June 25, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
685 
the swelling seed capsule some support. The cap¬ 
sules of cultivated plants took longer to ripen than 
those of wild ones, and hence the seed should be 
sown immediately it was ripe, no matter what the 
season. Mr. Seden had practised with great success 
the plan of sowing seed on the compost in which 
established plants of the same species were growing. 
To do this the sphagnum was clipped back, the seed 
carefully sprinkled over the surface, the celluloid 
label with the date and other particulars of the cross 
attached, and the plant watered as usual. Nothing but 
rain water was ever used. Of course, in watering, 
care had to be taken not to wash the seed 
oft, but no matter how carefully watering was 
done, some of the seed would perish thus. One of 
the most fruitful causes of failure was the presence 
of low forms of vegetable life which spread over 
this compost in which the young plants 
were. As these pests generally appeared in 
freshly made-up material this was a great point in 
favour of Mr. Seden's plan. Where freshly made-up 
compost was employed for sowing the seed upon, it 
was necessary to sterilise it. This might be done in 
two ways, first by watering with or steeping in 
boiling water, and secondly by baking. He preferred 
the former method as it was less likely to destroy the 
fibre of the peat. The pots and crocks should be 
perfectly clean, and sphagnum moss should be used 
sparingly or not at all. The seed pots or pans should 
either be supsended from the roof or placed on a shelf 
near the glass. A Wardian case was a very suitable 
place for them, but he preferred a propagating case 
covered with loose sheets of glass which could be 
arranged at will. As soon as the young plants were 
big enough to handle they should be pricked off into 
pans or Orchid pots. At this stage it was very 
important to avoid too much ventilation; in fact, 
with all warm Orchids during spring and summer, 
this caution was necessary. He had occasionally 
seen Orchid houses with their top ventilators open 
during the prevalence of cold east winds. 
In conclusion, the lecturer pointed out that home 
raised Orchids had a great advantage over imported 
ones, seeing that they were much better able to 
withstand the vicissitudes of our climate. 
In the discussion which followed, Mr. Hurst spoke 
of the pseudo-fertilisation of Odontoglossum crispum 
which had come under his notice. The capsules, 
however, contained no seed, but only the remains of 
a few shrivelled ovules. 
Mr. De B. Crawshay spoke of Cymbidium lowia- 
num fertilising its own pods. 
Mr. Rolf said that there were two or three species 
of Orchids which had a habit of self-fertilisation, 
including Maxillaris rufescens and Dendrobium 
crepidatum. Speaking of natural hybrids, he said 
that although they had been severely criticised who 
had attributed the intermediate forms of certain 
Orchids to a hybrid origin, yet it had been proved 
that they had had good grounds for so doing. Thus 
Laeliocattleya schilleriana elegans had been found, 
as what was then supposed, to be a natural hybrid, 
and proof of this hybridity was afforded by the fact 
that it had been obtained artificially by crossing 
Laelia purpurata and Cattleya intermedia. 
Dr. Masters also made some remarks upon the 
formation of pseudo capsules. He said it was 
simply due to irritation of the stigmas, and was not 
confined to Orchids, being quite common amongst 
Lilies. 
A vote of thanks to Mr. O'Brien brought the 
meeting to a close. 
-—- 
SOCIETIES. 
THE GRAND YORKSHIRE GALA .-June 15th, i6th, 
and 17 th. 
Our readers will remember the catastrophe which 
overtook the York Gala last year, when the winds 
of heaven blew upon the tents and they fell; also 
the losses felt by the society in the deaths during the 
same year of the chairman, Sir Joseph Terry, 
and the vice-chairman, Mr. Edward Rooke. In 
view of this series of misfortunes, it is highly grati¬ 
fying to be able to record the fact that the gala this 
year has been a brilliant success in every way. Not 
only were the entries more numerous than ever, 
but the quality of the exhibits was of the highest, 
whilst the weather was ideal, and the arrangements, 
as usual, perfect. Under such circumstances the 
‘ gate ’ was an exceedingly heavy one, as, indeed, it 
had need to be when we consider that the council 
offer £750 in prizes. As in previous years, the ex¬ 
hibition was held in the grounds of the Bootham 
Asylum, in the-grand old cathedral city of York, the 
general plan of the marquees accommodating the 
exhibits also being the same as on past occasions. 
Some difference in the disposition of the exhibits 
was, however, manifest, the great bank of Pelar¬ 
goniums, which formerly occupied a prominent 
position in the main marquee, having been relegated 
to one of the smaller side tents, and its place occu¬ 
pied by a superb array of Orchids. 
In the competitive classes, the first prize for a 
group of miscellaneous plants arranged for effect, 
and occupying a space of 300 sq. ft., was well won 
by Mr. G. J Mee, of Nottingham, with a light and 
tasteful combination, in which Palms, Crotons and 
Orchids, especially Odontoglossum crispum, figured 
conspicuously. Sir James Reckett, Bart, (gardener, 
Mr. Geo. Wilson), Swanland Manor, Brough, was 
second ; whilst Mrs. Gurney Pease (gardener, Mr. J. 
McIntyre), Woodside, Darlington, was third. 
The specimen stove and greenhouse plants are 
always a prominent feature at the Yorkshire Gala, 
and on this occasion they were fully up to the mark. 
Mr. J. Cypher, of Cheltenham, repeated his successes 
of former years in this connection, carrying off the 
chief prize for ten specimens with superb samples 
of Bougainvillea Cypheri, Pimelea dionaefolia, 
Clerodendron Balfouri, Erica depressa, Cycas undu- 
lata and Latania borbonica amongst other subjects. 
Mr. G. Letts, gardener to the Marquis of Zetland, 
Aske Hall, was second , and Mr. William Vause was 
third. Mr. J. Cypher was likewise first for six 
plants, three Cape Heaths, and one greenhouse Aza¬ 
lea ; whilst Mr. J. McIntyre scored for six and three 
ornamental fine foliage plants in their respective 
classes, four Crotons of distinct forms, six and three 
exotic Ferns. 
In the open classes for Orchids Mr. J.Cypher carried 
all before him. His most notable success was the 
winning of the Victoria Prize (£20 and a Gold 
Medal) for the group occupying 150 sq. ft. Palms, 
Azaleas, Bamboos, and Asparagus were all employed 
to give height and lightness to the exhibit. Mr. J. 
Robson, of Altrincham, received the second prize. 
Mr. Cypher's other firsts were for ten, six and three 
Orchids in full bloom. 
In the classes for cut flowers there was a lot of 
capital material forthcoming. The premier exhibit 
of the hardy element occupying 18 ft. x 4 ft. came 
from Messrs. Harkness & Son, Bedale. Roses, as 
might have been expected from the inclement 
weather, were not up to the mark. The premier 
award for 72, in 36 varieties, went to Messrs. A. 
& J. May, Bedale, who, despite the untoward 
climatal conditions had good blooms of Ulrich 
Brunner, Caroline Testout, La France, and 
Marechal Niel. Mr. G. Mount, of Canterbury, 
was second in this class, but led for 48 blooms, 
with Captain Hayward, Mrs. John Laing, Cleo¬ 
patra. and Ulrich Brunner good. Messrs. A. & J. 
May were second. The same order was preserved 
in the class for 36 blooms distinct, Mr. Mount 
securing first, and Messrs. A. & J. May, second. 
The fruit classes were well patronised, and a 
good deal of interest centred about the competition 
for the decorated table to carry from ten to four¬ 
teen dishes. Mr. J. Tullett, gardener to Lord 
Barnard, Raby Castle, won the chief honour, hav¬ 
ing a table prettily decorated with Odontoglossums 
and Schizanthuses, and carrying grand dishes of 
Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria 
Grapes, Brown Turkey Figs, Royal Sovereign and 
James Veitch Strawberries, besides Peaches, 
Melons, Pineapples, Bananas, and two Melons. 
Mr. Goodacre, gardener to the Earl of Harrington, 
was second, and Mr. J. Mclndoe, gardener to Sir 
J. W. Pease, Bart., M.P., Hutton Hall, Guis- 
borough, was third. 
The premier collection of vegetables came from 
Mr. J. Mclndoe, who staged a grand lot of stuff. 
In the classes for six kinds of vegetables in which 
special prizes were offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
of Reading, and Messrs. Webb & Sons, of Stour¬ 
bridge, Mr. Mclndoe was an easy winner. 
The various non-competitive exhibits constituted 
an attractive feature of the show. Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co., of Bush Hill Park, Enfield, staged a 
grand lot of Orchids in which were many fine 
Cattleyas, Laelias and Odontoglossums; also the 
choice Cypripedium lawrenceanum hyeanum. 
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, also 
sent a splendid collection of Orchids, amongst which 
some grand forms of Laeliocattleya stood out 
prominently. Of these Lc. Hippolyta, Lc. Eudora 
Langleyensis, and Lc. canhamiana superba were 
specially noticeable. The scarce Vanda cristata 
superba was also well shown. The Chelsea firm had 
also a huge st^pd of magnificent Caladiums, as well 
as Streptocarpus and miscellaneous flowering and 
foliage plants. 
In the group of Orchids contributed by Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries, Upper Holloway, N., the Odontoglossums 
were much admired, some exceedingly fine spikes 
being on view. From the same firm came some good 
Malmaison Carnations. 
Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, of Highgate, had one 
of their tastefully set-up groups of Malmaisons, 
Azaleas, Ericas, and other flowering subjects, with 
the requisite complement of greenery. 
The Caladiums sent by Messrs. John Peed & Sons, 
Roupell Park Nurseries, Norwood, S.E , were, as 
usual, fir.-t-class, and contained several new varieties 
of note. The Norwood firm also had tuberous 
Begonias, named Gloxinias, and Streptocarpuses in 
variety, all in capital condition 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, had a magni¬ 
ficent lot of Feas and Tomatos in their fine array of 
vegetables, all of the plants being heavily cropped. 
Amongst the Gloxinias shown from Reading was 
that splendid white variety, Her Majesty. A Gold 
Medal was deservedly awarded here. 
Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray, Handsworth 
Nurseries, Sheffield, had three distinct exhibits that 
occupied in all some 600 sq. ft. In addition to 
a representative group of haidy ornamental trees 
and shrubs, of which the firm has long made a 
specialty, was a grand bank of Rhododendrons of the 
leading varieties, and a capital group of stove 
plants. 
The group of new plants sent by Messrs. F. 
Sander & Co., St. Albans, contained Dracaena san- 
deriana, D. godseffiana, D. Van der Biltii, and that 
plant of the year, Acalypha Sanderi. A choice lot 
of Orchids was staged in association with these. 
Amongst other noteworthy exhibitors were 
Messrs. R. Smith & Co., of Worcester; Dicksons, 
Ltd., of Chester ; Clibran & Sons, Altrincham ; and 
Jarman & Co., Chard, all of whom showed hardy 
flowers in great profusion and variety. Messrs. R. 
Smith & Co. also had some of their fine, trained 
Clematises in pots, all of them being exceptionally 
full of flower. Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, Sale, 
Manchester, sent Ferns in great variety, and of the 
high quality that we expect to see from this source. 
Plants illustrating the value of Ichthemic Guano as 
a fertiliser came from the Ichthemic Guano Com¬ 
pany, Ipswich. Mr. M. Campbell, High Blantyre, 
showed show, fancy, and bedding Pansies and 
Violas in capital style, most of the leading varieties 
being represented. Mr. S Mortimer, of Rowledge, 
Farnham, Hants, showed some excellent new 
Cucumbers, seedlings from that time-honoured 
favourite, Telegraph. 
COLCHESTER .—June 1 6th. 
The summer show of the Colchester Rose and Hor¬ 
ticultural Society was held on the above date in the 
charming grounds of Hill House, Colchester, the 
residence of Mr. C. E. Egerton-Green, and was 
favoured by bright, sunny weather. So far the Rose 
season has been anything but a good one, and Col¬ 
chester, among the rest, has suffered. The entries 
were fewer, but the quality was well sustained. 
Roses were, of course, the backbone of the show. 
Competition was very keen amongst the growers, 
and there was a series of tough fights in the open 
classes. Mr. Geo. Mount, of Canterbury, scored a 
signal success for the thirty-six single trusses, dis¬ 
tinct. He was followed in the second and third 
places respectively by Messrs. D. Prior & Son and 
Mr. B. R. Cant, both of Colchester, The best 
twelve single trusses, either Teas or Noisettes, came 
from Mr. Geo. Prince, Oxford, the Colchester 
growers, Messrs. Frank Cant & Co. and Mr. B. R. 
Cant, following in the order of mention. Messrs. 
Frank Cant, B. R. Cant, and Paul & Son, Cheshunt, 
won in order of mention for twelve distinct garden 
or decorative Roses, so here Colchester had her 
revenge. Mr. G. Prince received a Gold Medal for 
a grand single bloom of Souvenir d’un Ami. 
In the amateurs’ classes, Mr, R. E. West, 
