50 
■JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  aND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  21,  1898. 
This  genus  commemorates  the  name  of  a  Polish  botanical  collector, 
-who  was  the  means  of  introducing  many  fine  South  American 
Orchids  in  the  middle  of  the  present  century.  It  only  contains  a  few 
species,  all  of  which  are  distinct  and  beautiful  garden  Orchids.  They 
are  rather  more  difficult  to  grow  successfully  than  the  majority  of 
■cultivated  species,  but  with  care  and  attention,  and  a  study  of  their 
peculiarities,  there  is  no  reason  wrhy  even  a  beginner  among  Orchids 
should  nor  take  up  their  culture  with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  success. 
They  differ  from  the  majority  of  exotic  kinds,  in  that  they  have 
no  pseudo-bulbs  to  sustain  the  plant  during  a  long  season  of  dry  rest, 
they  being  in  fact  tufted  masses  of  leaves  and  roots  from  a  semi- 
creeping  rootstock,  the  flowers  being  produced  singly  on  the  spikes. 
Their  nearest  affinity  botanically  is  Zygopetalum,  into  which  genus 
they  are  placed  by  some  botanists.  Naturally  they  grow  “in  Central 
and  South  America,  in  moist  shady  positions  on  the  lichened  and 
mossy  arms  of  dead  and  living  trees.”  In  a  manner  this  is  a  clue  to 
their  culture,  but  one  that  must  not  be  followed  too  literally,  for  it 
would  point  to  a  bare,  or  nearly  bare,  block  of  wood,  and  this  is  not 
good  enough  for  them. 
As  a  matter  of  fact  I  have  seen  remarkably  well-grown 
Warscewiczellas  in  a  compost  such  as  is  used  for  Cymbidiums  and 
other  kinds  of  a  like  habit,  but  I  only  mention  this  as  an  instance  of 
what  may  be  done  when  in  good  hands,  and  would  not  advise  a 
beginner  in  their  culture  to  give  such  a  substantial  compost.  Better 
to  drain  well  some  fairly  deep  pans,  large  enough  to  take  the  plants 
with  ease,  but  not  larger,  and  for  compost  use  three  parts  of  sphagnum 
to  one  of  good  loam  fibre,  mixing  this  with  an  equal  bulk  of  crocks 
and  charcoal  to  insure  porosity  of  the  whole. 
Those  in  the  habit  of  using  a  heavier  compost  may  consider  this 
rather  poor,  but  it  is  good  enough  to  insure  an  excellent  result,  other 
points  being  properly  attended  to,  and  about  an  inch  depth  for  small  and 
medium  sized  plants  is  amide.  The  best  position  is  one  in  an  inter¬ 
mediate  or  Cattleya  house,  closely  shaded  from  the  rays  of  the  sun, 
for  the  foliage  will  not  stand  bright  sunlight.  Air  may  be  freely 
admitted  if  it  can  be  done  without  lowering  the  temperature  unduly, 
or  causing  a  draught ;  but  on  cold  days  in  spring  when  the  young 
foliage  is  tender  it  is  better  to  allow  a  slight  rise  of  the  temperature 
than  to  risk  a  cold  drying  draught  of  air. 
This  latter  is  sure  to  bring  insects  in  its  train,  and  in  the  culture 
of  these  sensitive  plants  there  is  so  little  to  come  and  go  upon  that 
everything  at  all  risky  should  be  avoided.  Sprinkling  is  helpful,  if 
not  carried  to  excess  or  practised  in  dull  weather,  but  it  must  not  be 
a  heavy  douche  of  water.  The  root  should  be  watered  in  accordance 
with  the  state  of  growth,  and,  as  mentioned  above,  nothing  approaching 
dry  rest  can  be  allowed.  A  lessened  supply  is,  of  course,  necessary 
during  winter,  when  evaporation  is  less  rapid  and  little  growth  is 
going  on. 
One  of  the  best  known  kind  is  W.  discolor,  a  pretty  species, 
bearing  flowers  with  white  sepals,  and  petals  tipped  with  purple. 
On  the  lip,  which  is  purple  at  the  base  and  margined  with  white,  is  a 
large  white  disc.  It  was  found  in  1848,  by  the  collector  above  named, 
on  a  volcano  in  Costa  Rica,  and  soon  afterwards  flowered  in  this 
country.  W.  marginata  is  supposed  to  have  been  discovered  at  the 
same  time,  and  differs  from  the  last  principally  in  the  colour  of  the 
lip.  Another  beautiful  Costa  Rican  species  is  W.  Wendlandi ;  it  is 
of  more  recent  introduction,  and  bears  large  white  blossoms  with  a 
purple  lip.  W.  Lindeni  (fig.  10)  is  charming.  It  has  a  very  broad 
flattened  lip,  pure  white  lined  with  purplish  mauve ;  the  sepals  and 
petals  are  white. — H.  R.  R. 
HORTICULTURAL  SHOWS. 
WOKING.— July  11th  and  12th. 
The  fifth  annual  summer  show  of  the  Woking  Hort.icuPural  Society 
was  held  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  July  11th  and  12th.  Through  the 
absence  of  one  exhibitor,  whose  plants  have  usually  occupied  a  consider¬ 
able  space  in  the  open  classes,  the  central  stage  did  not  present  the  same 
crow'ded  appearance  as  in  previous  years.  Although  many  regretted  the 
loss  of  these,  the  exhibits  staged  were  seen  to  considerably  better  advantage. 
Mr.  Leabrook,  gardener  to  R.  N.  Stevens,  Esq.,  M  oodham  Hall,  was  the 
largest  exhibitor,  and  in  most  classes  maintained  his  reputation.  His 
group  of  plants  arranged  for  effect,  however,  did  not  come  up  to  his 
previous  efforts.  Fuchsias  also,  for  which  he  has  in  previous  years  been 
famous,  although  fairly  good,  were  much  below  what  he  has  previously 
shown.  For  six  stove  or  greenhouse  plants,  Mr.  Leabrook  was  first  with 
very  good  specimens,  amongst  them  being  a  large,  well-flowered  variety  of 
Cymbidium  Lowi.  Mr.  Tomlin,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Goldringham,  Annersly 
Park,  Chertsey,  was  first  for  six  Caladiums,  with  large,  well-finished 
plants,  Mr.  Leabrook  being  second  in  this  class,  and  again  first  ior  Ferns. 
Mr.  Blake  (gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Onslow,  Clandon  Park),  Mr. 
Sadler,  nnd  Mr.  Leabrook  were  the  principal  exhibitors  of  fruit,  the 
whole  being  well-finished  exhibits.  Mr.  Basile,  gardener,  The  Gardens, 
Woburn  Park,  Weybridge,  had  matters  his  own  way  in  the  vegetable 
classes,  each  exhibit  being  of  excellent  quality,  and  well  staged.  For 
a  collection  of  hardy  flowers,  and  stove  or  greenhouse  flowers,  Mr.  Lea¬ 
brook  and  Mr.  Tomlin  were  the  best.  The  classes  for  Roses  were 
well  filled,  the  winring  stands  containing  some  excellent  blooms.  Mr. 
West,  of  Roigate,  was  especially  strong.  Amateur  and  cottager  classes 
were  well  filled,  and  in  most  the  competition  was  remarkably  keen  ;  in 
some  instances  the  entries  numbered  fifteen  and  twenty.  Mr.  Leabrook 
won  the  cup  given  by  J.  C.  Law,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Society,  for  the 
exhibitor  gaining  the  highest  number  of  points  in  the  open  classes  for 
the  third  year  in  succession.  Messrs.  Geo.  Jackman  &  Sons  were 
awarded  a  silver-gilt  medal  for  a  collection  of  hardy  flowers  and  Roses, 
while  Messrs.  Fletcher  &  Sons,  Chertsey,  and  Messrs.  Spooner  &  Son, 
Woking,  received  a  silver  medal  each  (or  similar  exhibits. —Visitor. 
WOLVERHAMPTON. — July  12th,  13th,  14th. 
GLORIOUS  weather  ushered  in  the  tenth  anniversary  of  this  flourishing 
provincial  Show.  It  was  fitting  that  the  turn  of  the  first  decade  in  the 
Society's  history  should  have  been  marked  by  special  efforts,  and  by  a 
combination  of  circumstances  that  stamped  the  Show  as  in  some  respects 
the  most  notable  yet  organised  by  the  Committee.  A  meed  of  praise  must 
be  accorded  to  the  Committee  and  Secretary  for  the  excellent  arrange¬ 
ment  of  the  numerous  exhibits,  which  rendered  the  task  of  note-taking 
one  of  comparative  ease.  There  was  a  slight  falling  off  numerically  in  a 
few  of  the  classes,  otherwise  the  exhibits  throughout  were  of  an 
excellence  that  has  not  been  exceeded  at  any  previous  Show  of  the 
Society.  It  may  be  remarked  at  the  outset  that  the  exhibits,  whether  of 
groups  of  plants  arranged  for  effect,  specimen  plants,  Roses,  herbaceous 
flowers,  dinner-table  decorations,  and  bouquets,  all  possessed  such  a  high 
order  of  excellence,  that  it  would  almost  be  invidious  to  particularise  one 
more  than  another.  There  was  a  record  attendance,  upwards  of  £1850 
being  taken  at  the  gate.  This  is  nearly  £500  in  excess  of  the  previous  best. 
Specimen  Plants  and  Groups. 
However,  beginning  with  the  order  in  the  schedule,  we  noted  that,  as 
usual,  Mr.  James  Cypher,  Cheltenham,  was  easily  to  the  fore  with  a 
splendid  collection  of  sixteen  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  Orchids 
excluded,  remarkable  for  their  general  freshness  and  brilliancy  of  colour 
in  the  flowering  section.  The  most  notable  specimens  were  Phoenocoma 
prolifera  Barned,  Statice  profusa,  Clerodendron  Balfourianum,  Stepha- 
notis  floribunda,  Crotons  mortefontainensis  and  angustifolium.  The 
i-econd  honours  were  secured  by  Mr.  W.  Finch,  Coventry,  with  also  a 
meritorious  exhibit,  conspicuous  in  which  were  Ixoras  Williamsi  and 
Regina,  and  Allamanda  grandiflora.  The  third  prize  was  accorded  to 
Mr.  Vause,  Leamington,  as  the  only  other  competitor.  For  six  plants  in 
flower  Mr.  Cypher  was  again  to  the  fore  with  fine  specimens,  similar  to 
those  in  the  first  class,  the  second  and  third  positions  being  taken  by 
Messrs.  Finch  and  Vause  in  the  order  named. 
For  a  group  of  plants  arranged  for  effect  (first  prize  £20)  Mr.  Cypher 
maintained  his  former  successes  by  arranging  one  of  the  best  and  most 
artistic  groups  yet  produced  by  him.  From  the  centrepiece  of  this 
chef  d' oeuvre,  surmounted  by  an  elegant  Kentia  Belmoreana,  sprang  four 
cork-bark  arches,  extending  to  the  corners  of  the  design,  and  terminated 
by  a  dwarf  mass  of  flowering  and  foliage  plants,  instead  of  the  stereo¬ 
typed  tall  hark-constructed  terminals,  and  which  were  relegated  in  a 
modified  form  to  the  sides  of  the  design.  The  arches  were  delicately 
draped  with  a  profusion  of  Orchids  and  other  flowering  plants  and  Ferns, 
whilst  a  tall  and  graceful  Humea  elegans  was  placed  on  the  centre  of 
each  arch.  In  pleasing  contrast  to  the  Orchids  and  other  flowers, 
richly  coloured  Crotons  and  other  fine-foliaged  plants  served  to  complete 
this  beautiful  floral  trophy.  Out  of  the  four  exhibits  in  this  class,  the 
second  prize  was  worthily  accorded  to  Mr.  J.  E.  Knight,  Tettenhall 
Nursery,  Wolverhampton,  for  a  rich  and  excellent  arrangement,  similar 
to  the  former  exhibitors.  Orchids,  Lilium  Harrisi,  and  other  flowering 
plants,  with  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  and  Palms,  were  the  chief  items  in  the 
design.  It  is  further  noteworthy  that  Mr.  Knight  has  the  honour,  bjT 
this  exhibit,  of  being  the  recipient  of  the  highest  prize  in  any  class  yet 
taken  by  a  local  exhibitor  since  the  inception  of  the  Society.  The  third 
prize  was  secured  by  Mr.  Vause  ;  and  the  fourth  by  Mr.  J.  Macdonald, 
gardener  to  G.  H.  Ivenrick,  Esq.,  Edgbaston,  Birmingham. 
The  class  for  eight  Orchids  was  represented  by  Mr.  Cypher  with  a 
choice  assortment,  and  to  which  the  first  prize  was  given.  Six  Palms 
were  unusually  well  shown  by  Messrs.  Cypher,  Macdonald,  and  Vause  ; 
as  were  six  fine-foliage  plants  by  Messrs.  Cypher,  Vause,  and  Finch  ;  and 
six  exotic  Ferns  by  Messrs.  M.  Campbell,  Blantyre,  and  J.  Macdonald, 
Roses. 
The  magnificent  display  of  Roses  was  a  leading  feature  in  the  Show, 
and  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the  best  yet  held  by  the  Society.  The 
array  along  one  side  of  a  large  tent  produced  an  imposing  effect,  and 
despite  the  unfavourable  state  of  the  past  season,  both  excellent  quality 
and  size  of  blooms  characterised  the  exhibit.  In  the  class  for  seventy- 
two  distinct  varieties  (first  prize  £12  12s.)  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant,  Colchester, 
secured  the  coveted  honour  with  an  excellent  assortment  of  the  leading 
