1048 
THE GARDEN IN Q WORLD . 
December 19, 1903. 
not, and probably but for him would not have, existed. I 
should like to speculate upon the aggregate amount of bright¬ 
ness he has been instrumental in adding- to our English homes 
in winter. 
“ But to us who know the man there is much more than this, 
I freely confess that in my first year of contact with him, his 
grand enthusiasm, his buoyant optimism, his tireless energy, 
his downright goodness of heart, were a revelation'to me, and 
an inspiration. 
“ The Carnation and Picotee Society has been the child of Mr. 
Sydenham’s love. Those who know the difficulties facing the 
initiation, and still more the continuance, of a high-class flower 
show, will be the first to admit that nothing short of his in¬ 
domitable energy could have brought a provincial show in so 
few years into the very front rank of special flower shows. 
To the thought, work, and ever-ready purse of Robert Syden¬ 
ham the Carnation and Picotee Society owes more than it can 
adequately express ; and I can only deeply regret that my own 
unfortunate illness deprives me of the opportunity of at least 
attempting on its behalf to put into words .something of what 
our feelings are.” “ W. Hillhouse.” 
Mr. Parton, on the .same evening, on behalf of the society, 
presented a framed copy of the photograph a.s mentioned 
above to Mr. Herbert"Smith, "the secretary, on the occasion of 
his retiring from the secretaryship, which he had held for the 
last ten years. 
The Best Flowering Plants at Kew. 
“ There are more plants in the garden than ye wot of.” 
Laelia anceps barkeriana. 
This variety chiefly differs from the type by its narrower 
sepals and petals and purple lip. L. anceps and its varieties are 
amongst the best of the genus for general purposes, being easy 
of cultivation and producing showy and fragrant flowers with 
great freedom. The scapes are from 2 ft. to- 3 ft, long, three 
to six flowered, each flower being 4 in. across, the lip being 
characterised by its tongue-like projecting middle lobe. 
Mexico. 
Laelia eyermaniana. 
Like the preceding, this is a Mexican, form, luxuriating under 
similar conditions-. It was formerly believed to- be a natural 
hybrid between L. majalis and L. autumnalis, but is sufficiently 
distinct to rank as a species, and also a,s a desirable plant for 
horticultural purposes. Pseudoi-bulbs- wrinkled, bearing twoi 
to four delicate rosy-purple flowers, the sepals of which are 
narrower and more pointed than the petals. The interior of 
the three-lo-bed lip is marked by dotted lines of purple, whilst 
the front, lobe, which is slightly wavy, has a yellow mark on 
the disc. 
Sophronitis grandiflora. 
By Professor Reichenbacli this is considered as a true 
Laelia, Be that as it may, to the horticulturist it is a most 
desirable plant, being of easy culture, thriving in a c-ool house, 
which it brightens for a long period, as its flowers are veiy 
lasting. It. is most effective when grown in shallow pans or 
baskets and suspended so a-s to be on, a level with the eye. In 
its native country it is found at, elevations subjected to slight 
frosts in. winter. Its flowers, consisting of horizontally spread, 
flat segments, are internally of a bright red colour. Brazil. 
Masdevallia tovarensis. 
An attractive and beautiful little plant producing on foot¬ 
stalks, some- 3 in. long, twin flowers of a pure white colour, 
which hang gracefully and contrast well with the light green, 
leathery leaves. Its variety mo-o-reana differs only in having 
orange-red coloured tails. Venezuela. 
Luculia gratissima. 
In this we possess one of the handsomest and most beautiful 
of greenhouse flowering shrubs. It, is a native- of the Himalayas, 
where in exposed positions on the hilt side® it forms a freely 
branched shrub 16 ft, high. “It is, impossible,” says Dr. 
Wallich, “ to conceive anything more beautiful than this tree 
when covered with its numerous rounded panicles, of pink- 
coloured and very fragrant- flowers.” Planted out, it is most 
effective, yet it is amenable to pot, culture, especially if care 
be taken that it is kept comparatively dry at the roots during 
winter. Young plants o-n their own roots, grown, similarly to 
Hydrangeas, would at Christmas time form one of the most 
charming of pot, plants, which would be sure of finding a, ready 
market. The panicles are terminal, decussately branched, 
bearing numerous linear green bracts, whilst the salver-shaped 
corolla has a spreading limb of five rounded segments. 
Iris Vartani. 
This charming little species, at present in flower in the 
alpine house, is- specially interesting on account, of its early 
flowering. Leaves two, acutely angled and channelled, that on 
the uppermost side being the deepest and broadest. They are 
about J in. broad, 10 in. or more long, terminating in a sharp 
hyaline point. Flowers, slaty lilac. Palestine. 
Galanthus cilicicus. 
In tufts, where not too, exposed, this pretty Snowdrop is 
very acceptable- at this season out, of doers, where there is so 
little in the way of flowering plants- to be seen. Asia, Minor. 
