April 16, 1898. 
the gardening world 
Erratum.—On page 503, in the 24th line from the 
bottom of the second column, for " is owned and 
worked by Messrs. Rendall," read “ Messrs. 
Kendall." 
The Peach is said by some authorities to have been 
originally a very poisonous fruit, but that by long 
cultivation this quality has disappeared. After being 
properly matured, however, it is more than likely that 
the poison, if it existed at all, resided in the embryo 
or kernel, as in the bitter Almond 
A Pyramidal Lime. —A pyramidal variety of Lime 
is finding its way into gardens about Darmstadt, 
namely Tilia platyphyllos pyramidalis. The ordinary 
form of the broad-leaved Lime is a handsome tree, 
but never looks well when attempts are made to 
prune it into pyramidal shape by artificial means. 
The variety under notice might be planted where a 
tree of pyramidal shape is desired. There is a fine 
young specimen about 20 ft. high in the Prince Emil 
garden in Bessurgen, near Darmstadt. 
Presentations at Torquay.— At the annual general 
meeting of the Torquay Gardeners' Association, Mr. 
F. C. Smale, the hon. secretary, on behalf of 133 
members, presented their president, Dr. Hamilton 
Ramsay, with a magnificently illuminated address, 
in token of the appreciation in which the association 
held the valuable services rendered them. The 
address was an artistic piece of work, executed by 
Mr. A. Shelly. Dr. Ramsay was much touched by 
their kindness. Mr. Masterman then presented Mr. 
Shelly with a souvenir in token of the appreciation 
of his work in illuminating the address. 
Anemone ranunculoides. —The writer of the note 
under this heading on p. 503 made a mistake in 
getting the wrong name of the plants growing upon 
the grass in the Embankment Gardens. They con¬ 
sisted of the Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), and 
had not come in the turf, but were intentionally 
planted. The planting having been accomplished at 
different times by the superintendent, Mr. G. Palmer, 
the result has been that a continuous succession of 
bloom has been kept up since February to the 
present time. We compliment Mr. Palmer on his 
forethought in planting so as to secure such a 
lengthened display by so simple a plan of procedure. 
Gardeners and superintendents of parks generally 
would do well to avail themselves of the practical 
utility of this hint. 
Leaf-cutting Bees.— Mr. Fred Enock, F.L.S., 
F.E.S., etc., continues his most interesting essays on 
•' British Bees ” in the April number of Knowledge. 
The number of British species is sufficient to 
astonish all but those having an acquaintance with 
the subject. The doings of many of them are 
marvellous, and give the reader an impression that 
they are possessed of wonderful skill and intelligence 
—some would say instinct. Many gardeners, and 
Rose growers in particular, are familiar with the 
doings of the leaf-cutting bees, much to their sorrow. 
On the other hand, Mr. Enock, and other naturalists, 
he admits, are quite willing to allow the bees to cut 
up the leaves of their Rose bushes that they may 
have an opportunity of studying the habits of these 
interesting creatures. Though certain species prefer 
the green leaves of Roses with which to build the 
cells for the rearing of their young, Mr. Enock has 
also watched them cutting circles and oblongs from 
almost any sound leaf. Amongst others he mentions 
the leaves of Laburnum, Rhododendron, Laurel, Sweet 
Pea, Nasturtium, Pelargonium, Laurustinus, etc. 
Several species of Megachile visit London gardens 
during June and July, and he has watched M. cen- 
tuncularis cutting dozens of pieces from the soft 
leaves of an edible Pea in a garden that possessed no 
Roses. In another instance he noted that M. wil- 
lughbiella always builds its cells with pieces of green 
Rose leaves, preferably those of Marechal Niel. 
Gardeners who wish to catch the marauders red- 
handed must visit their Roses early in the morning, 
for the leaf-cutters are early risers. They also 
continue for several hours, however, and may be 
seen at work later in the day. Mr. Enock watched 
M. centuncularis cutting the leaves of Sweet Peas, and 
found that the bee required only fifteen seconds to 
cut out a circular piece and twenty-seven seconds to 
cut out an oblong piece. Thus a leaf-cutting bee 
could cut out a section and carry it away while the 
enraged owner of the Rose is preparing to hit her 
with his cap. 
Aniline Dyes to the tune of 2,cco distinct shades 
are obtained from the 140 lbs. of gas-tar extracted 
from a ton of coal. 
Royal Botanic Society.— The conservatories and 
grounds of this society were again opened to the 
public on payment of a small fee of admission on 
Bank Holiday. A military band played both during 
the morning and the afternoon. 
Sparrows and Oats.—Miss Ormerod has been 
threepin' doon Miss Carrington's throat that 
sparrows destroy 1,500,000 quarters o’ aits in 
Inglan’ in the coorse o' a twalmonth. Michty, me ! 
there widna be muckle left for the horses. Miss 
O. maun surely be drawin’ a lang bow in haste (nae 
at Hastings), 'cause the spurg only gets ae month’s 
grace amon’ the aits, let alane twal’.— Snaggs. 
Marquetry in Natural Woods.—Her Royal High¬ 
ness the Grand Duchess of Hesse, has, we under¬ 
stand, been occupibd for some days past in working 
on “Tarsia," the new art inlay work for amateurs. 
It is well known that Her Royal Highness takes a 
keen interest in all amateur art work, and this new 
branch seems to have attracted her particular 
attention. “ Tarsia " is a delightfully simple form 
of marquetry, executed in natural woods. It was 
first introduced to the public in the December 
number of The House (the artistic monthly for the 
home), which is published at the office of The Queen. 
This magazine devotes itself to all branches of 
amateur art, as well as the furnishing, decoration, 
comfort and management of the home. It has 
recently added a coloured plate to its many features. 
The price is sixpence. The illustrations of the 
designs in natural woods for the adornment of 
various articles of household furniture show that 
Daffodils, Buttercups, Irises, and various other 
flowers have been imitated. 
Reading' and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —Mr. W. H. Lees of the Gardens, 
Trent Park, New Barnet, read a paper on “ Profit¬ 
able Orchids" before the members of the above 
Association on Monday evening, the 4th instant, 
Mr. C. B. Stevens presiding. The formal business 
having been transacted and a sum of £5 5s. od. been 
voted to the Special Fund raised by the Reading 
Horticultural Society, the president called upon Mr. 
Lees to give his paper. In introducing his subject, 
the essayist said that it was not his intention to 
treat the subject from a market grower’s point of 
view, as the title seemed to imply, but from that of 
the private gardener, dealing with those varieties 
most suitable for cutting and decorative purposes. 
The general routine of the cultivation ot Odonto- 
glossums, Cattleyas, Laelias, Dendrobiums, Coelo- 
gynes, Calanthes, Cypripediums, and Oncidiums was 
briefly dealt with under the following headings: — 
ventilation, heating, staging, watering, manuring, 
potting, compost, insects, fumigating, etc. The 
following genera and their species were recom¬ 
mended for the purpose already named :—Odonto- 
glossum triumphans, O. histrix, O. Hallii, O. 
odoratum, O. crispum, O. Rossii, O. Edouardii, 
O. harryanum, O. Pescatorei, Cattleya percivaliana, 
C. Trianaei, C, Mendelii, C. Mossiae, C. gigas, 
C. dowiana, C. gaskelliana, C. labiata, C. Skinnerii, 
C. Harrisoniae, Laelia purpurata, L. elegans, L. har- 
pophylla, L. anceps, L. autumnalis, Dendrobium 
nobile, D. wardianum, D. Phalaenopsis schroderi- 
anum, Coelogyne cristata, C. c. lemoniana, Cypripe- 
dium insigne, Oncidium tigrinum, etc. An interest¬ 
ing discussion ensued in which Messrs. Martin, 
Stanton, Turton, Woolford, and Bound took part. 
A splendid exhibit of Orchids was made which 
added greatly to the interest of the meeting and 
helped to illustrate many of the remarks made by 
the speaker. Those who contributed the plants and 
cut flowers were Mr. Woodford, gardener to Alfred 
Palmer, Esq., East Thorpe (Dendrobiums, Cypripe¬ 
diums, Coelogynes, Odontoglossums, and Oncidiums); 
Mr. J. Pound, gardener to Dr. May, Caversham 
(Dendrobium fimbriatum oculatum) ; Mr. G, A. 
Parsons, Oxford Road (Dendrobiums) ; whilst Mr. 
Stanton, Park Place Gardens, exhibited some spikes 
of Bougainvilleas. A hearty vote of thanks was 
passed to Mr. Lees and to those members who had 
been the means of bringing together such a Beautiful 
collection of bloom. 
619 * 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
By the Editor. 
Dendrobiums from Redlands.—In a box of 
flowers sent us by Mr. Geo. Russell, The Gardens, 
Redlands, Kelvinside, Glasgow, was a bloom of the 
sport of Dendrobium nobile Cooksonii, which origi¬ 
nated at Redlands. It is as fine a form of this re¬ 
markable case of peloria as we have seen. The petals 
are nearly as wide as the lip, but they are longer ; 
and the blotch on each of them is precisely of the 
same shape as that of the lip, though of a shade or 
two lighter in colour. The pale basal area of the 
blotch on the petals is broader than that on the lip 
proper, and the latter organ is more infolded at the 
sides, otherwise the whole three organs are closely 
similar in form, colour, and pubescence to the lip as 
seen in the more typical forms of the species. 
Accompanying the above were several varieties of 
D. wardianum, one of which Mr. Russell thinks has 
a dash of D. crassinode in it. The flowers are of 
medium size, and the petals more crisped than in 
the typical D. wardianum. The lip, however, is the 
most distinct organ of the flower, the two blotches 
being rather smaller and of a clear brownish-crimson 
instead of a blackish-maroon. Another flower has 
the blotches reduced to a few slender lines on either 
side of the base of the lip, where it envelops the 
column. The other flowers sent were large and bad 
intense, blackish-maroon blotches. 
Gardening 
1SCELLAMY. 
CANTUA BUXIFOLIA. 
Under unfavourable conditions this greenhouse 
wall-shrub may exist for years without ever showing 
a flower. Ihis is particularly the case when grown 
in pots. The best method is to plaDt it out in the 
narrow side border of a greenhouse or cool conserva- 
tory, allowing it to grow freely, and ripen the 
wood towards the end of the season by plenty of 
ventilation. These facts are recalled to mind by a 
flowering spray before us, and which was grown in 
the garden of Lieut.-Col. Tremayne (gardener, Mr. 
J. Simmons), Carclew, Perranarworthal, Cornwall. 
The species is variable in the foliage, some of the 
leaves being entire and others deeply cut. The 
flowers are also variable if the various figures of the 
species are correct. Some have a short tube with a 
wide open mouth ; but other plants have a very loDg 
orange-scarlet tube, and five rich magenta rose lobes 
at the mouth, not spreading very widely. The flowers 
from Carclew belong to this latter type and are very 
much longer than those figured in the Gardening 
World, Vol. Ill, p. 501. 
THYRSACANTHUS RUTILANS. 
Some years back this was much more frequently met 
with than at present. Like some others of the good 
old things it has got into the back-ground. At one 
time it was largely grown and much prized. It is, 
when in flower, a plant of very distinctive character, 
associating well with Begonias, Aphelandras, and 
Poinsettias. Owing to the comparatively great 
length to which the flower spikes attain it will gener¬ 
ally require to be elevated to keep these clear of the 
benches. There is nothing much prettier at this 
time of the year than well-grown and flowered 
plants of this easily-grown and beautiful plant, in 
6-in. pots, which should carry at least six panicles of 
flowers from 12 in. to 18 in. in length. The flowers 
are bright scarlet. Cuttings should be struck in 
heat during the spring and grown on, receiving their 
final shift in June, kept in a cold pit during summer 
and early autumn, giving plenty of air and sunlight. 
The thorough ripening of the wood is a most essen¬ 
tial condition to procure free-flowering plants. An 
intermediate house is the best place for the plants 
during the flowering period, as in this temperature 
they remain in full beauty for a considerable time 
A mixture of loam and peat with some sharp sand 
suits the plant well; and weak doses of liquid 
manure may be given occasionally but must not be 
overdone.— IV. B. G. 
