584 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 13, 1893. 
hold of the new compost, which should be good 
tough peat, a little sphagnum, and bits of broken 
potsherds. 
Give Plenty of Air through the bottom venti¬ 
lators both day and night on all favourable occasions, 
as this is as essential in keeping a collection of 
Orchids in good condition as keeping the tempera¬ 
tures just so, in fact it is much better for them even 
if the temperature drops a few degrees below what 
is generally thought to be the minimum, by giving 
air, than by closing the houses and keeping up the 
temperature.— C. 
Arrested development of a Leaf 
Sometimes a spell of fine weather in autumn will 
start Orchids into a second growth, which is not 
always favourable to their well being when on the 
eve of passing through the trying ordeal of our 
winter. A specimen of Phalaenopsis started to grow 
•in this way during autumn in the collection of F. 
Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen, but the first 
-leaf became arrested or ceased to grow on the advent 
of bad weather. In spring the same leaf commenced 
to grow again at the base, and completed a well- 
formed leaf as far as its lower and larger portion is 
concerned. The apical portion did not grow any 
more, but was merely carried up by the rest as it 
lengthened. It still remains in good condition, but 
is made conspicuous by its being much narrower 
than the rest of the leaf. A similar phenomenon 
may be seen by the observant in the leaves of several 
of the species of Streptocarpus. This is, of course, 
natural and of regular occurrence. 
Nanodes Medusae. 
This is one of those Orchids which makes its 
appearance at intervals and then drops out of sight 
as it were for another period of time. There are 
collections, however, where they find a secure retreat 
during their periods of neglect, such as that of F. 
Wigan, Esq. (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), where we 
noted it recently. The stems are procumbent over 
the sides of the basket in which they are grown, and 
are covered with closely-arranged leaves in two 
ranks. From the ends of these are produced few- 
Tlowered clusters of singular looking flowers. The 
sepals are oblong and densely mottled with purple, 
while the petals are linear and similar in colour. 
The lip is orbicular or nearly so, concave at the 
base, deeply fringed all round the margin and 
wholly of a deep maroon, or lake as some would 
call it. There is no difficulty experienced in growing 
this plant if suspended in a basket near the glass. 
Laelia majaiis. 
Many growers attempt the cultivation of this 
Mexican species, and who fail to flower it 
-satisfactorily or to flower it at all. No^ difficulty is 
experienced with it in the collection of F. Wigan, 
Esq. (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), Clare Lawn, East 
Sheen. Here the plants are grown in baskets and 
flower regularly every year. The baskets are sus¬ 
pended near the glass and that no doubt largely 
accounts for the success. Other growers have hung 
it up in the same way. but merely fastened to blocks 
where the roots must frequently be starving for want 
of moisture, during the warmer period of the year, 
when the plants should be making substantial pro¬ 
gress. Mr. Young also keeps the plants dry for 
about eight months of the year, merely giving suffi¬ 
cient moisture to keep the pseudo-bulbs from shrivel¬ 
ling. This treatment resembles what they get in 
their native habitats and no doubt contributes to the 
success. All the three plants here are flowering. 
Hybrid Dendrobiums from Broomfield. 
A box containing three hybrid forms of Dendrobium 
has reached us from Mr. Wells (gardener Mr. 
R. Hinde), Broomfield, near Manchester. Very 
conspicuous amongst them were two trusses consist¬ 
ing of three flowers each of D. splendidissimum 
grandiflorum, with long, rosy purple sepals and 
petals darker at the tip and white at the base. The 
lip with its large blotch of rich Indian purple was 
also conspicuous. Some flowers of a seedling of Sir 
W. Marioat’s seemed closely similar to D. Ainsworthi. 
D. Dominianum is a hybrid between D. nobile and 
D. Linawianum, and is notable for the size of its 
flowers, the rosy purple sepals and the more intense 
hue of the upper half of the petals. On the whole, 
this hybrid is comparable to D. nobile nobilius. 
except that the lip is rather small. Accompanying 
the above was a fine flower of Phaius Cooksonii, a 
hybrid between P. Wallichii and P. tuberculosus. 
The sepals and petals were soft rose tinted with 
yellow-brown along the centre. The markings or 
blotches on the upper half of the lip were almost 
crimson, and the side lobes brownish crimson. Mr. 
Hinde says it is a free flowering Orchid, a fact the 
more remarkable when we remember the difficulty 
jn growing P. tuberculosus, the pollen parent 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Achimenes.—Plants of this class, whether in pots 
or baskets, should be kept as near the glass as possible, 
and regularly attended to in the matter of watering. 
It may be necessary occasionally to dip the baskets 
into a tank or pail, to make sure of wetting all parts. 
Weak liquid manure should also be given, but the 
baskets in this case should not be dipped into it 
otherwise the foliage would get injured. 
Cyanophyllum magnificum.—Old plants which 
have had the tops taken off furnish a plentiful supply 
of side shoots, which when taken off and rooted, 
make useful little plants for various decorative 
purposes. Insert them singly in small pots in light 
sandy soil and plunge the pots in the frame in the 
propagating pit. 
Variegated Pineapple.—When old plants of 
this produce a head of fruit, the latter may be left 
on the plant till little shoots are produced from the 
crown, or this may be taken off immediately and put 
in a pot till it produces sprouts. These produce nice 
little plants that gro .v slowly and retain a graceful 
character for a longer period than plants raised from 
suckers. 
Heaths and Epacris.—Plants of this class that 
were put into heat to start them into fresh growth 
should be removed to cooler quarters when growing 
freely, to prevent their being overdrawn. Later on 
when the nights are warmer they may be transferred 
to the open air. 
Fuchsias.—The early batch of Fuchsias should 
not be stopped after this but allowed to develop their 
flowers so as to take the place of spring flowering 
subjects as they go out of bloom in the conservatory. 
The main batch may still be kept pinched to get 
them into shape and bushy, furnishing every part 
with branches. 
Balsams.—These should be kept in a brisk 
atmosphere to urge them into good growth. They 
must at the same time be near the glass and freely 
ventilated, otherwise they will soon get drawn and 
spoiled. Remove all flowers as they appear on the 
main stem to encourage a good development of the 
lateral shoots. 
Cunumber'S.—As soon as this year’s set of plants 
comes into good bearing, those that produced the 
winter’s supply may be rooted up if they show 
signs of diminished vigour. The house may be filled 
again immediately with young plants that soon come 
into bearing at this season of the year. Continue 
the operation of thinning, regulating and stopping 
the side shoots on the bearing plants so as to keep 
them in good order without severe pruning. 
Summer Bedding.—The fine weather we have 
been enjoying for some time past will tempt many to 
have their bedding plants put out. There has been 
no frost for some time of any consequence and planters 
may be a little over-confident. All the hardier 
subjects may however be planted, including Pelar¬ 
goniums, Calceolarias, Fuchsias and others of that 
class and hardiness. The Tulips, Hyacinths and 
Narcissi being long out of flower, will offer another 
inducement to have the bedding out accomplished. 
But another fortnight at least may be allowed to pass 
by before such things as Heliotropes, Alternantheras, 
Coleus, &c., are committed to the open ground. 
-—-- 
Questions add adsojgrs. 
Names of Plants. — R. G., C.: i and 2 are 
double forms of Narcissus incomparabilis not in 
character ; 2, Odonis vernalis. C. W. ; Eupatorium 
atrorubens also known as Hebeclinium atrorubens. 
A. W. : 1, Ulmus campestris (The English Elm) ; 2, 
Fraxinus Ornus (The Manna Ash). Omega: 
Anthriscus sylvestris, the Wild Chervil. Timber: 1, 
Rhus typhina ; 2, Pterocarya caucasica ; 3, Spiraea 
Lindleyana; 4, Berberis stenophylla; 5, Rubus 
spectabilis; 6, Abies concolor ; 7, Pinus Strobus. 
Paris Green on Gooseberries. — Raglan : If you 
have syringed the bushes lightly or given them a 
light spraying, there will be comparatively little 
poison on the fruits. If they have been syringed 
until the moisture ran off them, it is both a mistake 
and a waste of the mixture. Many of the varieties of 
Gooseberry are hairy and would retain the poison 
more than the smooth ones. Currants are smooth 
and occasion little danger. In either case you should 
well syringe the bushes, or better still, use the 
garden engine upon them, washing both sides of the 
bushes. In ordinary seasons cultivators that have 
been spraying their trees and bushes trust to the 
rain to wash them, but we have had no rain for a 
long time, so that you could give the bushes two good 
washings with clean water and there will be little 
fear of danger. 
Ficus repens in Porch. — Reader : The species is 
a native of China and Japan, and is half hardy in 
this country. We should not be afraid of growing 
it in the porch you mention, provided the conditions 
had been more favourable to growth. Those who 
designed the porch had very little idea of plant life 
if they intended it for plants. If the glass had been 
transparent the leaves and wood would have gained 
greatly in strength and the plant would have been 
altogether more hardy. We should use a compost 
of sandy loam with a little leaf soil, or make the 
soil sufficiently light by adding plenty of sand. Pots 
that are rather small for the size of the plant should 
be used as the roots thrive better. Considering that 
the porch is unheated you may be prepared for 
losing your plants in severe winters by having some 
good-sized plants in reserve, or the old plants might 
be taken into a heated greenhouse during severe 
weather. 
Plum not Bearing.— M. M., Aberdeen: The fact 
of the Czar being covered with bloom proves that it 
cannot be the soil which prevents River’s Early Pro¬ 
lific from flowering equally freely. You must put it 
down to the individual peculiarity of that particular 
tree, and try to bring it into fruitfulness by root 
pruning it early next October. 
Lilium Thompsonianum. — . 1 /. AT, Aberdeen : This 
Lily, which more properly should be called L. 
roseum, is doubtfully hardy at Aberdeen, and you 
should try it planted out in a north aspect frame. 
In the south it is usually grown in pots, and flowered 
in a cold house. 
Pelargoniums. — Omega: The spotted Pelar¬ 
goniums, or Geraniums of the greenhouse, as you 
call them, belong to or originated from Pelargonium 
cucullatum chiefly. They have, therefore, a different 
specific origin from the zonals or bedding varieties, 
which are of a somewhat composite origin. All 
those with a dark zone upon the leaves owe that 
character to Pelargonium zonale. Others again 
have entirely green leaves, that is without a zone, 
like Master Christine, and owe this to P. inquinans. 
The strain of some other species may be mixed up 
with them likewise, but these two are generally 
considered the original parents. 
Seakale Flowering.— Omega : The flower stems 
should be cut down as near the ground line as is 
convenient. It is a matter for your own judgment on 
seeing the plant. If the crown of the root is some 
distance out of the soil, you had better not cut so 
low at this late period of spring. Your object should 
be to get one to three strong buds springing from the 
crown of the root. If you can see any cut the stem 
down to them, but leave the buds uninjured. If 
mors than three buds arise, remove the weaker ones 
leaving three if there is plenty of room for them to 
develop ; if not, then only one may be left. 
Communications Received. —H. G C.—-\V. G. 
H.—M. & Sons—W. M.—E. S. D.—J. L. & S —S. 
& S—J.—G. J. I. 
-- 
TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 
James Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, SAY. 
—Catalogue of Plants including Novelties for 1893 
Charles P. Kinnell & Co., 65, Southwark 
Street, S.E.—Garden Appliances and Sundry 
Fittings. 
H. B. May, Dyson's Lane Nurseries. Upper 
Edmonton.—Ferns and other Plants. 
Jean Souheur, Antwerp.—Insecticides and Fun¬ 
gicides. 
Merryweather & Sons, Greenwich.—Fire En¬ 
gines, Pumps, and Water Supply Apparatus. 
John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E.—Special 
list of Caladiums. 
--J-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
May gtli, 1S93. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, report a moderate inquiry 
for Agricultural Seeds. Prices of Red Clover,White, 
and Alsike have advanced o.ving to short supplies. 
Ryegrasses unchanged. Rapeseed dearer. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
May 10th, 1893. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
Tasmanian Apples 
per case . 
Grapes, per lb. 
5 0 10 o 
2036 
Melons.each 2 0 
Strawberries, per lb. 1 o 
Pine apples. 
3 6 
Graces, per lb. 2036 Pine apples. 
Peaches ... per dozen 6 o iS o —St. Michael’s, each 266 
Vegetables.—Average Rbtail Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Asparagus per buudle 16 50 
ArtichokesGlobe doz. 30 00 
Beans, French, perlb. 16 20 
Beet.per dozen 20 30 
Cabbages ... per doz. 16 26 
Carrots ... per bunch 0 6 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 30 50 
Celery.per bundle 2 6 
Cucumbers .each 04 0 S 
Endive, French, doz. 26 30 
Herbs .per bunch 02 06 
s. d. s. d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 20 40 
Lettuces ...per dozen 16 20 
Mushrooms, p. basket 13 20 
Onions.per bunch 04 06 
Parsley ... per bunch 0 6 
Radishes... per dozen 1 6 
Seakale .per bkt 16 20 
Smallsalading,punnet o 4 
Spinach ... per strike 1 6 
Tomatos. per lb. 1 6 20 
Turnips.per bun. 0 6 
