are very similar, particularly when we compare 
those of the latter with D. crassinode Wardianum. 
He asked also whether there .might not have been 
some crossing between the two species. 
Cypripedium callosum. 
Ever since this species was introduced it has con¬ 
tinued to spread in different collections until there 
are few establishments, where Orchids are a speci¬ 
ality, that are without it. The species is one of the 
most easy to cultivate, and one of the most certain 
to flower. The upper sepal is the boldest feature of 
the flower, and is white with conspicuous green 
lines along the centre portion, giving place to purple 
ones towards the sides. The declining petals have a 
row of black spots along the upper margin, and the 
lip is pale purple. The foliage is beautifully 
tessellated in a similar manner to that of C. 
Lawrencianum. A large flowered form may be seen 
in the collection of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest 
Hill. 
Cattleya Trianae Birdhill van. 
The above has received its distinctive name by 
reason of its fine proportions and wonderful texture 
rather than from its colour. A' flower of it was 
sent us by Captain Robert Twiss, Birdhill. House, 
Birdhill, Co. Tipperary. The pale or blush coloured 
sepals were of remarkable texture, as well as the 
petals. The latter were a shade or two darker, being 
rosy blush, and broadly ovate, measuring 2jin. in 
width. The lip measured fully 3 in. in length and 
over 2 in. across the tube when the latter is flattened 
out. The variety therefore belongs to the long and 
tubular lipped type of C. Trianae. The lip was rosy- 
lilac, particularly the tube, ihe lamina being paler 
with a dark purple blotch at the apex and a yellow 
blotch in the throat, the yellow being chiefly in lines. 
Accompanying the above was a large and richly- 
coloured flower of C. Percivaliana. All the parts 
were well developed and the lip fully expanded, thus 
testifying to a clear atmosphere and an absence of 
smoke. The sepals and petals were warm rosy lilac 
with numerous darker veins. The lamina of the lip 
was rich crimson-purple deepening towards the base 
where was the customary orange band, and the 
toothed margin was lilac. 
Dendrobium riobile Wallichiana. 
The striking feature of the flowers of this variety, is 
their great size and rich colour, so that when a large 
plant of it is in bloom it is very effective. The sepals 
and petals are unusually long when compared with 
the bulk of the named varieties in cultivation, and of 
a rich rosy purple, while the dark coloured blotch on 
the lip is also of large size. The buds attain great 
length before they expand, and already give indica¬ 
tion of their rich colour when they become fully de¬ 
veloped. We noted some specimens of it with 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
-—S—- 
Qardejier?’ Ipiprol/epiept jl^ociatiop?. 
Manchester, February 2nd .—At this meeting Mr. 
Robert Okell, B.A., read a [paper on Shrubby 
Veronicas, and exhibited specimens of about thirty 
varieties. He said that of the whole number of 
New Zealand shrubby Veronicas all but one were 
peculiar to the Islands. That exception was found 
in South Chili, Fuegia, and the Falkland Islands. 
This species was also remarkable in that it was the 
tallest grower, attaining in the Auckland Islands a 
height of thirty feet. About forty of the known 
species had now been introduced to cultivation in 
this country, and whilst the absence of many desir¬ 
able species was much to be regretted, there was 
not one of those obtainable that did not merit the 
gardener's attention. Although the scope of choice 
might be restricted by the inexorable exigencies of a 
rigorous climate, still there were many left, and those 
far from the least attractive, which would withstand 
even the wet and cold, and within certain limits the 
killing effects of the smoke and chemical laden 
atmosphere of the Manchester district. In attempt¬ 
ing to realize the adaptation of these forms to the 
conditions under which they live, although it was 
obvious that a greater altitude of habitat necessarily 
implied additional strength to withstand the 
augmented force of storm and tempest, and 
to support greater severity of cold, it must not 
be forgotten that the direct rays of the sun burn 
with a more scorching intensity on the undefended 
mountain heights, and must form a potent factor in 
the account. The culture of all the species was easy 
—they were in no way capricious or particular, and 
had no fads. Any well worked garden soil would 
do. If they evinced a preference it was for a light 
moderately rich and deep soil. They would not, 
however, stand continued drought on a dry bank, 
whether in the open or in pots, and accepted drying 
up as a notice to quit. It would be difficult to select 
a genus containing so many useful forms as the New 
Zealand Veronicas. In shape and size of leaf, in 
habit of growth, in general aspect they presented an 
almost infinite variety. They were, for the most 
part, very floriferous through an extended period. 
Easy of propagation, rapid in growth, they produced 
effects, to many eyes, more beautiful, if less gaudy 
than those of the " bedding-out ” system, now pass¬ 
ing away. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN, 
Clercdendron fallax —The plants that flowered 
last autumn should now be hard cut down to within 
a bud or two of the base of the young wood. Repot 
them when they start into fresh growth, and take 
care to keep the plants well furnished and bushy by- 
pinching back those shoots which are inclined to 
take the lead. Left to themselves, the plants of 
this class are liable to throw up only a few strong 
shoots at the expense of the rest. 
Vinca rosea. —The varieties of this should be 
closely attended to in their earlier stages, to en¬ 
courage a bushy habit. Growth is not very rapid, 
but the finest bushes will be obtained by pinching 
back the young shoots when they have made one or 
two joints, and the central bud can be got at with¬ 
out injury to the rest. 
Aphelandras. —Sow seeds of the dwarf-growing 
and short-jointed kinds such as A. aurantiaca and its 
varieties, as well as A. fascinator and others that 
may be obtained. As soon as the plants have made 
a pair of rough leaves they may be potted off singly 
in small pots. Use a compost of loam, leaf soil and 
peat in equal proportions, adding clean sand in 
plenty. The stem should be allowed to grow freely 
without pinching, as the spike of flowers will be all 
the stronger for it. 
Gloxinias. —Keep the seedlings sown in the early 
part of the year as close to the glass as possible to 
prevent their getting drawn or spindly. Earlier 
sown ones may be potted off. The general batch of 
old tubers may be started by placing the pots con¬ 
taining them into a warm pit and giving one good 
watering, so that the tubers may imbibe water and 
become plump. Some cultivators prefer to turn 
them clean out of the soil and soak them for a time 
in warm water previous to potting them. If it be 
considered desirable, a batch of plants may be 
retarded in a cool house for late work, until the 
seedlings come into bloom. 
Torrenias. —The annual species must be raised 
from seeds every year, and to give them a long 
flowering season seeds should be sown at once in 
heat. As soon as they have made a few leaves, have 
them pricked off into other pots or pans to be flowered 
there, or to be potted on as the case may be. Keep 
them growing rapidly by plenty of heat and 
moisture. 
Lilies —Attend to Lilium longiflorum, L. 1 . Harrisi, 
and L. auratum when they come above the soil. 
Place the pots as near the glass as possible to pre¬ 
vent their getting drawn. The earliest potted 
batches are now advancing rapidly, and require 
looking after in the matter of green-fly, which settles 
in the growing points and often does much injury 
before the evil is detected. Fumigation must be 
resorted to to check the mischief. 
Cape Bulbs —This class of plants is often very 
much neglected, making it difficult to understand 
why this should be so considering their beauty. 
Ixias, Sparaxis, Babianas, Lachenalias, Freesias, 
and others of that class are extremely showy and 
useful for conservatory purposes, and above all 
things at this season of the year like plenty of light 
and ventilation to keep them healthy and dwarf. As 
they come into bloom remove them to the show 
house where they can be kept cool and airy. 
Vines. —When the berries in the early house are 
well set, the borders in which they are growing 
should be examined as to its conditions, and where 
at all dry, a good watering should be given, with 
water at a temperature of 85°. The night tempera¬ 
ture may be kept up to 65° or 68° on mild nights, 
allowing it to drop to 6o° on very windy or frosty 
nights, to avoid getting the atmosphere of the house 
into an arid condition. 
Sowing Onions. —Those to whom this crop is an 
important one may now seize the first opportunity 
they find the soil in proper working condition to sow 
the seed. We may have frost hereafter, but it is of 
little consequence, as the seed is perfectly hardy. 
The principal point to be aimed at is to get the soil 
sufficiently dry to be dug, raked and rolled, or 
trodden without getting puddled in the operation. 
The seedlings then have a chance of coming on 
rapidly when the fine weather sets in, and of ripening 
their bulbs properly about the' end of summer 
and before wet weather sets in. 
