•230 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 11, 1897. 
CYMBIDIUM TRACEYANUM AT 
HEATON MERSEY. 
Within easy distance of Manchester, and on the 
side of the valley of the River Mersey, is the fine 
residence of J Leemann, Esq., West Bank House, 
Heaton Mersey, Lancs. The present is scarcely the 
time to speak of outdoor gardening, but the great 
banks of choice hybrid Rhododendrons do well here, 
and being liberally planted make a grand display in 
spring. 
For some time past the glory of the establishment 
has been a graud batch of sixteen plants of Cymbi- 
dium traceyanum in full bloom. They are arranged 
or rather temporarily located in the fine conserva¬ 
tory adjoining the mansion, situated upon a slope, 
and practically constructed on three terraces one 
above the other. What Orchids may be in bloom at 
any particular season are staged upon a table on the 
upper terrace, where the owner can examine and 
enjoy them at his leisure ; for he is a devout admirer 
of his Orchids. Moreover,he is not exclusive in the 
enjoyment of his favourites, for chairs and a com¬ 
fortable lounge afford the convenience of seating his 
friends while the Orchids are under consideration. 
He has rearon to be proud of this grand batch of 
Cymbidiums, for they afford one of the grandest 
sights that could be seen in the course of a long 
day’s journey. He must be envied by a large section 
of the Orchid growing world, by having the finest 
stock of this Cymbidium in cultivation. The flowers 
are considerably varied in their markings, and in 
being of various light and dark shades of colour. 
The fragrance emanating from them is both 
powerful and delicious, pervading the atmosphere of 
the conservatory. The condition of the plants is also 
a credit to the gardener, Mr. Edge. I shall not soon 
forget this grand display, nor the impression it made 
upon me.— F. A . 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED, 
Awards according to merit were given to the 
subjects named hereunder by the Royal Horticultural 
Society on November 23rd. 
Orchid Committee. 
Maxillaria elegantula. Rolje, Nov. sp .—The 
flowers in this case are of medium size, and the 
individual segments are very stiff and succulent. 
The bases of the latter are white, and the ground 
colour also, but heavily suffused with yellow-brown 
and spotted red-brown ; until towards the apices no 
white is to be discerned. The lip, too, is very 
heavily spotted with dull deep ref. The spathe is 
green and the leaves very tough and leathery, about 
15 in. in length, and i£ in. in width. Botanical 
Certificate. Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. 
Cirrhopetalum refractum. —This is a curious 
and interesting species. The long strap-shaped petals 
are much elongated. The flowers are disposed in 
pseudo whorls in a pendant spike of about 4 in. in 
length, the amalgamated petals, which are yellow- 
green in hue, standing at right angles to the rachis. 
Botanical Certificate. Mr. H. J. Chapman, gardener 
to R. I. Measures, E q , Cambridge Lodge, Camber- 
we.l. 
Cattleya labiata White Queen. Nov. vav .— 
Save for a yellow blotch at the base and a suffusion 
of pink at the tip of the lip this is what the varietal 
name indicates, viz , a pure white form of Cattleya 
labiata. The segments are of great width and sub¬ 
stance, and the margins are prettily crisped. Award 
of Merit. Mr. J. Parker, gardener to W. P. Burkin- 
sbaw, Esq., West Hill, Hessle, Hull. 
Laelia x Olivia. Nov hyb. —This is the result 
of a cross between L. crispa and L. xanthina. The 
flower itself is of medium size, and of great beauty. 
The sepals are a little more than half an inch in 
diameter, and from 2J in. to 2\ in. in length. The 
petals are noticeable for their great width as com¬ 
pared with the length, being as long as the sepals 
but much wider. The colour is a deep yellow with a 
suspicion of green. The lip is large and exhibits a 
rich, deep crimson hue, shading lighter at the base 
where a distinct trace of orange appears. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
Cattleya Empress Frederick var. Leonata. 
Nov. hyb. —C. dowiana and C. Mossiae are the 
parents of this interesting hybrid. The sepals and 
petals exhibit a rich rose hue. The petals are half 
as broad again as the sepals and of about the same 
length. The lip, with the other segments, has a 
prettily frilled margin and is broad and massive. A 
large, deep crimson blotch at the tip is a prominent 
feature. Towards the base of the lip is a number of 
deep orange stripes running at an angle of 45 0 to the 
central vein. Award of Merit. Messrs. Jas. Veitch 
& Sons, Ltd. 
Cypripedium Beckmani. Nov. hyb. —This is the 
outcome of a cross between C. Boxalli superbum, 
and C. bellatulum. The dorsal sepal is of great size, 
boldly erect, and has an unbroken, nearly circular, 
outline. It is green in hue, and heavily spotted with 
chocolate-brown. The petals are obovate in shape 
and chestnut-brown in colour with a few deeper 
spots near the base. The “slipper” is long and 
rather narrow, much pointed, and of the same hue as 
the petals. Award of Merit. Messrs. Lucien 
Linden & Co., Brussels. 
Odontoglossum dayanum.— In this case the 
segments of the flower are very narrow, long, and 
acuminate. The colour is green-white, and spotted 
with light brown. The lip is small and white, with 
spots of yellow and brown at the apex. Award of 
Merit. Mr. Ballantine, gardener to Baron Schroder, 
The Dell, Egham. 
Floral Committee. 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. F. A. Bevan. —For des¬ 
cription see p. 166. Award of Merit. Mr. W. 
Wells, Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, Surrey. 
Chrysanthemum Julia Scaramanga. —For des¬ 
cription see p. 215. Award of Merit. Mr. W. 
Wells. 
Chrysanthemum Georgina Pitcher. — For 
description see p. 215. Award of Merit. Mr. W. 
Wells. 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. H. Folkes.— A white 
Japanese variety of medium size, and with good, 
stiff, flower stems. It should prove useful as one of 
the whites. Award of Merit. C. E Strachan, Esq., 
Hemel Hempstead. 
Chysanthemum Miss Mary Molyneux.— For 
description see p 166. Award of Merit. Mr. N. 
Molyneux, gardener to J. C. Gamier, Esq , Rocks- 
bury Park, Fareham, Hants. 
Begonia Julius. Nov. hyb. —This is the progeny 
of a cross between B. socotrana and a tuberous- 
rooted variety. The appearance of the plant seems 
to be intermediate between the two parents. The 
flowers, which are double, undoubtedly show a 
marked improvement in size,and the form is also good. 
The colour is salmon-pink. The leaves are nearly 
orbicular in shape, deep shining green in hue, and 
with irregularly dentate margins. The habit is 
sturdy. Such a race of plants as this would prove a 
valuable acquisition to our plant houses during the 
winter months. Award of Merit. Messrs. Jas. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd. 
Fruit Committee. 
Grape Directeur Tisserand. —This is a new black 
late Grape of great merit. The berries are oval in 
shape, and of medium size. The skin is thick, as we 
may expect in the case of a late variety. The flavour 
is first-class, being full, rich, and very sweet. 
Award of Merit. Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Saw- 
bridgeworth. 
Apple Lady Falmouth. —This is a small, rather 
flattened, dessert Apple of very brilliant colour, 
bearing a resemblance to Court Pendu Plat. 
The whole of the fruit is covered with a rich red, 
and the flavour is brisk and pleasantly acid. The 
eye is large and shallow. Award of Merit. Mr. 
George Chalmers, Beech Farm, Mereworth. 
The Chrysanthemums mentioned hereunder re¬ 
ceived a First-class Certificate from the N.C.S. at 
the Royal Aquarium on November 29th. 
Mrs. J. R. Tranter. —A very large Japanese 
flower, with narrow, drooping florets of medium 
length. The colour is a charming shade of blush- 
white, the lower florets having a deeper suffusion of 
rose, and being striped on occasion with pink. It 
originated from a packet of seed sent by Pitcher & 
Manda. Mr. J. R. Tranter, Henley-on-Thames. 
Violacea. —This is a huge Japanese bloom of 
considerable depth, but rather flat on the top. The 
florets are of medium length, and intertwine to some 
extent. The colour is light rose, shading to rose- 
white in the centre. The bloom is rather coarse and 
ungainly in build. Mr. E. Beckett, Aldenham 
House Gardens, Elstree. 
Pits and Frames. 
We have now reached a season of the year when 
severe frost may be expected at any time, and it 
will be advisable to shift out of the unheated 
structures any tender plants that might well be 
injured by a sudden spell of cold weather. 
Cinerarias are one of the first things that 
should be looked after in this way. Within the next 
week or ten days they should be shifted out of the 
cold frames in which they have been accommodated. 
An ideal house for them is a span-rcofed pit with 
slate shelves or stages covered with ashes, and 
heated by sufficient piping to keep the frost out. 
Fire heat should not be employed, however, a 
moment sooner than is absolutely necessary, for 
Cinerarias have a 'great dislike to it, and its con¬ 
tinued use exercises a very prejudicial effect, 
especially upon the later plants. In such a house as 
that referred to the Cinerarias will enjoy plenty of 
light. The large plants that received their final 
shift into eight inch pots about the middle of 
November have now got over the slight check they 
then received, but close attention must be paid to 
them for watering for another week or two. In 
addition to plenty of light a fair amount of air must 
be given, but not in such a way as to cause draughts. 
A good temperature for the night will be from 40° to 
45 0 Fahr., the latter being for very mild, and the 
former for very cold weather. The plants will thus 
be kept gently on the move. 
Forcing Houses —Melon pits having brick beds 
of fair width and depth come in admirably at this 
time of the year for forcing Lilacs, Azaleas, 
Deutzias, Spiraeas, Staphyleas, and bulbs of sorts 
which are to do duty presently in the conservatory. 
These beds can be filled with leaves or other gentle 
heating material, and the plants plunged in them. A 
very little fire heat suffices to keep the temperature 
well up, while the fermenting matter is fresh. The 
temperature may range from 55'=’ to 6o° by night 
with a proportionate rise during the day. Such a 
house as this will suit Richardias well where early 
flowers are wanted. Syringing with tepid water may 
be conducted each morning between 9 and 10 o'clock, 
and again in the afternoon between 2 and 3 if the 
weather allows of it. Should severe frost threaten, 
however, it will often be advisable to miss the post¬ 
meridian syringing. Into these houses for the next 
few months should pass relays of the various sub¬ 
jects that are to be forced for conservatory work. 
From ten days to a fortnight should elapse between 
the introduction to heat of the several batches. 
Meanwhile the remainder of the hard wooded 
plants such as the Deutzias, Staphyleas, Lilacs, and 
Spiraea confusa will take no harm out of doors, as 
they are perfectly hardy. The pots, on the other 
hand, are apt to get chipped and cracked if left ex¬ 
posed to the action of the frost. It will be well 
therefore to plunge the pots deeply in the plunging 
ground left vacant by the Chrysanthemums, plac¬ 
ing an inch or two of ashes over the surface of the 
soil. Water will, of course not be needed, at 
least in greater quantities than that supplied by the 
clouds. 
Bulbs. —By this time all the bulbs of Hyacinths, 
Tulips, Crocuses, and Narcissi that were potted up 
and covered with ashes in the open ground will have 
rooted sufficiently to warrant removal. An early 
opportunity should therefore be taken to remove 
them to pits or frames, where they can be easily got 
at, as their turn comes to be brought into heat. 
Should we be favoured with a very bright sunny day 
or two immediately after the withdrawal of the 
plants from their seclusion they should be shaded a 
little until the tops become gradually inured to the 
light and the etiolated appearance has given place to 
the normal green. 
Cold Frames. —At this advanced date it is advis¬ 
able to cover all unheated frames regularly each 
evening, no matter whether the weather promises to 
be mild or not. A clearing of the sky if it continues 
for any length of time now means a frost, no matter 
where the wind is, and the gardener must not be 
caught unprepared. During the day as much air as 
possible should be given the occupants, for any sub¬ 
ject that is so tender that it cannot stand this has no 
business in a cold frame at all at this season of the 
year.— A.S.G. 
