448 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 4, 1908. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Winter-Flowering Cypripediums. 
The various species and hybrids belong¬ 
ing to this section of the so-called “slipper 
plants ” I have from time to time particu¬ 
larly recommended as suitable Orchids for 
amateurs. In a previous note I drew at¬ 
tention to potting requirements and after 
treatment. The plants treated as then ad¬ 
vised will at the present season be in full 
growth, and if careful observation is made, 
rt will be found that they are also rooting 
freely into the fresh potting compost. When 
in such active conditions the plants will re¬ 
quire liberal treatment as far as affording 
ample water at the roots and every encour¬ 
agement that will assist them to develop and 
mature the advancing growth. 
No Manure for Orchids. 
I have been frequently asked by amateurs 
in my own district what manure I would 
recommend for this section of Cypripediums, 
and I sometimes think they have their doubts 
when I declare that we use absolutely no 
manure whatever on any of our Orchids. I 
have never been an advocate of manure for 
Orchids, nor do I think the nature of the 
plants require stimulants of this kind. I 
would advise amateurs to refrain from the 
use of feeding stuffs of any description. The 
principal thing is to see that a plentiful 
supply of rain water is secured, more than 
sufficient to bridge over our driest summers. 
Rain water, afforded when required, is all I 
consider necessary for the successful culture 
of all Oichids. 
Shading and Ventilation. 
With the hot, bright weather of the past 
few weeks, next to using care that the plants 
do not suffer from want of root moisture, 
is to maintain a humid atmosphere, especi¬ 
ally during the hottest parts of the day, 
with the blinds drawn on the roofs, and by 
constantly damping the floors and staging 
so that the atmosphere becomes practically 
saturated. It is surprising how cool the 
insides of even our hottest houses become 
during the brightest parts of the day. I 
would also advise that the plants be syringed 
once or twice a day, being careful to use 
rain water for spraying purposes, the use 
of hard water generally resulting in its 
leaving a white deposit on the foliage, which 
gives the plants an unsightly appearance and 
such settlements being very difficult indeed 
to remove by sponging. 'It is advisable to 
have the lower ventilators of the houses 
opened in good time in the morning, when 
there is a prospect of a warm day; this 
will be found to have a considerable effect on 
the temperature of the house when mid-day 
is reached. 
Artificial Heat. 
Closing the ventilators in the afternoon in 
good time should also be considered, so that 
we may acquire a sun-heated temperature 
that will dispense with a considerable 
amount of artificial heat in the evenings. 
In the northern districts I think it advisable 
to have a slight warmth in the pipes, say 
about 8 o’clock in the evening, so that with 
a trifle more heat by g o’clock we are 
able to give a little air by opening the ven¬ 
tilators to the leeward side of the houses, 
these to remain open for the night. Tem¬ 
perature during the past week has reached 
as low as 35 degrees, so I consider that arti¬ 
ficial heat is desirable to guard against 
checks. 
Insect Pests. 
Thrips are the most dreaded pests to Cypri¬ 
pediums. Black thrips are easily discerned 
as they usually work on the leaves and 
young growths, but the different kinds of 
yellow thrips work down the centres of the 
growths and about the axils of the leaves, 
and are not so easily discovered. Regular 
sprayings with XL-all insecticide will keep 
these pests in check. 
H. J. Chapman. 
-- 
The Yorkshire Gala 
Jubilee Exhibition. 
The Jubilee Exhibition of this impor¬ 
tant provincial show was held at \ork 
on the 17th, 18th and 19th June. A splen¬ 
did show had been got together, but the 
efforts'of the management were somewhat 
handicapped by the unpropitious weather 
on the opening day. A deputation from 
the Royal Horticultural Society, includ¬ 
ing the President and Secretary, jour¬ 
neyed there, and awarded numerous 
medals and cups on behalf of the society. 
Groups of plants, Orchids, Roses, and 
fruit were special features of the exhibi¬ 
tion. 
Four special classes were instituted to 
commemorate the fiftieth year of the 
society. One was for a display of plants 
and flowers on an area 30 ft. by 14 ft. and 
arranged for effect. The first prize-winner 
was Mr. W. A. Holmes, West End Nur¬ 
series, Chesterfield, the second place be¬ 
ing taken by Joseph Pickersgill, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. D. Donoghue), Bardon 
Hill, Weetwood, Leeds. These groups 
were made up of plants of very diverse 
order, and were very effective. 
In a class for a display of garden pro¬ 
ducts on a space 20 ft. by 6 ft., the best 
group was that shown by Charles E. 
Simpson, Esq. (gardener, Mr. F. Nut- 
brown), York. He had an arrangement 
of fruit as well as floral devices. The 
second and third places went to Messrs. 
W. Artindale and Son, Sheffield, and 
Messrs. J. Backhouse and Son, Ltd., 
York, respectively. 
The largest group in the show covered 
an area of 300 sq. ft., and consisted of 
miscellaneous plants arranged for effect. 
The lead was taken by J. W. Coulthurst, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. Skinner), Gargrave 
House, Leeds, who had a water scene in 
his arrangement. The second prize 
group was also a good one, and was put 
up by Mr. Joe S. Sharp, Valley Nur¬ 
series, Huddersfield. 
For a group of stove or greenhouse 
plants, the lead was taken by Messrs. 
James Cypher and Sons, Cheltenham, fol¬ 
lowed by Mr. W. Vause, Leamington. 
Several other prizes were taken by these 
two exhibitors for small groups of plants. 
There were also classes for Begonias, 
Gloxinias, Cannas, Calceolarias, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Fuchsias, and Carnations, some 
of the classes being well contested. 
Orchids were a very strong feature of 
the show, and in the amateurs’ classes 
the premier honour for a group of Orchids 
was taken by Lieut.-Col. Holford (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. Alexander), Westonbirt, Tet- 
burv, Gloucester. Some of his plants 
were of large size and carried hundreds 
of flowers each. He also took the lead 
for a collection of twelve Orchids, show¬ 
ing well flowered specimens. 
For a table arranged with Orchids for 
effect, two of the competitors were practi¬ 
cally equal, and were awarded equal first 
prizes. These were Messrs. J. Moore, 
Ltd., Rawdon, Leeds, and Messrs. J. 
Cypher and Sons. 
For a collection of cut blooms of po 
plants of Roses on a table, the leadaj 
award went to Mr. George Prince, Long 
worth, Berks, who was followed by Messn 
W. and J. Brown, Peterborough, and Mi 
George Mount, Canterbury, in the orde 
named. 
The lead for seventy-two blooms c 
Roses was taken by Messrs. D. Prior am 
Sons, Colchester, j^ho had some very tin 
blooms at that period of the year. Fo 
forty-eight blooms of Roses, the lead wa 
taken by Mr. George Mount, beatim 
Messrs. D. Prior and Sons. Messrs 
Harkness and Sons, Hitchin, had the bes 
thirty-six blooms of Roses. 
A bold feature of the exhibition was th 
class for rock gardens, including a wate 
scene for the cultivation of aquatics. Th' 
exhibits occupied a whole side of one 0 
the large tents. The rockeries wen 
rather on an extensive scale, being buil 
of real stone, and the lead was taken h 
Messrs. J. Backhouse and Son, Ltd 
Close behind them came Messrs. Willian 
Artindale and Son. 
In a class for a decorative table of rip 
fruit, the lead was taken by the Duke 0 
Portland (gardener, Mr. J. Gibson), Wei 
beck Abbey. The exhibits were botl 
numerous and of a high order of meiil 
He was followed by the Earl of Harrirg 
ton (gardener, Mr. J. H. Goodacre) 
Elvaston Castle, Derby. 
For a collection of ten kinds of fruit 
the lead was taken by the Right Hon 
Lord Londesborough (gardener, Mr. J. C 
McPherson), Market Weighton. Then 
were various other classes of fruit, includ 
ing Grapes. 
In the vegetables classes, the lead fo 
six sorts was taken by the Hon. Vicar; 
Gibbs (gardener, Mr. E. Beckett), Alden 
ham House, Elstree. The prizes wen 
offered by Messrs. Webb and Sons. Ii 
another class for vegetables, the prize 
were offered by Messrs. Sutton and Sons 
and the first winner in this case was thi 
Duke of Portland. 
Non-competitive exhibits were botl 
numerous and very effective in the build 
ing up of an immense show. All sort: 
of garden produce appeared in these ex 
hibits. 
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading 
made an exceptionally fine exhibit of thei 
specialities in Melons, Cucumbers, Toma 
tos, Peas, Beans, etc. Their exhibit at 
tracted great admiration, and w r ell de 
served the Gold Medal awarded to it. 
Messrs. Webb and Sons, Wordsley 
Stourbridge, also set up a splendid ex 
hibit of their specialities, such as Excel: 
sior Gloxinias, Melons, Tomatos, Cucum 
bers, etc., occupying a space of 200 sq.ft 
A Gold Medal was awarded this exhibit 
Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., Bush Hil 
Park, Middlesex, occupied a considerabh 
amount of space with Cattleyas, Cypripe 
diums, Laelia tenebrosa, and man; 
choice forms of Odontoglossum crispum 
They also showed Roses and Carnations 
Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, Ltd. 
King’s Road, Chelsea, put up a splendic 
group of well-grown, fine foliage plants: 
including the handsome Dracaena Dou 
cettii de Grootei, with well grown Nepen 
thes. A mass of Orchids in the centn 
gave a bright appearance. 
Messrs. Dicksons, Chester, set up : 
fine bank of Delphiniums, Paeonies 
Astilbe japonica, Lilies, Watsoni:' 
Ardernei, Spanish Irises, etc. 
Messrs. Kelway and Son, Langport 
