December 11, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
229 
Fruit for Christmas.—With the near approach of 
the festive season we are reminded that Mr. H. 
Becker, of Jersey, is according to his custom of 
former years, sending small hampers of choice 
fruit to all parts of the United Kingdom. These 
hampers are eminently suitable for Christmas pre¬ 
sents, and the fruit sent is full value for the price 
charged. 
Kays’ Annual, 1898 .—This annual was started in 
1890, and claims to be the oldest established illus¬ 
trated amateur annual. It contains a number of 
short stories on various subjects by different authors. 
Some of them are of a humorous cast, while others 
include " An Impression of Lisbon," by E. W. Dean ; 
" The Field of Waterloo ’’ by Oncle ; " Robbing the 
Mail," by Nemo ; also anecdotes, jokes, &c. There 
is a full page illustration of the " Flying Scotchman." 
An interesting fact is that the author, Mr J. A. Kay, 
is only sixteen years of age. The publishing and 
editorial offices are at " Riseholme," 14, Goldhurst 
Terrace, Hampstead, London, N.W. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
A meeting of this society was held on the 3rd inst., 
with a good attendance of members, Mr. John 
Glover occupying the chair. The subject under 
review was " Hardy Fruits : the Culture, Gathering, 
and Packing, more especially for Market Purposes." 
The lecturer, Mr. J. Taylor, of Chester, advocated 
most strongly the extended culture of hardy fruit. 
With the finest soils in the world, with proper 
selection and good culture, fruit could be grown to 
successfully compete with the foreigner. Bushes 
and cordons were strongly recommended in prefer¬ 
ence to standards, and with proper protection by 
woods of Austrian Pine and Hornbeam a crop could 
generally be assured. Stocks and varieties were an 
important feature and should be considered as to the 
kind of soil that they w ere to be grown in. Manure 
should be withheld from trees in a young state, as it 
produces too strong a growth and in some cases can¬ 
ker. Mr. Corlett showed several slides under the 
microscope of Saxifraga, Bertolonia, Anoectochilus, 
Jasmine, &c. Votes of thanks to the lecturer and 
chairman completed an interesting and instructive 
meeting. 
- - !• >- 
CLUMBER GARDENS WORKSOP. 
Great improvements are being made in the exten¬ 
sive gardens at Clumber. A great necessity long 
wanted has lately been added in the shape of a 
msgnificent range of lean-to houses, 175 yds. long, 
with a noble Palm house in the centre. The houses 
are erected principally for fruit growing, and are 
grand examples of horticultural skill. They have been 
put up by Mr. James Gray, the well-known builder of 
Chelsea. The valuable addition will prove most useful 
for the extensive demands that are made for fruit, and 
in the hands of such a well-known practical gardener as 
Mr C.Slade are sure to produce what may be expected. 
At the present time he has a most magnificent and 
extensive display of the winter king of flowers, the 
Chrysanthemum. Many hundreds of well-grown 
plants are beautifully arranged in some of the new 
houses, forming a most charming picture at this sea¬ 
son of the year. Many of the flowers produced 
would do justice to any exhibition table. They are 
represented in every class and every style of growth. 
All-round gardening is extensively carried out at 
Clumber, and the future prospects here are most 
encouraging in horticultural prosperity.— Rusticus. 
--t-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
Now that the flowers are over again it is time to 
prepare for a new start. It is time now to propa¬ 
gate nearly all the leading Japs. The best soil in 
which to insert cuttings is, one part loam, one of leaf 
soil, one of sharp silver sand, well mixed and passed 
through a J in. sieve. Crock each pot (60-size) 
placing one small piece over the hole. Insert the cut¬ 
tings singly in each, and place the same on a bed of 
cinders in a cold frame, and keep closed till rooted. 
After this give a little air by degrees, as the roots 
reach the side of the pots, and shift on to 52-size. 
This will be about March, when, if required for bush 
plants, nip out the shoots to form branches ; if for ex¬ 
hibition, grow on with a single stem, pinch out the 
crown bud and grow in three shoots. 
About the middle of May shift the plants into 
the blooming pots, 24 or 16 size. Use two parts 
loam, one of horse manure droppings, one cf leaf 
soil, one of sharp sand, one of crushed bones, and 
sprinkle a handful or so of artificial manure over 
the whole. Mix well, pot firmly, and place the 
plams out of doors in a sunny position. Stake as 
required. Take the buds chiefly on the second 
crown, and a few on the terminals (mostly in¬ 
curves and anemones). 
When the pots get root bound, about August, 
feed well with liquid manure. Shift the plants 
under glass about the middle of September. Air 
well, and keep the house dry and clean. One of 
the chief points in growing Chrysanthemums is to 
keep them growing steadily, by keeping well 
potted. Attend to watering; and I would recom¬ 
mend amateurs to grow chiefly Japanese, as they 
are so much better for cut flowers; also the single 
sorts (which are best as bush plants), as they are 
very beautiful for Vases, &c .—A. W. Young, The 
Nurseries, Stevenage. 
BEGONIA GLOIRE DE LORRAINE. 
This winter-flowering Begonia, a recent introduc¬ 
tion, is a most valuable acquisition, adding to our 
list of plants suitable either for stove or greenhouse 
a charming and beautiful subject. Its propagation 
and culture are of the easiest possible description, 
and the amazing growth and floriferousness of plants 
struck in spring renders it invaluable. When better 
known it will certainly be seen in every garden. 
From one small plant obtained from the nursery last 
February (then in flower) I have since obtained a 
dozen, which are now in full bloom, some measuring 
a foot in diameter, and suspended from the roof of a 
warm greenhouse; each plant is a mass of bloom, 
the pot being entirely hidden Its slender, wiry 
growth assumes after a while a pendant or hanging 
habit, especially when flowers begin to form, and 
makes it more suitable for baskets or hanging pots. 
Still, with a few small, neat stakes to support growth, 
very pretty plants may be had, anc these arranged 
with Maidenhair Ferns have a charming effect. I 
am sure anyone wanting a good, decorative, winler- 
flowering Begonia would do well to invest in this 
new hybrid. No winter-flowering plant that I know 
so well repays a little outlay, and gives such good 
results as this with si little trouble. 
Two other good winter-flowering Begonias I like 
very much are B. corallina and B. Gloire de 
Sceaux. The former, a very showy and larger 
flowered one, delights in a high temperature. The 
latter is remarkable for its handsome foliage.— A. P. 
It is seldom you see this most useful variety grown 
so well as we saw it the other day when visiting the 
well-kept gardens of Lord Wolverton, Iverne Minster, 
Blandford. Mr. Toakes, the talented gardener who 
is making such great improvements here, informs us 
the great batch of superbly flowered plants in 6 in. 
pots consisted wholly of spring-struck cuttings. For 
decorative purposes at this season of the year we 
think this plant stands unrivalled. We noticed also 
a fine lot of Begonia Gloire de Secaux, a variety 
which will bloom profusely in a short time. Tree 
Carnation Mrs. Leopold Rothschild appears to be 
a favourite, as it is grown in large numbers, and in 
perfect health.— L. 
This fine winter-flowering or fibrous rooted Begonia 
may be said to mark the highest development in this 
particular direction. When subjected to good culti¬ 
vation it is wonderful to see the way in which it 
responds. Naturally of dwarf and compact habit it 
flowers with surpassing freedom. The small rosy- 
pink blooms find a suitable foil to their brightness in 
the delicate shade of light green, afforded by the 
obliquely cordate leaves. The group of B. Gloire de 
Lorraine sent to a Drill Hall meeting by Mr. 
H B. May, of Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, Upper 
Edmonton, was a magnificent example of the value 
of the plant. Mr. May’s specimens, although only in 
48-sized pots, were of extra large size, and vigorous 
and he ilthy throughout. We have never seen an 
exhibit of the same material to equal it. 
After the rage of the 'Mums has partly subsided 
one has time to look round—so to speak—at other 
things, and should the eye perchance alight on the 
subject of this note—especially if it he in good con¬ 
dition—it will never cease to charm. 
Of all the autumn and winter-flowering forms of 
this genus of useful and ornamental plants, there is 
none other which appeals so strongly to my fancy as 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. Whether one regards 
the habit of the plant, the character of the foliage, 
or the colour of the flowers, it is alike meritorious; 
but when one sees it as I saw it the other day at 
Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill, S.E., it is not 
likely to be forgotten. 
Mr. Alex. Wright, the able gardener, has put his 
grouping ideas to advantage even here, for he has 
placed several plants together in the middle of a 
large No. 1 size pan, the whole being surrounded 
by a broad fringe of Selaginella Braunii, a well- 
known stove species. The colour of this Selaginella 
is a dark bluish-green, which effect is probably 
heightened by the rich, rosy-carmine colour of the 
Begonia flowers, which are produced in the purest 
fashion ; in fact the plant, or plants, produce such 
an enormous quantity of these attractive floral 
organs that the specimen is literally all flowers. 
This pan is placed on an old tree-stump, which is 
covered with fungi, and occupies a prominent posi¬ 
tion in a warm house. The contents measure 
3 ft. 6 in. in diameter, and iorm together one of the 
most pleasing objects that has ever come within my 
experience. Mr. Wright's originality is always 
apparent, whether he is dealing with British Ferns, 
hardy plants, Orchids, Bertolonias, or Begonias.— 
C. B. G., Acton, W. 
--*•- 
ORCHID NOTES k GLEANINGS. 
By The Editor. 
Odontoglossum Rossii majus.—Considering 
the popularity which Odontoglots enjoy, generally, 
it is surprising that one of the prettiest, most variable, 
and easy to grow, should not be placed higher in 
public estimation. It is essentially a cool Orchid, 
and when in bloom may be kept for weeks together 
in the conservatory, or even in the drawing-room, 
without inconvenience or injury to the plant in any 
way. It is, however, satisfactory to know that its 
claims to recognition are being advocated somewhere. 
Something like 5,000 flower spikes may be seen at 
present iu the nursery of Messrs. W. L. Lewis & 
Co., Southgate, N. Of this number 1,000 are fully 
expanded, and show a great amount of variation. 
Spikes bearing four or five flowers are plentiful, 
although three is the usual number for the species. 
Oae branching spike carries seven flowers, a number 
we have only once seen surpassed by this species. 
Laelia anceps from Ravenswood, Melrose — 
A very fine variety of this Laelia now in season has 
reached us from the gardens of Admiral Sir H. 
Fairfax, Ravenswood, Melrose. It belongs to the 
same section as L. a. Dawsoni, having broad petals 
and handsome flowers, of good substance. The 
sepals are darkest at the tips and fade towards the 
base, being almost white at that point. The petals 
are very dark, almost crimson at the tips, but fade 
downwards in the same way as the sepals. The 
lamina of the lip is of a dark, velvety, maroon- 
crimson ; and this, together with the broad, dark- 
tipped petals, constitutes the more important and 
distinctive feature of the variety. The interior of 
the tube of the lip is handsomely lined with crimson 
on a yellow ground. Admiral Sir H. Fairfax has 
had a long acquaintance with Orchids, and is fully 
alive to the value of a good variety. His gardener, 
Mr. Wm. Yea, is also aD able grower, as we have 
had ample testimony for many years past. 
Cypripedium Gabrieli. Nov. hyb .—The seed 
parent of this hybrid was C. orphanum, while the 
pollen was taken from C. Dauthieri, so that both of 
the parents were themselves hybrids. The ground 
colour of the dorsal sepal is yellowish, marked with 
longitudinal brown veins. The midrib is purplish- 
brown, and towards either margin is a band of the 
same colour. The petals are yellowish on the lower, 
and glittering, dark purple-brown on the upper 
longitudinal half; they are strongly ciliate on both 
margins. The lip is large, dull purple, and shining. 
The dark green leaves are slenderly netted. The 
hybrid was raised in the gardens of Thomas Gabriel, 
Esq., Elstead, Streatham Hill, and flowered recently 
for the first time. Mr. Guyatt is the gardener and 
grower. 
