September 11,1897, 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
23 
tions sent to the last meeting, and consists of an 
abnormal repetition of ciliated bracts ; the flower in 
the centre having been arrested in consequence of an 
attack by some grub. 
Pelargoniums Decaying.—Examples of the 
varieties “Vesuvius” and “West Brighton” were 
shown, which had decayed from the collar upwards. 
It was attributed to too deep planting. They had 
large roots, and had been apparently quite healthy 
when planted, some being ovs r two-year-old plants. 
* - 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The awards mentioned hereunder were made by the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 24th ult. 
Orchid Committee. 
Grammatophyllum speciosum. —The magnificent 
spike of this plant exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart, (grower, Mr. W. H. White, Burford Lodge, 
Dorking), measured 7J ft. in length. There were 
two flowers near the base of the peduncle consisting 
of four segments each, arranged cross-wise, with a 
straight column and an aborted lip in addition. 
These were followed by three bracts having aborted 
flowers in their axils. Higher up were twenty-seven 
fully expanded flowers and about twenty-four or 
more buds. The sepals and petals are thickly 
blotched with brownish-crimson on a yellow ground. 
The lip is always small. It had not flowered in 
Britain for many years previously. The two lowest 
flowers had already been expanded for twenty days 
previous to the 24th August. First-class Certificate. 
Laeliocattleya andreana. Nov. hyb. bigen .— 
The seed parent of this bigeneric hybrid was 
Cattleya bicolor, and the pollen bearer Laeliocattleya 
elegans. The sepals and petals are of the faintest 
blush-lilac, deepening to purple at the very base. 
The side lobes of the lip are white externally and 
blush internally, while the terminal lobe is trans¬ 
verse, narrowing downwards into a long, broad claw, 
and of an intense crimson purple, with a white edge. 
Award of Merit. R. I. Measures, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. H. J. Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, Camber¬ 
well. 
Laeliocattleya Juno. Nov. hyb. bigen. —This 
originated from Cattleya Mossiae, crossed with 
Laelia majalis. The sepals are of a soft purple, 
tinted with apricot. The petals are broader, oblong, 
and of a deeper purple, tinted with apricot towards 
the base. The lamina of the lip is intense purple, 
deepening to crimson towards the base; the throat 
is pale orange, lined with purple, and having a 
triangular-shaped purple band running down the 
tube where the arms join. The hybrid is inter¬ 
mediate between the parents and very distinct. 
Award of Merit. Norman C. Cookson, Esq. (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. Murray), Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne. 
Goodyera Rollissonii.— Like the rest of its con¬ 
geners this is a fine foliage plant. The leaves are 
ovate and dark velvety-olive, with yellow or old gold 
edges of irregular width, and sometimes striped 
along the centre. Award of Merit. Mr. Wm. Bull, 
536, King’s Road, Chelsea. 
Floral Committee. 
Ficus radicans.— Some weeks ago this received 
an Award of Merit, and when again brought up on 
the above date was accorded a First-class Certificate. 
The leaves are silvery-white with a central green 
blotch of irregular size. Plants established in small 
pots produce long, slender, and gracefully drooping 
lateral shoots. It will make a useful plant for 
groups and other decorative purposes. Mr. Wm. 
Bull. 
Dahlia Amber. —Choice and striking is this 
Cactus variety, having long pointed florets of a 
yellow hue, and tinted with pale orange-red, suggest¬ 
ing an amber tint. Award of Merit. Mr. James 
Stredwick, Silver Hill Park, St. Leonards. 
Dahlia Night. —As the name would suggest, this 
is very dark, being of an intense blackish-maroon 
and velvety. It belongs to the Cactus section. 
Award of Merit. Mr. James Stredwick. 
Dahlia Hypatia. —Here we have a very small 
and neat pompon of a salmon colour, with a yellow 
centre, due to the tips of the unopened florets being of 
that hue. Award of Merit. Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
Dahlia Vesta.— The blooms of this pompon are 
also very small, neat, and pure white. Award of 
Merit. Mr. C. Turner. 
Dahlia Phryne. —The small and pretty blooms 
of this pompon are yellow, with broad orange- 
scarlet edges to the florets. Award of Merit. Mr. 
C. Turner. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
Melon Frogmore Scarlet. —The fruits of this 
Melon are oval, pale yellow, netted with gray, and 
vary from 6 lbs. to 8 lbs. in weight. The flesh is of 
great depth, very juicy and of a deep red. The 
variety has a clean and handsome appearance. 
Award of Merit. Her Majesty The Queen (gardener, 
Mr. Owen Thomas), Windsor. 
--*■- 
TROPAEOLUM SPECIOSUM. 
It was my privilege to behold a few days ago in a 
garden in Surrey, several very fine specimens of this 
lovely Flame Flower in full bloom ; and gorgeous 
and lovely they were. It was doubly interesting to 
me because I know that for several years efforts have 
been made, and not always with success, to establish 
this fickle subject in this particular garden. One 
nook formed by the projecting porch over the front 
door was particular gay, and my frieDd informed me 
that the roots were never disturbed ; and the fact 
that the plants in this corner I mention were planted 
twelve years ago, at the time I was employed there, 
bears out, I think, the opinion of my friend that once 
established they are best left alone. I hardly know 
whether I admired those trained to the wall most, or 
others planted in a Rhododendron bed, which were 
making a gay patch of colour here and there upon 
the green foliage of their supporters. Being allowed 
to grow as they please, the slender growths had 
rambled up through the Rhododendrons, and in 
graceful trails or carelessly disposed bunches showed 
a profusion of bloom artistically displayed.— A. P. 
- — 
tub Orcfiiil Brower’s calendar. 
The advice given in these notes a fortnight ago 
respecting the probable necessity of using fire heat 
rather earlier than usual, even in the cool houses, 
has unfortunately proved true ; for more cheerless 
weather could hardly be imagined than what we 
have experienced this last few days. 
Vandas. —Just now '.he species of Vandas have 
gone completely out of fashion ; why it is I suppose 
no one could tell, unless it is that they are rather 
tall growers and take up more room than do Cattleyas 
and the like. A well grown specimen, however, is an 
object not easily Deaten. We have grown a good num¬ 
ber now for some years with the Cattleyas, and while 
it is somewhat difficult to keep the foliage on down 
to the pot, there is no doubt of their floriferousness, 
for they are nearly always in flower. The summer 
spikes have now been cut, and the plants immediately 
show their appreciation at being relieved by pushing 
out numerous roots all up the stems. 
As some of them have become a little leggy we 
shall cut them down forthwith. Most of our plants 
of V. suavis have several young breaks at the base, 
which will be left to make—as they will do—fine 
specimens. The bare stem of the centre piece is then 
shortened, so that when potted the bottom leaves 
will be just above the rim of the pot and as nearly as 
possible resting on the moss. I should mention that 
for at least a month the plants should be put in 
crocks alone. This admits of plenty of moisture 
being afforded, which, of course, promotes quicker 
root action. When it is seen that this has taken 
place, a layer of moss maybe placed over the crocks, 
which should be almost level with the top of the 
pots. A gentle sprinkling through a fine rose pot 
will keep the moss alive and prevent any loss of the 
lower leaves. 
Angraecums. —These we treat in a similar manner 
to the Vandas, but only in cases where they have got 
very unsightly is it necessary to have recourse to this 
system with A. sesquipedale. The smaller growing 
kinds, however, do not mind being lowered if it is 
done with proper care. So much depends on the 
after treatment of plants so disturbed whether you 
are to succeed or not. 
Those plants that have been operated on should, 
if possible, be placed together in the shadiest part of 
the house, where they can be properly looked after, 
as leaving anything to chance will almost certainly 
result in failure. 
Cattleya House. —We have ju9t now in flower 
the shy blooming C. speciosissima. Our plants have 
been growing up close to the glass at one end of the 
house where the blind does not quite cover. The glass 
was whitewashed over, but the storms have washed 
it almost quite clean, so that the plants have been for 
some time almost fully exposed to the sun. The 
result has been short leaves and thick ones with 
broad sheaths and brilliant flowers.— G. 
Cabbages. —These are one of the most important 
crops for autumn planting, and one that can be for¬ 
warded considerably by making a good start at the 
present time. The first thing to aim at is the securing 
of strong, stocky plants capable of resisting the 
storms and changes of temperature during the winter 
months. This can only be obtained by pricking 
out the young plants as soon as they are fit to handle. 
4 to 6 ins. apart, in a well-prepared bed in a sunny 
position. Here they will soon gain strength, both in 
stock and leaf, while at the same time they form a 
mass of feeding roots close at home, and may be 
transferred to the permanent bed without much 
check, as every plant may be lifted with a nice ball. 
Where transplanting has not been done it will be 
necessary to thin the plants in the seed bed, taking 
out the weakest to help in the development of the 
best plants. 
The next, and an equally important point in the 
production of an early crop, is the preparation of the 
permanent bed. Where the land is of a heavy 
nature a thorough dressing of rather long, but well- 
saturated, manure should be well-worked into the 
ground to keep it open and prevent too great 
cohesiveness during the winter season. With lighter 
land well-rotted manure will be preferable. In each 
case the ground should be “ bastard ” trenched to 
let free superfluous rains and give a good root run, 
for the heat of early summer often proves trying to 
this crop. A small bed on a south border, or under 
a fence, selecting a few of the strongest plants, would 
give a few heads a week or two in advance of the 
main crop. 
Dwarf Beans. —Crops of these sown in frames, 
as advised, should now he well-advanced, and it will 
be advisable to cover them during cold nights to pre¬ 
vent the plants getting a chill. A slight top dressing 
would assist in pushing on the plants, and a few 
supports should he put to them to prevent them 
from rocking at the collar. Another crop may be 
sown in boxes at once, and the plants, as soon as up, 
potted singly into 60 sized pots. These will come in 
useful, either for potting on or planting out in heated 
pits and frames as soon as they are cleared of 
Melons, or Cucumbers, and will carry on the supply 
well into December. 
Lettuces. —It will be necessary to carefully watch 
any now nearly full-grown, and a tie should be 
placed around them to prevent injury from high 
winds. Where strong plants are in hand in seed 
beds, a good planting may be made in frames, 
orchard houses, and other positions where they will 
get protection from storms. Borders should also 
now be prepared for planting oui the hardier kinds 
of Bath Cos and some of the best winter kinds of 
Cabbage Lettuce. The latter may also be largely 
planted in groups of from 3 to 5, and when well- 
established can be covered with bell glasses or other 
protectors. 
Celery. —As this is not likely to suffer from 
drought again this season, every favourable opportu¬ 
nity should be taken to advance the earthing up. A 
good watering with nitrate of soda before earthing 
would give greater vigour and add materially to the 
weight of the heads, as the plants will keep growing 
for some time yet. 
Root Crops —It will be advisable to lift all 
Potatos that are ripened before they have time to 
supertuberate after the heavy rains. Turnips full 
grown will last longer stored than in the beds during 
this weather, as they rapidly outgrow a useful 
size. Onions must be got under cover to secure the 
final ripening process. These should be frequently 
turned, but where the time can be given they may 
be roped at once, and in this way a quantity can be 
stored in positions above other crops. It is important 
to store the Onions in a cool airy place.— J. R. 
