92 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 31, 1903. 
standard of merit. Reading Blue is a plain-leaved form of the 
blue type, but in the matter of constitution it is much sur¬ 
passed by Blue Fern-leaved. Snowdrift (Fern-leaved) still main¬ 
tains its reputation as being the earliest variety in the collec¬ 
tion, but, by sowing it two or three weeks later than the other 
varieties, it may be had in bloom at the same time, which is 
convenient for the purpose of seed-raising. Its white floweis, 
pale foliage, and earliness make it a bright and pleasing variety 
well named Snowdrift, Rosy Queen (Fern-leaved) has pink 
flowers and beautifully crisped robust foliage, while being of 
dwarf habit, Reading Pink has paler flowers and light green 
foliage. Royal White is notable for the size of its pure white 
flowers, dark leaf-stalks, and robust constitution. Another 
standard variety is Brilliant Rose, having rich, rosy carmine 
flowers of large size. Sutton’s Pearl may be described as 
pearly white, because, until fully expanded, the flowers are 
pure white, but often develop a faint tint or blush later on. 
Giant Primulas. 
The giant strain of Primulas have several very distinct char¬ 
acteristics. The plants are of very vigorous constitution, with 
robust leaves of great substance, and the same may be said of 
the flowers, which are large and of great texture, A more 
important fact is that they all bloom about two or three weeks 
later than the varieties above mentioned, thereby furnishing a 
succession to those which come into bloom first. On the occar 
sion of our visit some of the early flowers were fully expanded, 
but it would take two or three weeks, according to the weather, 
to bring the plants to perfection. 
Giant Crimson has been greatly improved in the matter of 
colour since we first made its acquaintance. The plan of 
raising is always to take seeds from the very best type, and in 
that manner the growers are enabled to improve the value of 
the strain or variety from year to year. The variety just 
named may be described as dark rosy crimson. 
Giant White is another standard variety in that particular 
strain, and is characterised by its huge white flowers, beauti¬ 
fully fimbriated and imbricated. Giant White Fern-leaved 
differs chiefly by the form of the leaves, which are sturdy and 
cut like those described as resembling a Fem. It grows slowly 
and sturdily, making plants of compact habit. 
Terra Cotta has a deep salmon-rose flower of large size and 
handsome appearance. All these giant forms are grown 
separately in order to maintain their special characteristics ; 
but gardeners as a rule prefer to have them in mixture; and 
these they can easily obtain. 
Double Primulas. 
Improved Double Scarlet is of a brilliant crimson-carmine 
or vermilion colour, being difficult to' describe, and depending 
largely upon the intensity of illumination and the incidence 
of light. Moss Curled owes its name to the curled and crisped 
character of the foliage. There are', however, several varieties 
of this strain, differing more or less in the colour of the flowers, 
from white and pink to rose and purple. 
Double Blue is a development from Reading Blue, and differs 
merely in the flowers being semi-double. The colour is a rich 
dark blue. 
Pink Beauty is a novelty for this year, and which we think 
will find many admirers. At least, for those who’ can admire 
mottled and striped flowers, they will find in this one a pleasing 
colour, which has been developed to great perfection during 
the years it has been under trial. The flowers may be described 
as delicate pink finely mottled with bright salmon. Improved 
^Double Scarlet is a showy and conspicuous variety which will 
find many admirers, on account of the intensity and brilliant 
colour of the flowers, as well as because of their large size. 
Carnation-flaked is a double variety that is mottled and 
flaked with purple on a white ground, but, in our opinion, it 
is not so charming a colour as that named Pink Beauty. Double 
White is beautifully fimbriated at the edge of the flowers. 
Double Salmon gives the colour in its name, and the flowers 
being of very large size, the variety will certainly become 
popular- if it seeds freely enough to enable it to be put into 
commerce in considerable quantity. 
In each of the above sections many novelties are on trial, the 
result of crosses that have been made during the past two or 
three years. Some of them are really very handsome, and 
possibly selections will be made from them that will come into 
more prominent notice in a few years’ time, when they have 
been properly evolved and fixed by repeated seed-sowing and 
selection. 
Orchids in Bloom at Kew. 
Numerous interesting and more or less showy Orchids may 
be seen in the houses at Kew at the present time. One of 
these which would appeal most forcibly to the average 
gardener would be Calanthe Yeitchii, which has been making a 
tine display for some time past. They have been well grown, 
and one specimen carries a spike on which forty-two flowers 
have bloomed, keeping up a succession for a long time. The 
pseudo bulb which carried it was quite a foot long. An interest¬ 
ing Dendrobe is Dendrobium Johnsoniae, which has uncom¬ 
monly clean-looking white flowers and purple stripes oil the 
lateral lobes of the lip. 
The white flowered Masdevallia tovarensis is also one of the 
more popular winter-flowering Orchids to be seen at the present 
time. It is also interesting from the fact that the old scapes 
as well as the new ones produce flowers. An uncommon Orchid 
is that named Rodriguezia venusta, with white flowers in droop¬ 
ing racemes. 
Odontoglossum Insleayi is not so showy as some of its con¬ 
geners, but it is valuable by reason of its flowering in winter, 
when flowers are by no means over-numerous. The sepals and 
petals are barred with purple-brown, and the lip has crimson- 
scarlet markings all round the edge. 
One of the prettiest of the small Epidendrums is that named 
E. Endresii, of very dwarf habit, with white flowers and violet 
markings on the lip. It is one of the parents which has given 
rise to a very numerous progeny of beautiful hybrid forms. 
Dendrobium fytchianum is very closely allied to D. barba- 
tulum, and, indeed, only differs by having deep purple lateral 
lobes to the lip and bearded rusty hairs in the throat, instead 
of being white. Very striking in its way is D. atroviolaceum, 
whose characteristics are that the lip is heavily striped with 
violet and the other segments of the flower are spotted with 
brown on both surfaces. D. primulinum has a large primrose 
lip, and in this respect differs chiefly from I). Pierardi, which 
has smaller and paler flowers. One of the showiest of the 
Australian Dendrobiums is that named D. speciosum, with its 
large terminal racemes of yellow flowers, spotted with crimson 
on the lip. 
An uncommon Orchid, .grown more particularly for its 
economic value than for its flowers, is Vanilla planifolia, the 
fruits of which are used in confectionery for flavouring pur¬ 
poses. There are four bunches of fruit on the plant. Usually, 
however, the Vanillas are grown in the Aroid house, near the 
main entrance. 
A useful hint in the preservation of wood is given in a recent 
number of the “ Agricultural News,” which may be worth 
repeating here. Woodwork exposed to the weather frequently 
rots from the effect of water entering the joints. It has been 
suggested that this rotting may be largely prevented by the 
simple expedient of putting a little powdered sulphate of copper 
(bluestone) into mortises and joints when fixing the structure 
in position. Rotting of wood is chiefly due to the presence of 
fungi, and sulphate of copper is a powerful fungicide. Used 
in the manner suggested, any water entering a joint will diffuse 
the sulphate of copper through the wood and prevent its decay. 
Bo simple a remedy is worth trying. fl. D,* 
