July 14, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
727 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
By the Editor. 
Orchids from Fairfield, Aberdeen.— A box of 
Orchid blooms, chiefly Cattleyas, reached us recently 
from Mr. Alex. Grigor, gardener to A. O. Gill, 
Esq., Fairfield, Aberdeen. The Cattleyas were by 
far the most bulky and conspicuous, on account of 
the great size of the blooms. Very fine was Cattleya 
gigas, owing to the great breadth of its elliptic 
petals. C. g. sanderiana had slightly narrower 
petals, but the rich crimson-purple of the lip more 
than compensated for the deficiency, if such it might 
be called. Accompanying the others was a good 
average form of C. Mossiae, and a large and richly- 
coloured bloom of the summer-flowering C. Warneri, 
which strongly recalls some colour varieties of C. 
labiata if it were not for the different seasons of 
flowering. By the time C. Warneri and C. gaskel- 
liana have done flowering, only a few weeks will 
elapse before C. dowiana aurea again takes up the 
thread of continuity. A long and well-flowered 
spike of Laelia cinnabarina was notable for the rich 
and bright scarlet colour of the blooms. A large 
bloom of Sobralia macrantha had its lip of a rich, 
dark, rose-purple. Accompanying it was a smaller 
bloom of another species. Mr. Grigor has a short- 
spiked form of Oncidium macranthum, which 
should be convenient where space to display the 
ordinary form is not very plentiful, particularly in 
the matter of head room. There is a considerable 
range of colour in Odontoglossum nebulosum, and 
the flower sent on this occasion was of large size, 
and richly spotted with clear brown markings on a 
pure white ground, and, therefore, a good one of its 
kind. 
■ 8 — - 
NATIONAL AMATEUR GARDENERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
On the evening of Tuesday, July 3rd, the members 
of the National Amateur Gardeners' Association 
held their midsummer flower show, and in conjunc¬ 
tion with it a conversazione in the Great Hall, 
Winchester House, Old Broad Street, E.C. The 
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London had 
promised to patronise the meeting, but unfortunately 
important civic duties necessitated bis presence 
elsewhere. In all respects the meeting of Tuesday, 
the 3rd inst., was an unqualified success. The 
show was good, the two halls which the exhibits 
required being comfortably filled ; and the classes 
were both effectively and conveniently disposed,thanks 
to the presence of Mr. T. G. Swales, the energetic 
show superintendent. If we may be allowed to 
pass the remark, we would say that the two halls 
at Winchester House were infinitely more suitable 
than the monster tent away up in Regent’s Park. 
Most of the interested members of the association 
lent their presence to the function. The following 
were noted: Mr. T. W. Sanders, president, Mr. 
and Mrs. D. B. Crane, Mr. Percy Waterer, Mr. 
Thos. Bevan, Mr. H. T. Wooderson, Mr. and Mrs. 
H. A. Needs, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. and Miss Gingell, 
Mr. and Mrs. A. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. A. Hoyles, 
Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs, Mr. 
and Mrs. G. W. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Hatting, Mrs. 
H. W. G. Morris (Thame), Mr. and Mrs. Volkes 
(Southampton), Dr. and Miss Sbackleton, Mr. and 
Mrs. Dudley, Benda, Miss Davis, Messrs. J. T. 
Dolby, Wm. Logan, H. Day, H. N. Collier, C. T. 
Green, W. D. Barnes, C. H. Alder, H. A. Smith, and 
others. A programme of instrumental and vocal 
music was rendered during the evening, while fruits 
and refreshments in liberal amount were distributed 
freely at intervals. 
The artistes one and all acquitted themselves to 
the fullest satisfaction of the audience, but indeed 
everyone was determined to enjoy the evening wily 
nily, and in this universal frame of mind, concord 
and harmony, laugh and joke from friend to friend, 
went round the large hall. It was in verity, a 
conversazione. The South London Quartette sang a 
number of glees which were greatly appreciated ; 
Messrs. H. J. Jones, Geo. J. Blunden, T. G. Swales, 
D. B. Crane, Gurney Russell, W. A. Hobbs, rendered 
songs ; while instrumental music came from the 
Misses Bruty, Mr. W. E. Bunclark, and Master 
Harry W. Comfort. Miss Ruby Forbes recited "The 
Baby Witness," and Misses L. Goodfellow, and 
Emmie Dunn, F.C.L., gave songs. Mr. Pennyston 
Miles as usual performed the duties of accompanist 
with great credit. 
The show, of course, was chiefly remarkable for 
the exhibits of hardy cut flowers, Sweet Peas, 
Violas and Roses. For nine trusses of any class of 
Rose, Mr. C. Smith came out first with a stand that 
would have been creditable to the largest growers. 
Mrs. J. Laing, Capt. Hayward, Mrs. J. W. Grant, 
and Suzanne M. Rodocanachi were models. Mr. J. 
Bateman was second- Tea Roses were poor. A 
Silver Medal was recommended to Mr. G. W. Cook 
for an exhibit of six blooms of Mrs. John Laing. 
Mrs. D. B. Crane was first for table decorations, 
showing a sweetly dressed table of Violas, Fern 
fronds, &c., in small glasses, over a white cloth. Mr. 
H. W. G. Morris was first for six bunches of Sweet 
Peas; Mr. G. W. Cook had the finest vase of Tea 
Roses. For a collection of ornamental grasses Mr. 
F. M. Vokes was first, having a fine lot of Bromus 
sterilis, Briza, Gynerium, Lagurus ovatus, Festuca, 
&c.; Mr. H. W. G. Morris followed second. Mrs. 
Taylor had the prize for the most tastefully dressed 
hand basket. Mr. H. A. Needs won Mr. R. Syden¬ 
ham's Sweet Pea trophy. There were three exhibits 
in this competition. Mr. D. B. Crane excelled him¬ 
self in his exhibit of Violas. His stand included a 
number of seedlings, the best of which was Jessie 
Cottee, a very large decided yet soft coloured yellow 
variety, having a deeper hued lip. Of this we 
are likely to hear more. Mr. H. J. Jones was 
another good seedling. Mr. H. A. Needs was first 
for a collection of cut flowers arranged for effect; 
second, Mr. H. W. G. Morris, and third, Mr. A. 
Taylor. These were very creditable. Mr. F. M. 
Vokes won for a collection of six sorts of vegetables. 
The officers of the society, including the president, 
Mr. T. W. Sanders, and hon. -sec., Mr. V. Stacy- 
Marks, and those already specially mentioned, 
deserve all the credit they get, though, of course, the 
fact of success after labour is their greatest satisfac¬ 
tion and reward. 
-» ! ■ — 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
Vandas. —It is not an easy matter to flower these 
freely annually, and at the same time keep the 
plants clothed to the rim of the pots with foliage ; 
in fact, the more they flower the greater the loss of 
leaves, so that in time they become leggy and un¬ 
sightly, and you have to cut them down. 
They are just now rooting freely and a'so pushing up 
their flower spikes, so that we feel constrained to 
leave them until later before cutting them down. 
Yet we think if the operation is done now it would 
be more successful, and there would be no further 
loss of leaves, as is the case when done later. The 
reason is not far to seek, for just now no fire heat, or 
but very little is needed, and the atmosphere can be 
kept charged with moisture so necessary to the pro¬ 
duction of roots, &c. Of course, if done now it is 
imperative to the future welfare of the plants that 
the most forward of the spikes be removed. 
The compost may consist of live sphagnum moss 
only with an admixture of bits of crocks broken up 
fine, or silver sand. We ourselves prefer to place a 
layer of peat as a base over which we place only a 
thin layer of moss. 
Aerides are treated in a similar manner, baskets 
being used in preference to pots. 
There is a tiny brown scale that attacks both 
these species, and is very difficult to dislodge without 
damage to the foliage. A good insecticide is made 
up as follows :—Take a piece of soft soap about the 
size of a Walnut, place in a can and add half a 
gallon of boiling water. Into this put a small wine 
glassful of petroleum ; when cool enough thoroughly 
mix by drawing up a syringeful and srooting it into 
the can again with as much force as you can. 
Repeat the operation until it is like milk, when it will 
be ready for use. Apply with a sponge, wetting the 
parts of the foliage affected. Do not attempt to re¬ 
move the scale at this first dressing of the insecti¬ 
cide, but leave it until next day, when it can be 
easily removed if sponged with clear soft water. 
This will leave the foliage clean and bright, and free 
from any traces of soap and petroleum. 
Vanda caerulea.— This beautiful introduction 
from the Khasia Mountains has hitherto baffled all 
attempts to keep it in good condition for long. 
There is one thing certain in their culture, and that 
is, they cannot stand a stuffy atmosphere. If you 
notice, the foliage on imported plants is short and 
stiff, suggesting that high winds and fluctuating 
temperatures prevail in their native habitats, and 
those that study the structure of plants most will 
most likely succeed best.—S. C. 
©leanings ftptm tfje Dottlh 
of Science. 
At a meeting of the Linnean Society of London, on 
the 21st ult., the undermentioned subjects were 
discussed. 
Mr. Walter Percy Sladen.—The chairman 
announced with deep regret the loss which the 
society had sustained by the death at Florence, on 
June nth, of Mr.Walter Percy Sladen, a former vice- 
president of the society, and Zoological Secretary 
from 1885 to 1835. Mr. B. Daydon Jackson, for ten 
years his colleague, bore testimony to Mr. Sladen’s 
untiring devotion to the interests of the society, to 
his willing co-operation in all that concerned its 
welfare, and to his amiability of disposition which 
had endeared him to all. 
Seedlings of Abutilon.—Prof. M. Hartog, 
F.L.S , exhibited and made remarks on flowers of 
new Abulilon seedlings, recently raised by him, and 
pointed out the extreme variability shown in the 
form of many of the leaves. 
Species of Tpapa.—Dr. O.Staff,A.L S..exhibited 
fruits of various forms of Trapa from Europe, China, 
and India, and discussed the differentiation of the 
genus into species. He was inclined to recognise five 
species which inhabit fairly well defined geographical 
areas ; but as the discrimination of these depends 
chiefly on the armature and sculpture of the mature 
fruit (the flowers being in some cases unknown, and 
in others very poorly represented in herbaria), he 
found it at present impossible to define the species 
satisfactorily. Unpublished drawings of Indian and 
Chinese species in the collections at Kew rendered 
it probable that certain differences in the fruits would 
be found to be correlated with differences in the 
structure of the flowers. Some remarks were made 
by Mr. C. B. Clarke, Dr, Rendle, Mr. C. Reid, and 
Sir George King. 
Plum Stones from Silchester.—Mr. Clement 
Reid, F.R.S , F.L.S., exhibited a series of Plum 
stones recently found in a drain of the Roman baths, 
and in a rubbish pit, at Silchester. The species 
identified were Cherry (Prunus avium), Damson 
(P. domestica), Bullace (P. insititia), Sloe (P. 
spinosa), and Portuguese Laurel (P. lusitanica). 
Besides these, there was a large variety of Plum, 
and a very small Sloe, the species of which had not 
as yet been precisely determined. 
Dried British Orchids.—On behalf of Dr. O. 
St. Brody, Mr. B. Daydon Jackson exhibited a small 
series of British Orchids dried by a new process, by 
which the flexibility of tbe plant and the natural 
colours were in great measure retained. 
Rush Baskets, Ropes, &c.—Mr. R. Morton 
Middleton, F.L.S , exhibited several rush baskets, 
plaited ropes, and dredgers made from Rostkovia 
grandiflora, Hook.f.; and a crab catcher, and limpet 
detacher made from Berberis ilicifolia, Forster, all 
used by the Yahgans south of Beagle Channel Tierra 
del Fuego. A discussion followed in which the 
zoological and botanical aspects of the exhibits were 
commented on by Dr. Gunther, Mr. J. E. Harting, 
and Dr. Rendle. 
Revision of the Genus Najas.—Dr. A. B. 
Rendle, F.L.S., referring to his recently published 
•* Revision of the genus Najas " (Trans. Linn. Soc. 
2nd ser., Bot. vol. v. part 12), read a supplementary 
paper on the same subject, in which he gave 
additional information gained from a recent examin¬ 
ation of specimens in eleven continental herbaria, 
particularly those at Paris, Geneva, Vienna, and 
Berlin. Some new forms were described (notably a 
new species from Senegal), and some fresh notes 
were added on the geographical distribution of several 
imperfectly known species. Since the publication of 
the paper referred to, the author bad had the ad¬ 
vantage of examining a number of specimens which 
had been collected in south-eastern Russia and the 
Malay Archipelago, and were forwarded from the 
Museum at St. Petersburg. 
