396 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 17, 1900. 
ORCHID NOTES ft GLEANINGS, 
By the Editor. 
Sobralia xantholeuca.—In this species we have 
one of the finest Sobralias, the flowers being as large 
as those of the better known S. macrantba, while the 
habit is in every way similar. The sepals and petals 
are lemon-yellow, and the rounded lamina of the lip 
is more or less wavy on the margins, on the whole 
more or less crumpled, like the most of the Sobralia®, 
and of a more lively yellow than the rest of the 
flower. The throat is intensified to deep yellow, 
while there is a white blotch in front of the disc, and 
the margins of the anterior lobe are of the same hue. 
The Lindenia, PI. 678, gives a full page coloured 
illustration of it. The species was first described or 
recorded in M. Verschaffelt’s nursery, in 1880. 
It was discovered by M. H. Von Turkheim, at Alta 
Paz, Province of San Cristobal, Guatemala, at an 
elevation of 1,350 metres above sea level. The 
specimens gathered at that time were offered by 
Captain J. Donnel Smith, of Baltimore, to the Royal 
Gardens, Kew. More recently a fine variety his 
turned up in the collection of Sir Frederick Wigan, 
Bart., Clare Lawn, East Sheen. This was named S. 
x. wiganiana, and is notable for its creamy-white 
sepals and petals, lightly shaded in places with rose. 
The creamy-white lip is chrome-yellow in the throat, 
the whole being mixed with pale rosy-lilac. 
Odontoglossum retusum.— Amid the larger 
flowered Odontoglots the above stands out with con¬ 
spicuousness and effect at this dull time. The plant 
is dwarf and neat, throwing out when well flowered 
a profusion of long, arching racemes, closely studded 
with deep orange-coloured flowers. The colour 
alone is sufficient recommendation, even if its 
flowering qualities were weaker. The sepals and 
petals are lanceolate acute, the lip oblong retuse, the 
effect of the folding or thickening at the mouth being 
a peculiarity of O. retusum. The species belongs to 
Ecuador, South America, and is not at all common. 
It is flowering at Kew. 
Cynorchis Lowii.—This slender little Orchid is 
also gracing the cool houses at Kew just now. It is 
exceedingly pretty. The lip of the rosy-mauve 
flowers appears subject to slight modifications in 
number of the incisions. The apical lobe is neatly 
and slightly notched, the two side lobes being entire. 
In the Cynorchises the lip almost is the sole attrac¬ 
tive portion, sepals and petals being too minute, 
these being also greenish-white. 
Aerides vandarum.—Fortunate are those who 
possess a good specimen of this beautiful pure white 
cool house species. It has frequently been described, 
and nothing more popularly than by comparing the 
habit of the leaves and stem growth, to that of a 
miniature Vanda teres. The flowers are intricately 
twisted in their parts, pure white, borne in pairs, and 
in some respects resemble those of Odontoglossum 
crispum. 
EARLY FLOWERING SHRUBS. 
The Witch Hazel, Hamamelis arborea. —This 
Japanese shrub (the Cape and Japan furnish us 
with many of our pretty shrubs) is of moderately 
tall growth compared with other Hazels, and a 
capital plant for effect at the present time. In shel¬ 
tered corners, masses or groups of the H. arborea 
are throwing forth a yellow gleam, or cloud, for the 
Colour is too Primrose-like to create a blaze. The 
flowers are curious. The lemon-primrose petals are 
about one inch long and nicely twisted, the centre 
of the flower being a bright reddish-brown, while 
the calyx is claret coloured. They are borne in 
clusters of three or less, all along the length of the 
younger shoots. The habit of the shrub is some¬ 
what lax, and while the flowers are open the brown 
branches and twigs are bare. All the same, this is 
a very fine winter-blooming shrub. 
Garrya elliptica. —In quiet corners, such as are 
to be found in out-of-the-way north or west walls, 
aod on the lawns, this robust shrub is now in flower. 
The leaves and habit of the plant may be likened 
either to an Elaeagnus pungens, an Evergreen Oak, 
or a Sweet Bay, all of whose leaves the Garry;s 
resemble. They are beautifully dark green, leathery 
and cleanly cut. The flowers are borne on drooping 
catkins, and are yellowish-green. They make 
the shrub interesting. It is deciduous, the 
male plant throwing the best and longest catkins. 
G. elliptica is much thought of and fairly well known. 
The above may bring it to the mind of those to 
whom it has once been known ; to others not knowing 
it, it is to be recommended. In deep, well-drained 
soil, it succeeds as a shrubbery or wall subject. 
Daphne Mezereum. —This indigenous plant, the 
Mezereon, is worthy of a reference, even though we 
meet with it in gardens day and daily. In no place 
is it incongruous, be it the big or little rock garden, 
or in beds toward the edge of lawns, in backyard 
gardens, in workmen’s front “ plots,” anywhere, the 
sweet-scented, brave little shrub succeeds. Then 
the fruits when they swell up are also very attrac¬ 
tive. Last year, we had the Mezereon in flower 
before New Year's Day. It lasts in a showy state 
for months. March is the month during which it is 
at its best. The foliage breaks out when the flowers 
depart. A deep, very porous, rich soil and an open 
position suits it well. 
Chimonanthus fragrans. —It is a long time ago 
since the above was first introduced to our islands. 
It also is Japanese, and commonly called the Winter 
Flower. The blossoms are somewhat bell-shaped 
and pale yellow. They are borne singly on short 
stalks toward the points of the previous year's shoots. 
The older branches are grey and the bark not at all 
rough. Many seem to have the shrub in their 
gardens yet are unacquainted with its name. As 
with the other shrubs above noted, the blossoms are 
borne on leafless stems, blooming as it does during 
winter. C. f. grandiflora has larger flowers than the 
other type. A west or south-west wall should be 
spared for it.— H. D. 
VEGETABLES. 
At the Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Society, on February 8th, Mr. J. McLeod, of Dover 
House Gardens, Roehampton, delivered “Hints on 
Vegetables " in a short and practical paper. In his 
prefatory remarks Mr. McLecd assigned himself as 
a votary for thoroughly substantial culture, but cul¬ 
ture without any of its exce; ses. Medium-sized 
vegetables he preferred ; coarse and very large ones 
he, as a rule, renounced. Leeks in paper collars and 
other pet practices of eager exhibitors were not re¬ 
commended for everyday culture. 
Peas. —These Mr. McLeod used to sow in Novem¬ 
ber, but owing to his unsuitable soil he has found 
more gain from sowings made in 6 in. pots later on. 
From seven to nice seeds are placed in a pot, and 
after germination the plants are grown on steadily 
till the middle of March, when they are planted out 
into prepared trenches. While here they are pro¬ 
tected in their earlier stage by the use of Spruce 
branches. Peas so treated come in for use fourteen 
days earlier than others sown in the open. The 
variety for this early sowing is Veitch's Extra Early. 
Veitch's Exonian and Veitch's Earliest Marrow Pea 
were others which received praise. The trenches 
are properly prepared, being 9 in. to 10 in. broad 
and 4 in. deep. Between the drills 4 ft. is allowed 
for the earliest sowings, with an extra 2 ft. for the 
later crops. Should the weather be very dry at the 
time of midseason sowings, both the Peas and the 
ground where they are sown should be soaked. Such 
treatment causes one week in earlier results from 
the sowing. Another good hint was to sow in quan¬ 
tity those varieties which were proved most suitable 
to the district. Mulchings to the roots of the Peas 
and waterings with both liquid manure and clear 
water were strongly recommended. 
French Beans. —The first sowing of these for out¬ 
side should be made in April,six seeds being placed in 
a 6 in. pot. Thin the plants out to three, and re¬ 
move the seedlings from the warm pit to a cooler 
house. Later on, place the pots in colds frames and 
gradually hardeD off till the sashes can be left off so 
late as 10 o’clock at night. Then plant out in pre¬ 
pared lines, taking great care to protect them nightly 
till they become established, Two rows of Beans 
are put into trenches 4 in. broad. 
Beet.— Make the first sowing in April and thin 
out the seedlings to 9 in. apart. Pragnell’s Crimson, 
Veitch’s Selected Crimson and Improved Black, 
with Sutton’s Globe were the varieties enumerated 
in this selection. Care in lifting and storing of the 
roots was emphasised. 
Cauliflowers. —Mr. McLeod's soil being too 
light lor the production of satisfactory heads, he 
proceeded to make a suitable brake by deep work¬ 
ing, and by the liberal addition of materials which 
effected a mechanical change. For an early supply 
sow in the autumn and plant in March. The seed¬ 
lings in the one case and the young plants in the 
other should both be well protected. Veitch’s Extra 
Early Forcing is relied upon, the plants being now 
(February) in the seed-leaf stage. 
Broccoli are planted by the aid of a crowbar on 
hard ground. 
Carrots had to have a special bed made for them 
as for other crops. From his thorough preparation 
of the ground, and from the care taken in the after¬ 
growth, few or no pests ever trouble his crops. A 
general survey of the kitchen garden crops was 
made, the audience testifying its appreciation at the 
conclusion. 
- — 
HARDY SHRUBS FOR INDOOR 
BLOOMING. 
The lovers of hardy flowering plants, says Joseph 
Meehan, in The American Florist, finds himself at 
times in need of their blooms at a season much earlier 
than the outdoor weather conditions allow of their 
development. Thus it behoves him to force them 
in a warmed conservatory. Some of the following 
may be taken as suitable for the purposeJapanese 
Maples, flowering Almond, Magnolia stellata, 
Chimonanthus fragrans, Daphne Mezereum, 
Deutzia gracilis, Forsythia viridissima, Lonicera 
fragrantissima, Spiraea Van Houttei, S. Thunbergii, 
Viburnum plicatum, V. Opulus, dwarf Lilies, 
Weigelas, Briers, Jasmines, and very many similar 
shrubby plants which will arise in this connection 
may be used. Almost all early spriog-floweiing 
plants or shrubs are available for winter blooming, 
but those named above are admirably adapted. 
Nice sized pots or boxes must be looked out, and at 
the same time, suitable plants of a fresh, stout 
appearance. Pot them firmly and place them in a 
cool shed or housj. The date of their introduction 
to heat all depends. Jasminum nudiflorum, Daphne 
Mezereum, Chimonanthus fragrans, and Lonicera 
fragrantissima, flower almost as soon as they are 
brought into heat. If there are two or three plants 
each of thrse they can be brought on successively 
till spring. 
-«*»-——- 
Gardening ||is€ellany. 
IRIS PSEUD-ACORUS. 
It is well-known that in the large tribe of Irises, 
especially members of the beardless section, many 
species have special needs, singular likings, &c. Our 
common Water Flag or Yellow Iris is peculiarly an 
aquatic species, as may be observed by the roods of 
lake margins which it covers in some parts of this 
country. On the west coast of Scotland away behind 
the shelter of surrounding hills, this yellow Iris 
spreads in a great broad margin, with out-jutting 
columns and sheets throughout and around the 
muddy edges of a quiet and imprisoned body of water. 
Another instance of a different type is recalled. Con¬ 
trary to being sheltered, or at least only protected by 
sparse woodland belts and undulating environs, this 
Iris was almost in as great luxuriance as in the west 
coast station. It is thus proved to be perfectly 
hardy, and also that a muddy bed with a covering of 
water or without water, but with plenty of under 
moisture, are conditions in which it can be grown 
well. It grows from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, flowering 
during early summer and onwards. Plantings might 
well be made at a few points of suitable land, and 
the spread of the plant may be left to itself. I. 
laevigata ought also to be put out in a subaquatic 
position.— D. 
THE OLDEST TREE IN THE WORLD. 
The oldest tree in the world is reported to be an Oak, 
on the Island of Cos, in Asia Minor, which, accord¬ 
ing to a painstaking investigator, has attained the 
very respectable age of 2,900 years. The authority 
has arrived at his conclusion from a careful examin¬ 
ation of the ground. Tradition has it that the philo¬ 
sopher Hippocrates, who was born on the island, 
often assembled his pupils under the welcome shade 
of the branches of this very tree. Now, Hippocrates 
lived five centuries before the Christian era, and if 
this is the same old tree, it has indeed a fine record 
