JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  18,  1899, 
402 
the  plant  is  very  striking.  0.  loxense,  perhaps  the  rarest  of  the  whole 
section,  has  flowers  quite  3  inches  across,  the  sepals  of  which  are  a 
pretty  greenish  yellow,  occasionally  barred  or  blotched  with  brown. 
The  petals  are  deep  chocolate  brown  with  a  narrow  yellow  margin, 
and  tlie  large  lip  is  rich  orange  with  a  few  red  spots  at  the  base.  It 
is  a  most  beautiful  plant  when  in  bloom.  0.  monachicum  resembles 
0.  lamelligerum,  and  produces  its  flowers  in  the  early  spring  months. 
They  are  a  peculiar  cinnamon  colour,  blotched  and  edged  with  pale 
yellow.  As  the  name  implies  the  flowers  of  0.  serratum  are  crisped. 
In  colour  they  are  a  beautiful  brown,  margined  more  or  less  with 
yellow ;  it  is  in  flower  at  the  present  time. 
Tire  flowers  of  0.  superbiens  are  not  quite  so  large  as  some  of  the 
others,  but  it  should  be  grown  where  room  can  be  afforded.  Like  those 
previously  named  it  produces  flowers  of  various  shades  of  chocolate 
)>rown  tipped  with  yellow,  some  having  white  on  different  parts. 
O.  undnlatum  is  otten  confused  with  0,  superbiens.  I  believe, 
however,  that  the  true  undulatum  should  be  barred  with  purplish 
mauve  on  the  petals,  which  gives  the  flowers  an  altogether  unique 
and  peculiar  appearance. — J.  Barker,  Hessle. 
Miltonia  plavescens. 
A  con})le  of  flowers  of  this  species  come  from  a  correspondent  for 
a  name.  It  is  a  very  interesting  Orchid  botanically,  as  it  forms  a 
kind  of  connecting  link  between  the  well  known  genera  Miltonia  and 
Brassia.  The  elongated  linear  segments  are  like  those  of  most  Brassias  ; 
they  are  a  pale  straw  yellow  in  colour,  the  lip  varying  in  difierent 
forms  from  yellow  to  white,  with  a  few  lines  of  reddish  purple  at  the 
base.  Though  not  altogether  a  showy  plant  its  distinctness  and 
])retty  delicate  colouring  should  insure  it  a  place  in  collections.  It  is 
a  native  of  Minas  Geraes,  where  it  was  found  early  in  the  present 
century,  but  it  tvas  not  introduced  to  British  gardens  until  some 
years  later. 
PINE  APPLES. 
The  Pine  Apple  is  a  tropical  plant,  and  its  fruit,  Ananas  sativus 
or  Bromelia  Ananas,  is  so  called  from  its  resemblance  to  the  cone  of 
the  Pine  tree.  It  is  one  of  the  noblest  and  richest  of  fruits.  The 
essential  points  to  be  kept  in  view  in  growing  Pines  are  the  potting, 
feeding,  and  atmosphere.  It  grown  in  pots  or  planted  in  pits  the  aim 
of  the  cultivator  must  be  to  obtain  a  mass  of  fibrous  roots,  without 
which  w'ell  developed  fruits  cannot  be  expected,  and  to  obtain  such 
roots  I  have  found  no  compost  to  surpass  good  turfy  loam,  with  a 
liberal  addition  of  fresh  horse  manure  mixed  three  months  prior  to 
jwtting. 
In  preparing  the  suckers  remove  a  few  of  the  lower  leaves,  and 
with  a  sharp  knife  cut  off  about  1  inch  from  the  base,  inserting  these 
in  clean  5-inch  pots  containirjg  loam  and  a  fair  quantity  of  silver 
sand,  which  should  be  made  slightly  warm  by  placing  it  on  the  boiler 
before  use.  Make  the  i-oil  moderately  firm,  and,  as  I  should  have 
said  before,  crock  thoroughly,  as  carelessness  in  this  detail  will  probably 
spell  failure.  The  pots  must  be  plunged  in  a  bed  of  prepared  leaves 
and  manure  or  tan,  keejuug  the  pots  level,  and  about  a  foot  apart  each 
way,  and  give  no  water  at  the  roots  for  about  three  weeks.  Maintain 
bottom  heat  at  80°,  with  an  atmospheric  temperature  of  from 
7(r  to  90°  according  to  the  season  of  the  year.  Syringe  amongst  the 
plants  every  afternoon,  but  be  most  careful  to  keep  water  from  their 
hearts,  shading  from  bright  sun,  and  keeping  a  brisk  moist  atmosphere. 
I  he  plants  in  six  months  will  be  ready  for  8-inch  pots,  which  they 
will  occupy  for  a  similar  period  under  the  same  treatment.  They  are 
then  placed  into  the  fruiting  pots,  these  being  12  inches  in  diameter, 
except  for  Providence,  which  requires  a  14-inch  pot.  The  compost  for 
fruiting  plants  must  be  loam  as  already  advised,  with  sharp  sand, 
a  sprinkling  of  crushed  bones,  and  a  5-inch  potful  of  soot  to  each 
barrowful. 
In  potting  plants  at  this  stage  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
warm  the  soil  before  using  it,  and  to  use  abundance  of  drainage,  with 
n  above  it.  Pot  very  firmly,  and  see  that  the  ball  rests 
w'ell  down  in  the  pot,  to  allow  of  the  fresh  compost  being  well  rammed 
round  the  neck  or  collar  of  the  plant  to  steady  it.  Replunge  the  pots  at 
a  distance  of  2  feet  each  way,  keeping  the  heat,  both  at  the  roots  and 
m  the  atmosphere,  at  about  70°  in  the  winter  and  90°  in  the  summer, 
bynoge  every  afternoon,  but  allow  no  water  to  reach  the  centres  of 
the  plants,  as  this  results  in  deformed  fruits,  as  does  syringing  when 
the  plants  are  in  flower.  Immediately  the  fruits  can  be  seen,  leeding 
must  commence,  and  it  may  be  increased  with  the  swelling  of  the 
fruit.  During  the  flowering  period  care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  the 
slightest  check,  as  this  will  result  in  malformation  of  the  fruit.  As 
soon  as  C'  louring  commences  withhold  water  from  the  roots,  as  the 
atmos])heric  moisture  will  suffice.  The  best  varieties  for  summer  use 
are  Ihe  Queen,  Ripley  Queen,  and  C.  Rothschild;  for  wdnter.  Black 
i  rince.  Providence,  Smooth  Cayenne,  and  Black  Jamaica.  The  Queen 
lakes  the  jialm  for  flavour. 
For  some  reason  that  I  fail  to  see  Pines  have  of  late  years  fallen 
into  disrepute'^in  many  establishments.  Surely  it  cannot  be  on  the 
score  of  expense.  They  require  practically  the  same  equipments  as 
stove  plants,  and  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that  the  flavour  of  our 
English  growm  fruit  will  never  be  equalled  by  those  that  are  impoited. 
— H.  Mitchell,  Druidstone. 
Incurved  versus  Japanese  Reflexed  Chrysanthemums. 
I  NOTE  the  Kingston  Chrysanthemum  Society  has  arranged  classes 
in  the  schedule  for  incurved  Japanese  and  reflexed  Japanese  varieties. 
I  have  seen  in  many  parts  of  the  country  similar  classes,  but  never  a 
single  competition  that  could  be  termed  meritorious.  Years  ago  the 
N.C.S.  had  similar  classes,  but  they  were  dropped  after  an  exiended 
trial,  as  they  produced  little  effect  but  plenty  of  wrangling.  The 
difficulty  is  to  define  what  varieties  are  eligible  for  inclusion.  For 
example,  Phoebus  and  Edwin  Molyneux  may  at  certain  stages  be 
classed  in  both  sections.  Generally  speaking,  Phoebus  is  regarded  as 
a  typical  reflexed  Japanese,  but  under  some  conditions  of  culture,  and 
at  various  stages  of  development,  it  partakes  of  the  incurved  section. 
To  see  this  and  E.  Molyneux  staged  in  both  classes  would  appear 
somewhat  strange  to  an  average  on-looker. — E.  Molyneux. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society'. 
The  usual  monthly  meeting  of  the  members  was  held  on  the 
10th  inst,  at  the  Westminster  Hotel,  when  Mr.  F.  W,  Littlewcod 
read  an  interesting  and  instructive  essay  on  “  The  Growth  and  Com¬ 
mercial  Value  of  Different  Trees.”  After  adverting  to  the  manner  of 
the  growth  and  the  w'ay  in  which  trees  take  up  nourishment,  he 
referred  at  length  to  the  difference  of  the  grain  of  many  varieties  of 
timber  as  we  see  it  when  prejiared  for  commercial  purposes.  He 
exhibited  specimens  of  a  great  variety  of  woods  to  illustrate  tlie  many 
and  varied  ways  in  which  trees  build  up  their  cellular  tissue.  The 
essay  was  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  all  present,  and  a  lengthy  and 
interesting  discussioned  followed. 
The  exhibits  were  plants  in  bloom  for  the  professionals,  when  the 
awards  were — First,  Mr.  W.  Topham ;  second,  Mr.  R,  Agar ;  and 
third,  Mr.  T.  Brewer,  The  amateurs  exhibited  cut  flowers,  and  some 
excellent  Roses  and  Orchids  were  staged  with  the  other  blooms.  Dr. 
Banham  secured  first,  Mr,  W.  Willgoose  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Green 
third  prizes.  The  plant  exhibited  by  Mr.  Topham  was  a  specimen  of 
Anthurium  Schertzerianura  carrying  a  large  number  of  very  fine 
spathes,  for  which  the  Society’s  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded. 
Dr.  Banham  exhibited  some  fine  Roses  in  addition  to  his  competitive 
exhibits. 
The  meeting  was  depressed  by  the  news  that  Mrs.  Matthewman, 
wife  of  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel,  who  was  one  of  a  party  of  the 
members  of  the  Society  and  their  friends  who  met  with  an  accident 
to  their  conveyance  on  the  previous  Saturday  after  visiting  'I’otley  to 
see  the  show  of  Daffodils,  was  in  a  very  dangerous  state  and  not  likely 
to  recover,  and  who  died  on  the  following  day  (Thunsday). 
The  usual  routine  business  and  the  admission  of  a  number  of  new 
members  closed  the  meeting,  j  rior  to  ■which  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
essayist,  Mr.  Littlewood,  and  to  the  Chairman,  Mr.  John  G.  Kewsham, 
was  passed. — J.  H.  S. 
Kidderminster  and  District  Horticultural  Society.— The 
usual  monthly  meeting  of  this  newly  formed  Society  was  held  on 
Wednesday  evening.  May  10th,  when  a  most  instructive  paper  on  the 
cultivation  of  the  Tomato  was  given  by  Mr,  A.  Combes,  or  Ilagley,  for 
many  years  gardener  at  Himley  Hall,  Dudley,  J.  H.  Watson,  Esq., 
occupied  the  chair.  Mr.  Combes  commenced  with  the  histoiy  and  intro¬ 
duction  of  the  Tomato,  giving  practical  details  for  its  successful  cultiva¬ 
tion,  with  a  reference  to  the  diseases  which  have  caused  so  much  havoc 
amongst  Tomato  plants.  As  Mr,  Combes  is  well  known  as  a  successful 
cultivator  of  most  plants  in  the  garden,  bis  remarks  were  highly  appre¬ 
ciated,  a  vote  of  thanks  being  accorded  him  at  the  conclusion  of  his  able 
address.  Though  the  Society  has  been  formed  since  the  commencement 
of  the  present  year  only,  it  has  a  membership  of  more  than  150  under  the 
presidency  of  Sir  A.  F.  Godson,  M.P.,  F.R.H.S.,  and  an  influential  list  of 
vice-presidents,  and  having  met  with  so  much  public  sympathy,  the 
Committee  proposes  to  hold  a  floral  fete  in  August.  Kidderminster 
being  easy  of  access  from  most  of  the  west  Midland  manufacturing  towns, 
as  well  as  being  central  for  a  thickly  populated  district,  it  is  hoped  the 
venture  may  prove  a  success.  The  Hon.  Secs,  are  Mr,  Thos.  Rogers, 
Brookfield,  Blakebrcok  ;  and  Mr.  F.  Whicker,  Summer  Hill  Gardens, 
bo  h  near  Kidderminster, — W.  H.  W. 
