55& 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 29, 1893. 
shown by Messrs. \Vm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. J. 
Walker, Thame, Oxon, for Marechal Niel Roses and 
Pelargoniums. Some boxes of Daphne Cneorum 
majus were shown by Mr. H. Knowles, Horsell 
Nursery, Woking. A collection of hardy Alpine 
plants grown in pans was exhibited by the Guildford 
Hardy Plant Nursery, Mill Mead, Guildford, includ¬ 
ing fine pieces of Dracocephalum grandi 'orum, 
Haberlea rhodopensis, and-others. A Silver Bank¬ 
sian Medal was awarded to Mr. Frank Cant, 
Braiswick, Colchester, for some boxes of cut Roses. 
At ameeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee, 
a small collection of Apples was shown by Mr. J. 
G. Dean, Limpsfield, Surrey. Small exhibits of 
Strawberries were made by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
by Lord Foley, (gardener. Mr. Miller), Ruxley 
Lodge, Esher, and by W. A. Wykeham Musgrave, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. Munday), Thame Park, Thame. 
A Melon named Hamilton's Defiance was shown by 
W. R. Inglis, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. Smith), Reigate 
Hill. Melons, Tomatos and Strawberries were also 
brought up from the Royal Gardens, Windsor, a 
Cultural Commendation being awarded for the 
Strawberries. Asparagus Connover’s Colossal, a box 
of the Amsden June Peach, and a box of Sharpe's 
Victor Potato were shown by Mr. Geo. Wythes, 
gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, Syon 
House, Brentford. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS, 
The Orchid Growers Calendar. 
The Weather and Watering. —Never do I remem¬ 
ber such grand weather for the proper development 
of the flow-ers, or for giving them such depth of 
colour, as we are now getting. The only drawback 
with us is a lack of rain water for watering. Orchids 
do not thrive nearly so well on hard water, even if 
the precaution is taken to let it stand some time after 
being drawn from the main fully exposed, to become 
to some extent softened. It is therefore very import¬ 
ant when convenient to save as much rain water as 
possible, for watering the plants only, using the hard 
water for damping down. 
Cattleya House. — The Vandas, Cattleya 
Mendelii, &c., are quite three weeks earlier than in 
previous years in coming into bloom, and we have 
found it necessary to afford the Vandas extra shade, 
so as to keep the temperature down,instead of having 
to give too much top air, at the same time keeping 
plenty of moisture about by means of a syringe. A 
light airy position causes them to flower very freely, 
but at the expense of a few of the bottom leaves, 
which most growers are anxious to retain. Our V. 
suavis has sixteen flowers to a spike, and, being a 
fine variety, is a great favourite. 
Potting and Watering.— Push this work along 
so that all may be finished by the end of this month. 
Watering and syringing will now take up the greater 
part of the growers’ time if the collection be a large 
one, and where there is not much help, some fore¬ 
thought is required or all the plants may require 
attention at the same time. We try to get all the 
watering done by n a.m.-, so that the houses can be 
made spick and span for anyone to view them with 
ease and pleasure. To do this we have to water the 
plants in pots one day and those hanging in baskets 
the next. Of course during the growing season 
there are some plants that require watering almost 
every day, but they are so few that this can be easily 
managed. Where there is a house set apart for those 
in flower no such precautions will be required, but it 
is not all of us who can boast of such a house. 
Cool House. —We have just now a grand lot of 
Odontoglossum crispum in bloom, and but for these 
we should dispense with fire-heat at night. As it is, 
the pipes are just warmed, so as to prevent the 
flowers from becoming spotted by excessive moisture. 
We syringe these freely overhead, being careful not 
to wet those fully expanded. As these are mostly 
hanging from the roof, wetting them is easily 
avoided. Keep the temperature as low as possible 
during the day, and keep a sharp look out for yellow 
thrips, or a lot of damage will be done to foliage and 
flowers. Tobacco water we find a safe and certain 
insecticide.— C. 
Saccolabium ampulaceum. 
The flowers of this species represent a type that is 
not very common in collections, although that under 
notice cannot be considered rare. The flowers are 
borne on a close, erect raceme, and have spreading, 
obovate, rich rosy purple sepals and petals. The lip is 
a small strap-shaped organ with a longer spur, and is 
of the same hue as the sepals and petals. It differs 
from the closely allied S. Hendersonianum in the 
greater development of the lip, small as it is. That 
of the last named is reduced to its spur with three 
small teeth at the mouth of the latter, representing the 
three lobes in a very reduced state. S. ampulaceum 
is a native of the tropical Himalayas and requires 
warm treatment. Mr. Young, Orchid grower to F. 
Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen, says that it 
is easy to grow and requires merely to be kept rather 
dry in winter with a more liberal supply in the grow¬ 
ing season. 
Sobralia rosea. 
The habit of this plant, and likewise the appearance 
of the flowers both in size and colour, very closely 
resemble those of Sobralia macrantha. But several 
of the species have a considerable sameness, and 
even S. rosea presents botanical differences from S. 
macrantha. The spikes are said to bear four flowers, 
all open at the same time, but we question if this 
always happens. The flowers last four or five days, 
so that the younger ones may open before the older 
ones wither up ; and herein we have a difference, for 
those of S. macrantha last only two or at the most 
three days in dull weather. The ovate leaves of S. 
rosea are scurfy or furfuraceous on the under surface, 
whereas those of S. macrantha are quite smooth. 
The outer face of the sepals is of a silvery white, 
but the rest is of a deep rosy purple with the throat 
of the lip white. There is a healthy piece of it 
flowering just now in the collection of F. Wigan, 
Esq., (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), Clare Lawn, 
East Sheen. 
Variability of Phalsenopsis speciosa. 
When true to character the sepals of this species 
are of a rich rose purple, faintly marked transversely 
with white striae, and the upper one is white at the 
base. The petals have a similar ground colour, but 
they are white at the base, apex, and edges. The 
ridged lip is purple with a copious white beard upon 
the ridge. Now on the same plant, and even the 
same raceme of bloom, occasionally both of the 
petals will be white, sometimes only one of them, 
and one of the sepals may be wholly white, as we 
noted the other day in the collection of F. Wigan, 
Esq. (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), Clare Lawn, East 
Sheen. Alongside of this was a vigorous and 
healthy plant of P. s. Imperatrix, bearing two 
racemes of bloom, while a third was cut off in its 
early stages to prevent too great a strain upon the 
resources of the plant. The flowers are large and 
wholly of a deep rich purple, with exception of the 
small orange coloured side lobes of the lip, and the 
white beard on the terminal lobe. The large, 
healthy green leaves, show that the cultural treat¬ 
ment is in accord with the needs of the plant. 
Moreover there is always something in the Phalse¬ 
nopsis house, which is well looked after. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Adiantums and shade. —The Adiantums are fre¬ 
quently overshaded, so that even after the fronds 
have attained full size they are thin in texture and 
will scarcely bear exposure to a dry atmosphere. 
No one could imagine the beautiful reddish colour 
assumed by A. concinnum, A. c. latum, and A. tinc- 
tum, and others when fully exposed to light 
and sunshine in a moderately high temperature. 
A. Farleyense also requires less shade than it gets 
and also assumes a rosy tint when the fronds are 
young. 
Rockeries in ferneries. —The plants upon rock- 
work should now be adjusted before they have made 
much growth, in order to get the rockwork in 
trim for the season. Where the plants are getting 
too large and overcrowding their neighbours, this 
should be rectified. Several of the fine-foliaged 
Begonias, but particularly of the B. Rex type, asso¬ 
ciate well with Ferns and enjoy the damp atmosphere. 
Cycads.—All Cycads, including Cycas revoluta, 
C. circinalis, Zamia Skinneri, and others of that 
class should be placed in a warm atmosphere where 
they will be treated to plenty of moisture. Under 
-these conditions they will make more rapid progress 
in developing their fronds and be much finer than in 
a cool structure. Cycas revoluta is more likely to 
be overlooked in this respect than the others. 
Anthuriums.—As soon as the spathes get so far 
past their best as to cease to be ornamental, they 
should be removed and the plants placed in stronger 
heat to encourage fresh growth. To this end 
supply them with plenty of moisture when they 
show fresh signs of activity, and syringe them fre¬ 
quently to keep up the atmospheric moisture. 
Show and fancy Pelargoniums.—Both these 
classes of Pelargoniums are now rapidly advancing 
to the flowering stage. The chief points to be 
attended to at present are judicious but ample 
ventilation, exposure to light, and abundance of 
moisture at the roots. The pots are now well filled 
with the latter, so that the soil is always in a thirsty 
condition. Give weak liquid manure frequently. 
Peaches.—Disbudding, tying down the extension 
shoots, and the thinning of the superfluous fruits 
will still continue to be the order of the day in the 
succession houses. As soon as the fruits have 
finished stoning and commence their second swelling 
in the earliest house, they may be hurried forward, if 
desirable, by taking advantage of sun heat and closing 
early in the afternoon so that the temperature may 
run up to 8o° or 85°. Syringe the trees well to ke=p 
red spider in check. Where trees are grown upon 
open walls a good set has been made so that it will 
be less necessary to retard the late house than in 
former years. 
Melons.—As the earliest crop advances to 
maturity, different treatment will be necessary from 
that practised during the growing period. When¬ 
ever the fruits begin to show their netted character, 
which they assume at maturity, less atmospheric 
moisture must be given and a greater amount of 
ventilation to encourage the development of flavour. 
Syringing at closing time should be left off lest the 
fruits should get cracked. This is more likely to take 
place where the crop is light than where it is heavy. 
Cucumbers.—Shading is necessary only on 
bright days, and then only during the heat of the 
day. Moveable blinds are therefore the best, be¬ 
cause they can be run down when the sun gets hot 
and run up again directly the sun declines in power. 
A good syringing will keep the plants from injury, 
even if the blinds are drawn up early in the afternoon. 
Celery—Preparations should be made at once 
for the early plantation. Take out the trenches at 
4 ft. apart from centre to centre, piling up the soil in 
a sloping ridge in the spaces between the trenches. 
Place about 6 in. of manure in the bottom of the 
trenches and dig this in, mixing it with the soil, which 
should be thoroughly broken up with the spade. 
When the plants have been thoroughly hardened off 
put them out and water them immediately. 
Tomatos.—Plants that were raised about the 
end of February with the intention of planting them 
out as the earliest crop on the open wall should be 
hardened off preparatory to planting. At the places 
where it is intended to put a plant, a hole should be 
taken out and a compost, consisting of two parts of 
good loam and one part of dung, put there. After 
the plants are put out they should be protected by- 
means of a Spruce branch or two in case of frosty 
nights. Nail them to the wall at once, but allow 
space in the shreds for the stems to develop. 
--*■- 
Questions add 
*,* Correspondents are requested, in order to avoid delay, 
to address all communications to “ The Editor,” 
or "The Publisher,” and not to any person by 
name, unless the correspondence is of a private 
character. Telegrams may be addressed “ Bambusa, 
London.” 
Names of Plants. — Pinkie : 1, Alyssum saxatile ; 
2, Asphodeline lutea; 3, Ribes aureum; 4, 
Festuca rubra (a weed); 5, Dactylis glomerata 
elegantissima; 6, Ribes speciosum; 7, Saxifraga 
crassifolia; 8, Geum chiloense; 9, Anemone 
nemorosa flore pleno ; 10, Leucojum aestivum ; 11, 
Euphorbia splendens (often called E. jacquiniaeflora); 
12, Selaginella Martensi robusta variegata; 13, 
Sempervivum tortuosum variegatum; 14, Arabis 
albida variegata ; 15, Saxifraga sarmentosa.— Omega : 
The Conifer is Abies concolor; the other is pro¬ 
bably Doronicum Pardalianches, but as the flowers 
of the different kinds are all much alike you ought to 
send the various forms of leaves as well, or a whole 
stem.— A. V. M .: The largest flower is Lycaste 
Harrisonise; the smaller one, Odontoglossum lasve. 
The Brassavola we have not yet identified.— David 
Rymer: 1, Masdevallia Lindeni; 2, Masdevallia 
ignea; 3, Bletia Shepherdii, apparently; 4, 
Dendrobium Pierardi; 5, Cypripedium Druryi; 6, 
Cypripedium barbatum nigrum; 7, Restrepia 
antennifera. B. IF.: i.Prunus Padus, or Bird Cherry; 
