May 21, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
603 
foliage is all the better for having some of the April 
dust clearised from it. As the specific name suggests 
A. pyrenaicais a native of the Pyrenees, from whence 
it was brought to this country as far back as the year 
1817. With Messrs. Barr & Sons, at Long Ditton, it 
grows very vigorously, but it is most in evidence in 
protected parts of the nursery where, in addition to 
protection from cold winds and frosts, a light shade 
has been afforded it through the day .—Plant Lover. 
--*•- 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
British Orchids : containing an exhaustive de¬ 
scription of each species and variety. By A. D. 
jfr Webster, Author of Hardy Ornamental Flower- 
ZHTt ing Trees and Shrubs, Hardy Coniferous Trees, 
HIT Practical Forestry, &c. Second and Enlarged 
Edition, Illustrated. London : J. S. Virtue & 
Co., Limited, 26, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, 
E.C. 1898. Price 5s. 
In response to repeated inquiries after " British 
Orchids,” the author has been induced to prepare a 
second edition of his book, which now extends to 
128 pages of large octavo size, exclusive of a good 
general index, index of illustrations, and a table of 
contents. Except, perhaps, in the case of British 
Ferns, it rarely occurs that a single family of British 
plants is accorded the honour of a book entirely 
devoted to its interests. The author rather pleads 
the poverty of the British Isles in Orchids, which 
number only forty species, or slightly over, by com¬ 
paring them with the 300 or more which are native 
of Java, though Great Britain is fully 2J times as 
large as that East Indian island. Nevertheless, the 
British Orchids are all interesting, some of them 
particularly so, and several of them are really hand¬ 
some. 
There are twenty-two chapters in the book, 
sixteen of which are devoted to as many 
genera, by which the family is represented 
in our flora. The first chapter is devoted to 
a general review of the Orchid family; the 
second to classification ; and the last four to culti¬ 
vation, fertilisation, enemies, and distribution. These 
odd chapters deal with the science and practice of 
the subject, and are therefore fraught with interest 
to many, particularly since the remarkable methods 
of fertilisation peculiar to several of them were 
studied by Darwin and others. Many gardeners 
would like to cultivate British Orchids, but few of 
them have been so successful as Mr. Webster evi¬ 
dently has been, for he here gives the results of his 
own experience and practice. He makes no attempt 
to laud his own successes, however, but frankly 
acknowledges the successes of many cultivators from 
the time of Gerarade in 1597, to the present day, 
including several enthusiasts still alive and amongst 
us. It may interest would-be cultivators to know 
that British Orchids may be removed from their 
native wilds at any period of their growth even when 
in full bloom ; but he warned his readers to lift the 
plants most carefully so that neither tubers nor 
roots may in the least be damaged. We have seen 
most flagrant cases of carelessness in this respect, 
and short of nailing or sewing the broken pieces 
together, the transplanters could scarcely have 
treated the plants with less regard to their chances 
of survival. For many years Mr. Webster cultivated 
nearly every British species, though as far as we see 
he does not state the locality where this was done. 
•* No doubt soil and situation require careful con¬ 
sideration in the cultivation of British Orchids,” he 
states, and in this we quite agree. It reminds us of 
wbat Emerson said of the sparrow :— 
•• I thought the sparrow’s note from heaven. 
Singing at dawn on the alder bough ; 
I brought him home, in his nest, at even ; 
He sings the song, but it cheers not now, 
For I did not bring home the river and sky;— 
He sang to my ear,—-they sang to my eye.” 
We note with satisfaction, however, that Mr. 
Webster, although he imitated nature to the extent 
of using limestone blocks or boulders for those 
requiring chalk or lime, and elevated some portions 
of his bed for those that affect dry situations, he did 
not follow her slavishly. Instances occur in other 
families of plants, where the cultivator reaps a 
larger measure of success by adopting methods of 
his own, and this is what the author advocates as a 
result of his own experience. Some would-be culti¬ 
vators are impressed with the idea that most of the 
British Orchids require lime or chalk if success is to 
be assured. We have seen such species as Orchis 
maculata, O. latifolia, O. carnea, O. mascula, 
Habenaria bifolia, and others making a more 
rampant growth and producing finer spikes of bloom 
in heavy clay soil, overlying the old red sandstone 
formation, in the alluvium of river beds, and in the 
peaty soils of woods, than we have yet noted upon 
the chalk. 
The sixteen chapters devoted to the descriptions of 
species, their distribution, and hints upon the 
culture recommended for individual species, are full 
of interest. Under Goodyera repens we note that 
slugs are their dread enemies which will eat the 
plants bit by bit close back to the roots. Cultivators 
of exotic species often relate, with real sorrow, their 
experiences in this respect; a perusal of the book also 
shows how nearly several of the British species have 
been exterminated by various causes, and the 
preventable ones are most to be regretted and 
deplored. The interesting discussion upon the 
evicted Orchid of Ireland in 1886, does not escape 
the author’s notice, but receives a due share of 
attention. We refer to Spiranthes romanzoviana, 
which has been destroyed in one of the few 
localities in which it existed in Ireland, by the 
draining of the land, which was planted with 
Potatos in one spot, and sown with Oats in another. 
Such is the fate of other British plants. Cypripedium 
Calceolus, and Epipogiura Gmelini are also on the 
verge of extinction. Very interesting are Malaxis 
paludosa and Liparis Loeselii, the only British 
species having a tendency to be epiphytal. There 
are illustrations of many of the species scattered 
throughout the book, which every lover of this 
interesting family should possess. 
- — 
THE YELLOW SPORTS OF CHRYS¬ 
ANTHEMUM MME. CARNOT. 
In the fifth line from the bottom of the paragraph, 
" Yellow Sport, &c." page 583, the words " He also 
said,” is an error. Did I put that? [The words 
had some marks which we took for inverted commas, 
and thought they were meant for a quotation. 
Hence our alterations, which we admit. Ed ] I 
meant it was myself who did not know the condi¬ 
tions of the schedule, because Mr. Mease's man 
called it Yellow Mme. Carnot. I said this is 
not Yellow Mme. Carnot (G. J. Warren) ; I 
should label it Primrose Mme. Carnot, which he 
did. That caused the bother ; for the schedule said 
they must be varieties already in commerce, and 
Primrose Mme. Carnot was not in commerce ; hence 
the bother. It was quite innocently done, and I am 
sure Mr. Mease would not have done it in contra¬ 
diction to the rules had he known it was distinct 
from G.J. Warren. Mr. Mease's man had plenty of 
spare blooms with him, so that he was not pushed at 
all.— W. Wells. 
The sport which originated at Balcombe Place 
Gardens, Sussex, is certainly getting it hot—Ah ! 
poor G. J. Warren. When anything is affected with 
heat or jaundice, many pin great faith in water as a 
cooler and cure, selecting some of the wells or other 
that abound in the land. But apart from this it does 
seem strange that such an excellent cultivator as 
Mr. Wells should have to cross such a big expanse 
of water before he could detect any difference in the 
shades of Warren and Mrs. Mease. Perhaps it was 
the salt that exerted its bleaching influence upon the 
petals. But, no, Mr. Beckett, the judge himself says 
he has grown the bloom in question as pale in colour, 
which was identical with the blooms staged at the 
Aquarium by Mr. Mease as Yellow Mme. Carnot. 
Nay, it seems probable that Mr. Mease has had a 
leak sprung upon him prematurely ; for he instructed 
his assistant to name it Yellow Mme. Carnot, and 
this, coupled with Mr. Wells’ defiance of anyone 
detecting any difference, excepting in colour, leaves us 
in doubt as to Mrs. Mease having a long lease of 
separate existence. The names of Chrysanthemums 
and synonyms are legion and bewildering. They 
land our judges between the horns of dilemmas, and 
promote discussions upon things infinitesimally 
small. For it is almost needless to say that the 
transfusion of the pigments in the colourations of 
flowers can be altered slightly by placing them more 
or less in light and shader— B. L. 
- -*» - 
Pineapples at the rate of 10,000 a week throughout 
the year are imported into London, 
MIRAMAR. EXMOUTH. 
The seat of J. Gordon, Esq., is just now very inte¬ 
resting. The grounds are full of spring flowers of 
the usual class as well as many of the rarer forms. 
Being situated not far from the coast on well elevated 
land, and having a light sandy soil, it is surprising 
how early and free many things come on compared 
with others but a short distance away, where the 
soil is heavy and winds at times strong and keen. 
In one quarter I noticed on the carefully-kept grass 
plat a number of pyramid Apple and Pear trees, 
some 6 ft. high, full of fruiting spurs, perfect in 
form, aDd remarkable for vigour and cleanness. 
The Pears were mostly gone out of flower, and were 
setting well with fruit. The Apples were gay with 
their blossoms, which were large, intense in colour, 
and most attractive. Really, to see a lot such as 
these was a pleasant surprise, for though not quite 
in the pleasure grounds, they were still apart from 
the kitchen garden, in a well-kept portion with 
clipped hedge, well-mown grass, and neat square or 
diamond-shaped spaces about the trees, which 
would doubtless have a good mulching as the fruits 
swell and call for greater support. 
Passing into the Vineries, I was again much 
pleased. The clean rods, many jointed, had pro¬ 
duced stout growth,and leathery leaves; and the abun¬ 
dance of fine bunches now in flower or just setting, 
gave evidence of good attention on the part of Mr. 
Ide, who planted these some eighteen years ago ; and 
leads one to expect a good display on the exhibition 
boards next autumn,, as has been the case in previous 
years. In the Orchid houses I noticed Cattleya 
lawrenceana with seven spikes of its bright, showy 
blooms ; C. Mossiae and C. Mendelii in various 
shades, C. amethystoglossa, C. intermedia, &c. 
Laelia purpurata, L. tenebrosa, &c., were just coming 
on ; Dendrobiums mostly over, but D. dixanthum, 
seldom seen, was gay with bright yellow blooms on its 
long, tapering bulbs. Maxillaria Turnerii was a 
mass of flower, and Epidendrum rhizophorum was 
gay with its scarlet and oraDge blossoms. Vanda 
tricolor, with six spikes, was also very creditable, 
and V. t. Patersonii, with two spikes of its highly- 
coloured and densely-spotted flowers, called up 
memories of shows at Manchester in days gone by. 
Cypripediums were very numerous and gay, a very 
fine form of C. exul striking the eye immediately on 
entering Cymbidiutn eburneum, Cattleya citrina on 
blocks, and many others deserve mention ; but these 
will give a slight idea of some of the good things 
grown here.— W. Swan, Exmouth. 
- % • - 
BARE SPACES UNDER TREES. 
I have frequently noticed in otherwise well-kept 
gardens large bare spaces under trees where this 
condition of things prevails in conspicuous positions. 
The aspect of affairs is highly unsatisfactory ; and 
although the choice of plants suitable for the 
clothing of these barren spots is a rather restricted 
one, what few things there are available for the 
purpose are well adapted for planting in the positions 
indicated. The foremost plant is the Ivy, and 
where large spaces are sought to be covered chiefly 
by it, the great variety of foliage both as respects 
form and colour embraced among the many 
varieties, which are now obtainable at a moderate 
cost, should lead those who are about to carry out 
work of this kind to plant as a groundwork the 
ordinary Irish Ivy. Either brick burrs or the butt 
of the roots of trees may be scattered about and 
plants of either variegated or distinct foliage 
varieties trained over them. 
Ivy is not one of the quickest things in establish¬ 
ing itself,especially under the condition of things I am 
here contemplating, where the soil will be in an 
exhausted condition and permeated with roots. A 
good dressing of fresh soil should be spread on, say 
from three to four inches, more if available will be 
better, having first broken up the old soil. This 
will give whatever is planted a good start, whether 
Ivy or the few other things we are about to specify, 
which afterwards will be well able to take care of 
themselves. 
The creeping rooted St. John's Wort, Hypericum 
calycinum, is possibly next to Ivy the best plant we 
have to grow under the shade of trees, and when 
established will require but little attention beyond 
cutting back the old growths occasionally. We have 
seen it flowering well under these conditions, 
