580 
rHE GARDENING WORLD 
May 14, 1898, 
we rightly remember, against the west 
aspect end of the stove, close to the glass. 
Here the plants had more head-room, and 
were allowed to run up. The heat and 
moisture of the stove proved even more 
suitable to the welfare of the plants than 
the conditions that prevailed in the pit, so 
that more and more of the plants were 
transferred to the stove, where the whole 
of them have been accommodated for some 
time. 
These plants have now been flowering 
for three weeks at least, the first batch of 
flowers having been cut on the April 27th. 
Usually the flowers keep up a display for a 
month or somewhat longer. The gorgeous 
effect of 200 spikes, with their massive and 
curiously formed flowers, has to be seen to 
be admired and fully appreciated, particu¬ 
larly by those who have never previously 
seen so many plants in flower. As the 
plants have to be accommodated in accord¬ 
ance with the slope of the glass roof, they 
vary in height from 2 ft. to 6 ft. or more. 
The taller and stronger the stems, the finer 
the spikes and the larger the size attained 
by the individual blooms. The advantages 
gained in the stove, therefore, are greater 
head-room, more uniform temperature, and 
atmospheric moisture during the growing 
season. From the time the flower spikes 
make their appearance till the plants show 
signs of having completed their growth in 
early autumn, an abundant supply of water 
is furnished the roots, independently of 
atmospheric moisture, which in itself must 
be of material advantage judging from the 
numerous aerial roots produced at different 
points all along the stems. The aim of the 
cultivator is to get good growth, and then 
to ripen it properly. This is secured by 
the withholding of water at the roots, and 
the reduction of atmospheric moisture as 
the days shorten, and sunlight and heat 
decrease. The gradual withholding of 
moisture induces the plants to go to rest, 
while the tissues of the wood and leaves get 
matured and hardened. 
The other conditions of cultivation are 
very simple. The plants are grown in four 
large wooden boxes, two of them close to 
the glass, and two others on the opposite 
side of a pathway, the latter resting on the 
end of the central, raised bed of the house. 
Four rows of plants occupy the boxes 
against the glass, and two rows the remain¬ 
ing set. The boxes are about 18 in. wide, 
or thereby, and 6 in. deep, inside measure¬ 
ment. The rooting medium, or compost 
consists of an ample depth of crocks, mixed 
with some nodules of charcoal and surfaced 
with a layer of living sphagnum. While 
in bloom the plants are carefully shaded, as 
that conduces to the durability of the 
flowers. Such cultural treatment is well 
worth copying, and might be pursued to 
advantage by all gardeners having this 
Vanda under their care. The results amply 
justify the means adopted, namely, a harvest 
of over 200 spikes, each carrying from three 
to seven blooms, the latter number not 
being uncommon. Counting the number of 
growths on these two hedges of plants, they 
would be six to eight years old. Strong 
cuttings a foot in length, after having made 
a good growth, may flower within the 
twelvemonth, after which the plants flower 
annually. Many of last years growths 
have each produced two spikes, though a 
third sometimes appears only to be checked 
by the two that secure the lead. The 
sepals and petals are of a silvery rose, while 
the disc and interior of the side 0 lobes are 
yellow, more or less closely lined with 
orange- brown. There are several varieties, 
some of them being handsomely lined or 
banded with crimson spots or markings on 
the yellow ground of the lip. In some cases 
the lines are very faint. The whole taken 
together constitute as fine a lot as any 
gardener might wish to see or possess. 
- 4 .- 
The National Schools of Berlin are furnished with 
over 100 specimens of four different kinds of plants 
twice a week, for botanical demonstrations. 
Dried Fruits.—It requires five to six pounds of 
Apricots, six to eight pounds of Peaches or Pears, 
and about two-and-a-half pounds of Prunes to make, 
respectively, one pound of dried fruit. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Sons, of Upper Holloway, 
have acquired extensive grounds, forming part of the 
Manor Farm, Regent’s Park Road, Finchley, for the 
purpose of further extending their business, and 
growing hardy trees, shrubs, general nursery stock, 
and plants under glass. 
The Queen Bee lives three or four years, and the 
workers only three to six months. As the drones 
usually die by violence it would be difficult to deter¬ 
mine their natural lifetime. Bees have been known 
to occupy the same hive consecutively for forty-six 
years. 
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Forthcoming Great 
Show.—Members of the Preston and Fulwood Horti¬ 
cultural Society are forming a party to visit London 
during the show week. Mr. Frame, the courteous 
tourists’ conductor of Fishergate, Preston, has charge 
of the arrangements, and will conduct parties wishing 
to see the sights of London. The train starts on Tues¬ 
day night, May 24th, leaving Windermere at 9 o'clock, 
Kendal 9.18, Oxenholme 9.27, Carnforth 9 55, Lan¬ 
caster 10.7, and Preston 11.51. There will also be 
trains on the branch lines from the Fylde District to 
Preston. It is expected that a number of gardeners 
from Liverpool will join the train at Wigan, who 
will be accommodated with saloons if timely appli¬ 
cation is made. Further information may be had 
from Mr. Frame or Mr. C. Parker, Secretary Preston 
and Fulwood Horticultural Society, n, Cannon 
Street, Preston.—" P.” 
Dover Flower Show.—The committee responsible 
for the management of this show, have a president 
(the Mayor of Dover), a treasurer, and a secretary, 
yet it does not appear to assume the title of horti¬ 
cultural society. Nevertheless, a very good schedule 
of prizes has been got up for the show to be held on 
August* 17th and 18th. Prizes are offered in 120 
classes, of which fifty-nine are open to all England, 
including classes for plants in pots, cut flowers, fruit 
and vegetables. Another group of classes is open to 
gardeners residing within a radius of 15 miles of the 
borough of Dover. Twenty-two classes are devoted 
to the interests of cottagers and allotment holders in 
the borough, whose garden does not exceed forty 
perches. Other groups are open to amateurs, ladies, 
nurserymen, and florists, and there are ten classes 
in which special prizes are offered. Eight out of 
ten just mentioned are for vegetables, so that Dover 
evidently wishes to increase the love for vegetables 
of a useful and, therefore, economic kind. We wish 
the committee of the Dover flower show every suc¬ 
cess in its laudable endeavour to promote the cause 
of gardening. The hon. secretary is Mr. E. M. 
Worsfold, Market Square, Dover. 
A Prescription for Mordant Ink given by Theophilus 
is, according to the summary appearing in the current 
issue of the Journal of the Society of Arts, as follows :— 
“ Cut with your own hand twigs from the Hawthorn 
trees in April or May, before they put forth their 
leaves and flowers, and lay them by in the shade to 
dry somewhat. Then pound off all the bark and put 
the same into casks full of water, and let them stand 
for eight days until the water absorb all the sap of 
the bark. Then pour out the water into a pan or 
cauldron and boil it, and then throw in more bark, 
until you boil all the sap out of it, and repeat this 
until the water is boiled down to a third ; and then 
boil this until it grows black, and begins to thicken, 
taking care to add no more water. Then add one- 
third of pure wine, and put it into three new pans 
until a skin forms on the surface. Then place the 
pots in the sun until the black ink separates itself 
from the red dregs. Afterwards pour the pure ink 
into small bags of parchment or bladders, and hang 
in the sun until all is quite dry. And when dry take 
as much as you want and mix with wine over a fire, 
and add a little atramentum (here sulphate of iron) 
and write. 
Errata.—At p. 566, in the 25th line from the 
bottom of the first column, for “ Mr. McMath ” read 
" Mr. McIntosh." In the 36th line from the bottom 
of the second column for " Mr. Ewen ’’ read “ Mr. 
McEwen.’’ 
Green Peasant) French Beans, unshelled, are being 
sold at is. 6d. a pound in the London markets. A 
basket of Strawberries, containing about a dozen 
fruits costs 3s., that is a shilling for four fruits, or 
threepence apiece. 
Irish Gardeners’ Benevolent Society.-—A special 
meeting of the supporters of this charity was 
recently held at the Rotunda Buildings, Dublin, Mr. 
Cranmer, the president of the society, in the chair. 
The chief business was the election of a secretary in 
the room of Mr. Thomas Shaw, who has resigned. 
On the motion of Mr. Campbell Mr. W. S. Hall was 
chosen as successor to Mr. Shaw. Mr. Campbell, 
Jun., then read a very instructive paper on the 
“ Naturalisation of Flowering Plants," which was 
ably discussed by several of the members, 
The Twenty-five best Chrysanthemums from an 
American point of view would naturally differ from 
the best twenty-five in the opinion of English growers. 
The Americans set special value upon the flower 
stem and foliage of the variety. The former must 
be long and stout, and the latter sturdy and 
vigorous. A list of the best varieties was given in 
November last by Mr. Robert G. Carey, before the 
Florists’ Club of Philadelphia, and subsequently 
appeared in The American Florist. In the issue of 
Le Nord Horticole for May this list is again given, 
with description of the varieties mentioned. The 
first varieties on the list are Mrs. Jerome Jones, Maud 
Dean, Major Bonnaffon, Viviand' Morel, Silver 
Cloud, William Lincoln, Mrs. H. Robinson, The 
Queen, and Mutual Friend. Of the remaining varie¬ 
ties, Modesto, Charles Davis, Miss Agnes L. Dals- 
kov, Miss Georgina Pilcher, and Golden Wedding 
are well-known on this side of the water, whilst the 
others are either utter or comparative strangers. An 
editorial note at the bottom of the French transla¬ 
tion calls the attention of Gallic readers to the fact 
that varieties in America must have good stems and 
foliage as well as other good qualities if they are to 
rise above mediocrity. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. — The usual 
monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, the 3rd inst., 
under the chairmanship of the president, was largely 
attended by members. A number of new members 
were elected, and a further list nominated. The 
leading paper of the evening was one on " Bulb Cul¬ 
ture in Lincolnshire,” by Mr. J. Alexander, Revesby 
Abbey, Horncastle. The paper was read by the 
secretary, and was of a very interesting and informa¬ 
tive character, shortly describing the soil, method 
of culture, the varieties cultivated, and the modus 
operandi of bunching and marketing pursued by two 
of the leading bulb farmers of Lincolnshire, a county 
which may now be described as the Holland of 
Britain in so far, at least as Narcissi culture is con¬ 
cerned. During the spring season tons of cut blooms 
are despatched daily to the principal markets, and in 
the autumn a very large and rapidly increasing trade 
is done in bulbs. The paper was much appreciated, 
and a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. 
Alexander. Mr. D. P. Laird, of Messrs. Laird & 
Sons, who acted as one of the jurors at the recent 
Quioquennial Show at Ghent, afterwards gave a 
highly interesting, entertaining and eloquent 
account of the great show, which he saw there and 
the people he met. His short address was much 
appreciated by the members present, who accorded 
him a very warm vote of thanks. There were 
several interesting exhibits on the table, amongst 
which may be specially mentioned several blooms of 
Chrysanthemum W. H. Lincoln, which, though they 
seemed born out of due season, were excellent speci¬ 
mens. A new Cabbage, shown by Messrs. Laird, 
and raised by a Mr. McKinlay, was also much 
admired as a very early hearting and handsome 
variety. The president also contributed a very 
early elegant vase of Spanish Iris in beautiful 
variety. The annual outing of the association takes 
place on Saturday the 21st inst., the place to be 
visited this season being Gosford House, the beauti¬ 
ful and interesting demesne of the Earl of Wemyss. 
We wish the excursionists a pleasant afternoon. 
