374 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  17,  1898* 
where  Apples  are  cherished,  and  we  know  of  at  least  one  gentleman 
who  has  planted  and  proved  several  trees,  and  means  planting  more, 
for  affording  a  supply  of  fruit  for  market. 
This  Apple  was  first  placed  before  the  Fruit  Committee  on 
November  13lb,  1894,  by  Messrs.  W.  Sc  J.  Brown,  Stamford,  under 
the  name  of  “  South  Lincoln  Beauty,”  and  unanimously  awarded  a 
first-class  certificate. 
Cattleya  aurea. 
The  flowers  of  this  species  come  when  others  are  scarce,  and 
a  number  of  plants  keep  up  a  display  until  the  “labiatas”  are 
in  full  swing.  The  colouring  is  gorgeous  in  some  of  the  better  forms, 
but  it  must  be  noted  that  there  are  a  great  many  varieties  being 
imported  that  are  far  behind  the  proper  form  of  this,  one  of  the  finest 
and  richest  of  all  Cattleyas.  A  light  position  with  more  warmth  than 
the  majority  of  the  genus  like  is  best  for  this  plant,  and  in  every  case 
where  possible  keep  the  growth  dormant  until  spring.  Should  the 
buds  siart  at  the  base  make  no  attempt  to  stop  or  check  them,  but 
grow7  the  plants  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  so  as  to  get  the  pseudo-bulb 
finished  before  the  "winter. 
Trichosma  suavis. 
This  is  a  pretty  little  cool  house  Orchid  when  well  grown  and 
flowered.  The  spikes  appear  at  the  top  of  the  stems  betwreen  the 
leaves,  and  are  short,  carrying  a  few7  pretty  white  flowers  with  a  purple 
centre  to  the  lip.  The  roots  are  fairly  large,  and  thrive  well  in  a 
compost  consisting  of  one  part  of  peat  to  three  of  moss,  and  plenty  of 
rough  lumps  of  charcoal.  It  must  not  be  allowed  to  flower  until  it 
gets  fairly  strong,  or  the  spikes  will  not  be  vigorous  enough  to  show 
above  the  foliage.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Khasia  Hills,  and  was 
discovered  by  Mr.  Gibson  during  his  journey  for  the  Duke  of  Devon¬ 
shire  in  1836. 
Notes  on  PHALAiNorsis. 
Although  there  is  no  need  for  such  a  decided  difference  in  the 
growing  and  resting  season  for  these  lovely  Orchids  as  there  is  wdth 
some  other  kinds,  yet  there  is  a  distinct  steadying  of  the  growth  in 
autumn  that  must  be  followed  in  our  treatment  of  the  plants.  The 
gradual  sloudng  up,  so  to  speak,  of  the  growth  will  be  plain  enough  to 
those  who  are  observant  of  their  plants,  and  it  is  rather  a  singular 
thing  that  oftentimes  the  plants  rest  in  the  middle  of  making  a  leaf, 
and  all  through  the  winter  will  carry  this  half-formed  leaf,  which 
grows  again  with  the  increased  light  and  heat  in  spring. 
It  is  not  necessary  yet  to  reduce  the  moisture  supply  much,  but 
the  atmosphere  may  be  kept  a  little  drier  wdth  advantage  to  consoli¬ 
date  the  growth  already  made.  Excitement  must  now  be  avoided, 
and  every  ray  of  sun  that  can  be  allowed  to  reach  the  plant  without 
actual  injury  to  the  foliage  will  be  doing  its  part  in  this  ripening 
process  which  is  so  necessary  if  the  plants  are  to  pass  the  winter  in 
safety.  Nothing  is  more  annoying  to  a  grower  of  these  lovely  Moth 
Orchids  than  to  find  the  leaves  dropping  in  spring  just  as  the  plants 
should  be  growing  freely.  To  prevent  this  the  water  supply  must  be 
kept  going  fairly  well  in  autumn,  for  a  sudden  check  now  will  show 
itself  in  the  manner  indicated  in  spring. 
It  takes  some  experience  to  know  exactly  how  to  treat  the  plants 
in  this  important  detail,  for  the  weather,  the  size  of  the  basket  or  pan 
the  plants  are  growing  in,  and  the  condition  of  the  plants  themselves 
have  each  their  bearing  upon  the  subject.  For  instance,  in  hot  dry 
weather,  when  plenty  of  air  has  to  be  allowed,  a  good  deal  more 
moisture  is  needed,  both  in  the  atmosphere  and  at  the  roots,  than 
when  opposite  conditions  prevail.  Plants,  again,  with  their  roots 
tightly  growing  over  each  other  in  small  receptacles  have  to  be 
attended  to  much  oftener  than  others  in  large  baskets;  and  again,  a 
healthy  specimen  will  absorb  twice  the  amount  of  moisture  that  a 
weak  one  will. 
The  vigorous-growing  kinds,  as  represented  by  P.  amabilis  and 
P.  Schilleriana,  take  a  lot  more  water  than  the  weaker  growers,  while 
plants  in  light  modern  structures  dry  up  more  readily  than  others  in 
houses  with  small  panes  of  glass.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  no  rules 
can  be  laid  down,  but  every  grower  must  treat  his  plants  according  to 
individual  circumstances.  I  like  to  see  the  compost  dry  for  an  hour 
or  two  even  in  the  height  of  summer,  while  at  this  time  of  year  it  is 
much  safer  to  let  the  roots  wait  another  day  before  watering,  than  to 
run  the  risk  of  damage  by  allowing  more  moisture  than  they  can  take 
up. — IP.  R.  R. 
INTERMEDIATE  STOCKS. 
In  reply  to  questions  which  arose  from  an  article  on  these  flowers 
(page  304,  October  20th),  we  have  been  favoured  with  the  following 
information  : — 
The  origins  of  the  strains  of  Intermediate  Stocks  that  I  sent  to  you 
are  as  follows : — The  crimson  one  I  received  more  than  twenty-five 
years  ago  from  Mr.  Reeves  of  Acton,,  who  then  grew  large  quantities 
of  them  for  Covent  Garden  Market.  The  Wallflower-leaved  white  I 
picked  up  locally,  and  the  other  white  one,  as  well  as  the  purple,  came 
to  me  long  ago  as  “Young’s,”  who  was  a  noted  Scotch  grower  of 
them.  The  latter  variety  has  been  grown  by  a  gardener,  who  habitu¬ 
ally  brought  me  a  few  seeds  whenever  he  had  any  to  spare ;  but  since 
I  sent  you  my  last  notes  he  has  passed  away. 
Amongst  the  most  effective  flowering  plants  in  the  borders  ]of  the 
Oxford  Botanic  Gardens  during  the  past  season  have  been  the  groups 
of  Intermediate  Stocks.  These  strikingly  compact  neat-habited  plants 
for  a  lengthened  period  were  as  profusely  flowered  as  could  be  desired, 
reminding  one  how  beautiful  they  are,  and  how  admirablyjtliey  serve 
to  add  to  the  brightness  of  borders  or  beds. 
Many  people  imagine  that  Stock  seed  saved  in  Germany  must 
necessarily  be  of  a  superior  description,  but  I  have  never  seen  Inter¬ 
mediate  Stocks  raised  from  foreign  seed  that  could  favourably  compare 
with  those  from  carefully  saved  home-grown  seeds,  and  it  is  probable 
that  some  of  our  best  strains  of  them  have  degenerated  on  the 
Continent. 
For  early  flowering,  it  is  advisable  to  sow  the  seeds  about  the  end 
of  July,  wintering  the  plants  in  cold  frames,  and  these,  if  cut  back. 
rather  hard  after  flowering  in  borders  will,  when  a  new  growth  has 
been  made,  form  fine  masses  of  flowers,  surviving  moderately  severe 
winters,  to  blossom  again  more  abundantly  the  following  year. 
Then,  again,  by  sowing  early  in  the  spring  in  gentle  heat,  and  pre¬ 
serving  an  unchecked  gradual  growth  and  hardening  off,  until  “  bedding 
out  time  ”  comes  round,  they  fulfil  as  border  plants  as  much,  if  not 
more,  than  what  is  expected  of  many  of  the  plants  requiring  similar 
treatment,  enriching  the  genera’,  autumn  display  of  the  borders,  and,  in 
sheltered  situations,  not  unfrequently  presenting  some  conspicuous 
flowers  (at-  on  in  the  month  of  December. 
These  are  the  typical  Intermediate  stocks,  and  I  have  never  observed 
any  indication  of  them  assuming  the  characteristics  of  the  dwarf 
Queen  stocks,  although  I  have  known  the  latter  to  be  cultivated  under 
the  erroneous  name  of  Intermediate  Stocks,  and  this  may  help  to 
explain  what  is  regarded  as  their  extreme  diversity  of  character. 
— J.  E.  J. 
ONIONISM. 
The  Proposed  Great  Contest. 
I  AM  exceedingly  pleased  to  see  that  my  few  remarks  on  this  peculiar 
phase,  published  a  few  weeks  ago,  have  been  the  means  of  drawing  forth 
a  series  of  interesting  notes  and  articles.  Although  a  little  disappointed 
that  the  hint  of  an  Onion  Hall  has  not  led  to  the  pouring  in  of  colossal 
cheques,  which  I  was  so  firmly  persuaded  would  flow  in,  that  I  had  already 
got  my  application  for  the  post  of  manager  written  out,  I  am  comforted 
by  the  knowledge  that  one  or,  two  excellent  counter-suggestions  have 
been  made.  One  which  secures  my  hearty  approval  is  that  of  a  North 
v.  South  contest.  I  do  not  in  the  least  see  why  this  sort  of  thing  should 
be  left  to  the  sporting  people.  If  the  southern  cricketers  have  their 
Graces,  Richardsons,  and  Stoddarts,  and  the  northern  their  Browns,. 
Tunnicliffes,  and  Hawkes,  so  have  the  southern  Onionites  their 
Fyfc?,  Bowermans,  and  Becketts,  and  the  northern  their  Turnbulls, 
Humphreys,  and  Atkinsons.  I  am  only  sorry  that  the  suggestion  did  not 
come  a  little  sooner,  so  that  the  encounter  could  have  been  arranged  at 
one  of  the  great  Chrysanthemum  shows.  I  hope  it  may  take  place 
another  season,  if  not  this. 
Possibly,  as  things  are,  the  result  of  such  a  battle  would  be  a  decisive 
victory  for  the  south.  The  astonishing  work  done  by  Mr.  Fyfe  this  year 
indicates  that  he  would  be  a  worthy  representative  ot  the  growers  on  the 
London  side  of  the  Trent  if  it  were  decided  to  let  the  issue  lie  between 
two  individual  champions.  If,  however,  teams  of  six  were  chosen,  and 
this  perhaps  would  be  better,  the  chances  of  the  south  would  be  stronger 
still,  because  there  are  several  cultivators  very  little  way  behind  the  one 
named.  However,  if  our  northern  friends  took  the  matter  up  in  earnest 
for  another  year,  there  is  little  doubt  about  their  doing  themselves  justice. 
They  are  magnificent  Leek  growers,  and  if  they  devoted  a  little  of 
their  superfluous  energy  to  Onions  they  would  make  a  tough  fight  of 
it.  The  winners  would,  of  course,  be  invested  in  solemn  state  with 
the  Order  of  the  Onion. 
Allow  me  to  add  a  note  about  minor  Onionism.  In  a  trial  of  every¬ 
day  sorts  for  outdoor  spring  sowing  I  have  made  the  useful  discovery 
that  the  illustrious  house  of  Yeiteh  possesses  a  splendid  stock  of  the 
Old  Brown  Globe.  It  has  beaten  nearly  all  the  cracks  (including 
Cranston's  Excelsior,  but  not  Ailsa  Craig),  and  has  proved  far  superior 
to  such  well  tried  stagers  as  James’  Keeping,  White  Spanish,  Bedford¬ 
shire  Champion,  Danvers'  Yellow,  Giant  Zittau,  and  so  on.  Big,  hand¬ 
some,  with  a  rich  tawny  colour,  and  as  hard  as  nails,  it  strikes  me  as 
