March 17, 1900 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
461 
parent for the purpose of getting fine new forms by 
artificial hybridisation. 
Dendrobium primulinum. —The primrose- 
yellow Dendrobe is not without its admirers in this 
country, though the species has never attained the 
popularity of such fine things as D. nobile, D. 
wardianum and D. crassinode. Its cultivation is 
easier, however, than that of the two latter, for 
amateurs have succeeded in maintaining it in 
vigorous condition year after year, and in flowering 
it. The question is not very clear as to whether the 
specific name was given in allusion to the Primrose- 
yellow of the lip, or to the scent of the flowers, 
which might be compared to that of a Primrose. 
The flowers usually make their appearance about 
the present time, earlier or later, according to treat¬ 
ment, and weather conditions. A very good form of 
the species is represented in the Lindenia, PI. 686. 
The stout pseudobulbs are of medium length, 
decurved in the usual way, and furnished with 
flowers almost throughout their length. The sepals, 
petals and base of the lip externally are purple, 
shaded with white towards the base. The variety 
D. p. giganteum is a much rarer plant, and is 
characterised by the greater size of its flowers, the 
lip alone measuring if in. across, whereas the whole 
flower of D. primulinum is only a little over in. 
in diameter. 
Hardening Siscellany. 
CYPERUS ELEGANS. 
In all respects except in the point of size C. elegans 
duplicates C. alternifolius. I do not know how huge 
it might grow, having always confined it to small 
pots for use in the stove. But merely accepting it 
as it is, as a handy little warm-house plant, I have 
a capital word of praise for it. We want such 
plants as this. It costs no worry to propagate or to 
grow, and for use in cool rooms it can be safely 
recommended. By-the-bye, I find the Cyperus 
emits both roots and shoots from cuttings of the 
flower-head. Cut off the tassel-like flower head 
and trim the little stalk sharp up to the base of 
the cluster of flowers. Prepare shallow saucers of 
pure sand, and after making this wet, dibble in the 
little flower head-cuttings very neatly. Keep the 
saucer supplied with water, and the propagating case 
nicely warm, and very soon a break appears from 
the centre of the flower truss. 
JACARANDA M1MOSAEFOLIA. 
Only one or two species of Jacarandas are in culti¬ 
vation. The above is a fine sample of an ornamental 
stove plant. In appearance it takes after the pattern 
of Acacia lophantha, only it is finer. Or again it is 
well described in being called mimosaefolia, for its 
leaves are in many respects identical with those of 
the Sensitive Plant. Nice plants should not be 
allowed o to go higher than 2 ft., a height suitable for 
the stage. Cuttings may be taken as soon from now 
as one can get them, though early summer is none 
too late. Under a bell glass or in a close case they 
root freely. Plants grown as single stems are most 
frequently seen, but as a bush plant there is no reason 
to doubt but that it would be successful.— P. 
ASPARAGUS CRISPUS 
It is possible that many readers of The Gardening 
World are unacquainted with this finest of all the 
Asparaguses cultivated in our gardens. If a natural 
sized figure of A. Sprengerii was shown upon a 
screen through a lantern, and then reduced in size, 
we should have A. crispus before us. It grows 
close, that is, the shoots are numerous. As an 
additional member to a collection of decorative 
Aparaguses it would be all very well, but to those 
who wish their space for other purposes this species 
may very well be omitted. 
COLOCASIA ANTIQUORUM. 
What the exact difference between the Colocasias 
and Caladiums is not apparent on the surface. The 
above plant is entirely green, a deep, bright green, 
and the leaves are altogether like those of a Calad- 
ium. To see good plants with their large leaves now 
just being thrown up, especially those which are 
planted out in an indoor border, is a fine sight 
indeed. 
ORNAMENTED BUTCHERS BROOM. 
In Covent Garden may be seen shoots of the neat 
growing Butcher’s Broom, variously glistening with 
the dyed seeds or perhaps grains of coarse sand—at 
least some such-like matter, which has been 
heavily sprinkled over both the leaves and 
the stems. The dyes used have been a tint of 
red, and a verdigris colour. Each colour is confined 
to certain parts, as the red to the tips, and the ver¬ 
digris hue to the stems and axes. The effect is 
pretty in its way, and branches so treated are suitable 
for mantel-shelf vases. In what way the coloured 
grains are made to stick I do not know.— M. 
SOCIETIES. 
Nearly all the available space in the Drill Hall was 
occupied with exhibits, consisting of spring flower¬ 
ing subjects and forced stuff. Azalea mollis was 
present in great quantity and variety. There were 
also groups of Cinerarias, collections of Orchids, 
Chinese Primulas, stove and greenhouse plants, 
Daffodils, Ferns, ornamental Cherries, &c. 
A group of Orchids was exhibited by J. Bradshaw, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. WhiffeD), The Grange, 
Southgate. Cattleya Trianaei, C. T. alba, C. T. 
amesiana, C. T. amoena, Odontoglossum Mrs. J. 
Bradshaw, O. Hallii leucoglossum, and Coelogyne 
cristata alba, were the more important features 
of his exhibit. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Bush Hill Park, 
Enfield, set up a pleasing group of Orchids, includ¬ 
ing well-flowered pieces of Dendrobium brymerianum, 
D. wardianum Lowii, D. barbatulum, D. Ainsworthii 
intertextum, D. Madonna, also several varieties of 
Odontoglossum crispum, in variety, and the pretty 
Colax jugosus. The two first named Dendrobes 
were notable for the great size of the plants. 
R. G. Thwaites, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. M. Black), 
Chessington, Christchurch Road, Streatham, staged 
a small group of Orchids, consisting of Dendrobium 
nobile, D. n. amesiana, D. n. nobilius, D, n. 
burfordiense, Odontoglossum crispum, O. ander- 
sonianum, and others. 
T. B. Haywood, Esq. (gardener, Mr. C. J. Salter), 
Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, set up a group of 
splendidly grown and flowered Dendrobiums, mostly 
hybrids. Very handsome were D. Homer schneideria- 
num, D. splendidissimum giganteum, D. s. grandi- 
florum (covered with flowers of large size), D. Virgil, 
D. picturatum, D. splendidissimum purpureum, 
D. s. albo-roseum, and various others. One plant of 
D. Virgil was notable for its size, and the great pro¬ 
fusion of flowers covering four of the stems. Alto¬ 
gether this was the finest lot of Orchids at the 
meeting. (Silver Flora Medal ) 
Mr. James Cypher, Cheltenham, staged a group 
of Orchids, consisting chiefly of Dendrobiums. Very 
fine were D. nobile nobilius, D. Wiganiae, D. nobile 
Cooksonii, D. Cybele grandiflorum, some very pretty 
seedlings of hybrids, a richly coloured variety of D. 
splendidissimum and several others. Masdevallia 
Veitchi grandiflora was also fine. 
A. H. Wingfield, Esq. (gardener, Mr. A. J. Emp- 
som) Amptbill House, Ampthiil, showed several 
hybrid Cypripediums. Major Joicey (gardener, Mr. 
F. J Thorne), Sunningdale Park, SunniDgdale, was 
awarded a Cultural Commendation for a splendid 
piece of Dendrobium atroviolaceum on a raft, and 
bearing ninety-three flowers, with other spikes still 
to come. He also had a fine piece of Lyca^te 
linguela, and Laelia jongheana. Baron Schroder 
(gardener, Mr. H. Ballantyne), The Dell, Egham, 
showed the handsome Odontoglossum elegans 
Eastwood Park var. Odontoglossum elegantius 
variety was exhibited by Walter Cob, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. J. Howes), Dulcote, Tunbridge Wells. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, had 
some splendid hybrids in Laeliocattleya dominiana 
langleyensis, Lc. Antimachus Caenea, Lc. Pisandra, 
and Dendrobium Imogene. Cattleya Trianaei regalis 
was staged by J. Bradshaw, Esq. Norman C. Cook- 
son, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Murray), Oakwood, Wylam- 
on-Tyne, exhibited Phaius Norman grandis, and P. 
N. pulcheirimus in fine form. N. G. Fletcher, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. H. Garnett), Mount Harry, Brighton, 
had Odontoglossum crispum Fay Fletcher, and O. 
wilckeanum albens, both fine vars. Thos. Baxter, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. R. Roberts), Oakfield, More- 
cambe, staged the striking peloria form of Odonto¬ 
glossum named O. crispum Oakfield Sunrise. 
Messrs. Barr & Sons, King Street, Covent Gar¬ 
den, were strong in Daffodils and all kinds of hardy 
plants. The colouring of the Daffodils was much 
deeper than on a previous occasion, and the forms of 
them are likewise more perfect, the result of the ad¬ 
vancement of the season. Some five vases of N. 
poeticus ornatus were shown; Golden Spur, Sir 
Watkin, Henry Irving, &c., were likewise strong and 
good. The hardy Cyclamen Coum or rubrum, in 
pots ; a numerous collection of Crocuses, Iris reticu¬ 
lata, Glory of the Snow, Snowdrops, Scillas and a 
collection of species of Christmas Roses were also 
shown. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, ex¬ 
hibited sixteen plants of the so-called double Cherry 
Cerasus-Pseudo-Cerasus Watered, some as tall stan¬ 
dards, others more or less in bush form, but all laden 
with pink flower trusses. They also exhibited two 
baskets of a new variety or species of Chinese 
Primula of the pyramidalis type. The footstalks 
are strong and the verticells of pure white flowers 
are well disposed and very showy. The lobes of the 
corolla are rounded and smooth. Mrs. Harry 
Veitch is the name of the new variety. A showy 
basket was that of theirs containing Rhododendron 
indicum var. Kaempferi, a deep rosy-pink bloomer 
and very graceful. They arranged a collection of 
Chinese Primulas showing the various strains and 
kinds at present under development. The quality of 
the plants was of the first water and in variety very 
varied. Gigantic Rose and Veitch’s Gigantic Blue 
ate varieties of much beauty. (Silver Gilt Banksian 
Medal.) 
Messrs. R. & G. Cuthbert, Southgate, showed 
Azalea mollis var. Brilliant, a very showy orange-red 
variety. A. leucanthemum alba, a dwarf pure white 
semi-double, is a most charming little plant. They 
also set up a large collection of Azaleas of the mollis, 
sinensis and hybrid strains. The most brilliant and 
strongest flowered varieties were A. m. x S. Anthony 
Koster, a deep rich yellow touched with orange ; 
A. m. Mdme. G. Legrelle d’Havis, a soft tone of 
pink with an orange throat; A. m. Alphonse 
Levallee, deep rosy-pink with orange throat and 
close clusters of rather small flowers. Numerous 
of their seedlings were of much merit. (Silver 
Banksian Medal.) 
The Church Road Nursery Co., Hanwell, W. 
(Messrs. G. Bowles), setup a collection of Cyclamen 
latifolium, well flowered young plants of some 
excellence. Particularly good were the white 
flowered varieties, better samples than some of those 
included in this lot never having been seen at the 
Drill Hall. (Silver Gilt Banksian.) 
Messrs. J. Hill & Son, Barrowfield Nursery, Lower 
EdmontoD, arranged a very fine collection of Ferns, 
mostly stove species. The pretty long-tailed 
Asplenium caudatum was prominent, Cibotium 
Schiedi, Lomaria, and other taller Ferns were used 
in the back ground. Adiantum scutum roseum, 
A. Faulkneri, Nothcchlaena sinuata, Pteris intemata, 
a very pretty little thing, Actinopteris australis, 
Athyrium goringianum pictum, Gymnogramme 
argyrophylla, Doodia aspera multifida, &c., &c., may 
all be named as among the finest ornamental Ferns 
we possess ; and were exhibited. (Silver Gilt Bank¬ 
sian Medal. 
Messrs. John Peed & Son, Roupell Park Nurser¬ 
ies, Norwood Road, London, S.E., exhibited a 
miscellaneous collection ol greenhouse soring flower¬ 
ing plants, such as Cytisus racemosus, Ericas in 
variety, CyclameD, Cineraries, Mignonette, and the 
beautiful yellow Abutibn. (Silver Gilt Banksian 
Medal.) 
Messrs. J. James & Son,Woodside.Farnham,Slough, 
had greenhouse Cineraries, whose particular merit 
lay in the enormous size of the individual blooms. 
The plants were very dwarf and floriferous, exhibi¬ 
ting a great range of colour. 
Mr. Geo. Mount, of Canterbury, was again strong 
in cut Roses ; Mrs. John Laing, Capt. Hayward, and 
Catherine Mermet, all strong and deeply coloured, 
were present. 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush, Highgate, London, N.J 
showed forced spring flowering shrubs, Ericas and 
Epacris, Staphylea colchica, Spiraea prunifolia, one 
of the prettiest of spring shrubs for forcing, Acacia 
Drummondi, Amygdalus communis fl. pi., Pyrus 
Malus floribunda, and other plants were shown in 
extensive numbers. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
