October % 1897. : 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
71 
in this case was M. spectabilis moreliana, and the 
pcillen bearer M. Regnellii. The lanceolate sepals 
and the oblong petals are purple. The obovate, 
cuspidate lip is the largest organ of ftie flower, and 
rosy-pnrple, intensified to a dark buff-purple at the 
base, and radiating in lines along the veins. Award 
of Merit. R. I. Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. 
J. Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell. 
Oncidium Papilio. —A fine variety of this species 
was exhibited by D. M. Grimsdale, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. A. Kitwell), Kent Lodge, Uxbridge. The lateral 
sepals were very broad and richly banded with 
brownish-orange. The lip also was large, and rich 
brownish-orange, with a yellow centre. Award of 
Merit. 
Floral Committee. 
Retinospora obtusa sulphurea. —The tips of the 
branches and twiglets of this Conifer are of a soft 
sulphur-yellow ; but in other respects it has got the 
habit and vigour of the type. Like the other 
varieties of R. obtusa in cultivation it is a highly- 
ornamental and valuable subject either for the lawn 
or shrubbery border. First-class Certificate. Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
Apera arundinacea.— The leafy portion of the 
stems of this beautiful and remarkable grass is 2 ft. 
high and erect. The flowering portion above this is 
2 ft. to 3 ft. longer, but droops in the most elegant 
fashion, and being much longer than the leaves, it is 
necessary to elevate the plant on a pedestal to show 
off its peculiar beauty to the best advantage. The 
grass is allied to Agrostis, and the flowering panicle 
is 1 ft. ij ft. long, and of far-reaching delicacy and 
elegance. For groups of plants, conservatory and 
winter garden decoration it is an acquisition. The 
slender, drooping stems are pink. It should be 
grown in pots for the above purposes. First-class 
Certificate. Messrs J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd, 
Chrysanthemum Mitchett White. —This pure 
white early flowering Japanese variety was brought 
up to the meeting by Mr. M. Russell, Mitchett, Farn- 
borough, and received an Award of Merit from the 
general committee. See last week’s issue, p. 54. 
Dahlia Nelly Broomhead. —The small, com¬ 
pact, and very neatly formed heads of this pompcn 
Dahlia are of a soft lilac. Award of Merit. Mr. J. 
T. West, Brentwood. 
Dahlia Island Queen. —The heads of this 
Cactus variety are of medium size, with long, pointed, 
clear, rosy-lilac florets. Award of Merit. Mr. J. T. 
West. 
Primula obconica fimbriata. — In this we have 
a great improvement upon the original, inasmuch as 
the flowers have six overlapping segments instead of 
five starry ones. The colour varies from pale to 
dark lilac. Award of Merit. Mr. Thomas Lowton, 
Faversham. 
Cordyline australis Russelli. —The leaves of 
this variety are linear, very narrow, arching, and of 
a light coppery-bronze. The plant comes very.close 
to C. a. tentiginosa. Award of Merit. Mr. J. 
Russell, Richmond, Surrey. 
Dahlia Casilda. —For a Cactus Dahlia the 
heads of this variety are large, with long, pointed 
yellow florets, shaded with pink at the tips. Award 
of Merit Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Howe House, 
Cambridge. > 
Dahlia Falka.— The florets of this Cactus variety 
are drawn out into a long slender point, and are of a 
rich carmine, tipped with violet. The heads are of 
the first size. Award of Merit. Messrs. J. Burrell 
& Co. 
Dahlia Salmon Queen. —The long projecting 
florets of this Cactus variety are orange-salmon, 
tipped with rosy-salmon and very pretty. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. J. Burrell & Co. 
Dahlia Minnie Richards.— This is of good 
average size for a pompon Dahlia, of a delicate 
blush, and very neatly formed. Award of Merit. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham. 
Phlox Miss Pemberton.— This variety belongs 
to the P. paniculata type, and bears large flowers of 
a clear salmon colour, with a crimson eye. Award 
of Merit. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. 
Crassula Cooperi. —This species forms rosulate 
tufts of fleshy leaves, more or less tipped with red, 
and throws up a compact mass of flowering stems 
only 3 in. high. These terminate in cymes of small 
bright red flowers, supported by duller red bracts 
and calyx. It is a native of South Africa, and may 
be used for carpet bedding or greenhouse decoration. 
Award of Merit. Messrs. Paul & Son. 
Dahlia Mrs. John Godard. —This is one of the 
finest of recent introductions amongst Cactus Dahlias, 
on account cf its stiff, straight,sharply-pointed florets, 
and their glowing, crimson-scarlet colour. The 
heads are also large. Award of Merit. Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, Sussex. 
Dahlia Miss Finch.— The beads in this case are 
of good average size for a Cactus variety, and are 
made up of long, narrow, carmine florets, tipped 
with rosy-violet. Award of Merit. Messrs.' J. 
Cheal & Sons. 
Dahlia Maluma. —The neatly compressed and 
clear yellow florets of this beautifully refined 
pompon are of small size and well adapted for cut 
flowers. Award of Merit. Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
Dahlia Mary Service.— The long, pointed 
florets of this Cactus variety are incurved in a very 
characteristic way, as are those of the next three 
varieties mentioned below. They are of a beautiful 
apricot, tipped with pink, and very distinct. Award 
of Merit. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salis¬ 
bury. 
Dahlia Arachne. —The florets in this case are 
white, boldly edged with orange; and the heads are 
of medium size for a Cactus variety. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
Keynes White. —This is a white Cactus variety 
of the same size and form as the two preceding, and 
highly meritorious. Award of Merit. Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams & Co. 
Haverstock Beauty. —The flower heads of this 
Cactus variety are of a beautiful orange-salmon. 
All of the four preceding varieties throw their 
flowers well above the foliage like the pompons. All 
are closely allied, differing chiefly in colour. Award 
of Merit. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
Dahlia Harbinger.— The heads of this show 
variety are very small, but neatly formed, refined 
and soft lilac-pink, but darker than Maude Fellowes. 
Award of Merit. Mr. H. P. Harris, Orpington, 
Kent. 
Dahlia Muriel Hobbs —Here again we have a 
show variety, but of large size, and clear yellow, 
sometimes tipped with bronze. Award of Merit 
Mr. Thos. Hobbs, St. Mark’s Road, Bristol. 
Dahlia Green’s Gem. —Heads of small to 
medium size for a Cactus Dahlia. Florets long, 
narrow, pointed, incurved and orange-salmon in 
colour. It is both neat and pretty. Award of 
Merit. Mr. J. Green, Dereham. 
--- 
TIE PLANT HOUSES. 
Pits and Frames. 
Once again we are on the eve of the season when 
every inch of under-glass space will be of value. So 
many plants are requiring protection, or will be 
requiring it in the course of the next week or two 
that some management will be necessary to make the 
space adequate to requirements. 
Chrysanthemums. —The cultivator must not be 
tempted by fair weather to delay the housing of 
these for too long. Despite the damp and somewhat 
cold September the wocd has ripened fairly well, and 
the plants look healthy. The first week in October 
is quite late enough to leave them out, however, and 
it is far better to do this while there is time to do it 
comfortably, than to have to do it in a hurry at a 
very short notice. Early Peach houses, vineries, 
and orchard houses have all to be requisitioned for 
the accommodation, of the " Mums," although the 
plants are almost sure to become rather drawn from 
the lack of light. This fact compels the gardener 
to keep the plants out-of-doors until the last 
moment, in order that as many of the leaves as 
possible may fall before the houses have to be used. 
If a fairly roomy conservatory or greenhouse is part 
of the conveniences of the establishment the earlier 
plants may be housed forthwith in it, the later oues 
beiDg relegated to the “ protection ground ” until a 
little more light can be commanded in the fruit 
houses. The " protection ground ’’ should be fitted 
at once with heavy blinds or sheets of tarpaulin, 
attached to rollers, and these must be let down every 
night upon the slightest signs of frost. 
Once in the show house the plants must be very 
closely watched. Fly usually causes some trouble, 
and it will be advisible to guard against it by fumiga¬ 
ting or vapourising twice or thrice. If the fly should 
again ‘ make its appearance some weeks hence 
another light fumigation may be given, but as the 
flowers will then be considerably advanced more 
caution must be used. Watering, too, must receive 
even greater attention. 
Winter-flowering Carnations. — A house 
should be got ready for these at once. A light, 
clean, roomy structure is necessary, which can be 
kept up to a temperature of from 55 0 t0 50°Fahr. by 
night without making the atmosphere too dry and 
arid. Under such conditions the flowers will ex¬ 
pand freely, which they would not do in a lower 
temperature and in a comparative absence of light. 
The pots should be washed, yellow leaves picked off, 
and the plants generally made presentable, whilst 
the cultivator should assure himself that fly is 
absent. 
Winter-flowering Pelargoniums.—A batch of 
these may now be allowed to develope their flower 
buds, which hitherto have been kept closely picked 
off. Feeding may also be more liberally done now 
than it has been up to the present. These earliest 
plants should be given a place in a nice light pit 
near the glass. The others may for the time be 
stood in a frame on a bottom of ashes. 
Bulbs. —The potting up and plunging of these as 
they come to hand will take up a good deal of time 
where the bulb list is a heavy one. Hyacinths, 
Tulips, Crocuses, Snowdrops, and Narcissi are all 
indispensible for winter decoration. The African 
Tuberoses also come to hand about this time. Early 
batches of Roman Hyacinths are now ready for 
removal from the plunging beds to cold frames, 
where they may be gradually inured to the light, and 
from whence they may be introduced into heat as 
required. 
Lilium Harrisii.— Of all the Lilies this is the 
most useful for forcing, and the stock of bulbs should 
include a goodly number of it. Rich fibrous loam, 
with a little dried cow manure and plenty of sharp 
sand is the best compost to use. Place the bulbs 
singly in 6-in. pots, but keep them rather low down 
in the pot in order that there may be room for a sub¬ 
stantial top-dressing to be given when the usual 
circle of thick fleshy roots is emitted at the base of 
the stems. After potting consign the bulbs to a cold 
frame. 
Bedding Stuff is taking up a good deal of space, 
and will need very careful looking after. Alter- 
nantheras, Heliotropes, and Verbenas do well upon 
shelves in an intermediate house. Lobelias are all 
right in a greenhouse, but must be watched to see 
that they do not damp off. Zonal Pelargoniums 
should all be under cover by this time, and if the 
cuttings are well-rooted may be given a pick over. 
Those that are not rooted must be let alone for a 
while yet, even though they may look untidy. 
Coleuses. —Cuttings of these to furnish plants 
from which to propagate next spring should be 
inserted. The old plants, after having furnished the 
cuttings, may as well be thrown away, as they are 
now of no further use. The cuttings may be allowed 
to remain in their first pots through the winter, and 
should be given a place on a shelf in a warm house. 
Richardias must all be lifted from the open 
ground and brought under cover. After potting up 
place them in a pit, and keep them fairly close, 
giving occasional sprinklings with the syringe. Shade 
from the sun in the daytime, and turn on just 
enough heat during the night to warm the pipes if 
the temperature sinks below 40°. 
Berried Solanums should also be lifted, picking 
the best shaped and most heavily berried plants. 
Similar treatment to that given the Richardias should 
be accorded them for a week or so. 
Salvia splendens grandiflora. — Without 
doubt this is one of the best, if not the very best of 
the Salvias, and at the present time there is no more 
imposing object in the conservatory than this. The 
long racemes of brilliant scarlet flowers are very 
freely produced, and the constitution and general 
habit of the plant is good. The height varies from 
3 to 4 ft. 
Scutellaria mociniana. —Although it needs to be 
grown on in a warm house this beautiful Mexican 
shrub will stand the temperature of a cool house well 
enough when it is in flower ; and the blooms indeed 
last longer in the lower temperature than they would 
in the higher. Take care before moving the plants 
to the conservatory, that they are free from mealy 
bug, which is very partial to the plants, and often 
finds a lodgment in the dense terminal racemes of 
flowers. 
