442 
JOURNAL  or  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  21,  1S03. 
once.  Thunia  Marshalliaiia  could  hardly  be  in  better  condition, 
and  numerous  plants  are  now  in  flower. 
Mr.  Alexander  observed  that  thougli  the  Calantbes  are  start¬ 
ing  away  with  unmistakable  robustness,  their  compost  has  never 
yet  been  watered;  nor  does  he  .syringe  the  growths  overhead. 
The  stages  in  some,  if  not  all,  of  the  houses  are  covered  with 
clean  breeze,  and  among  the  Dendrobes,  at  all  event.s,  my  notesi 
remind  me  that  there  are  shapely  little  plants  of  Begonia  Rex 
in  variety,  and  a  few  Asparagus  Sprengeri.  These  additions 
help  to  furni.sh  a  more  interesting  presentment  tvhen  the  Orchids 
are  in  their  season  of  growth.  | 
Compost  for  Orchids  is  often  a  troublesome  factor  to  the 
grower,  and  about  two  years  ago  we  all  heard  a  great  deal  about 
Belgian  (and  other)  leaf  mould  as  a  stimulant.  Undoubtedly 
it  is  a  forcer  of  growth,  but  also.  Avithout  any  doubt,  growersi 
find  it  to  fail  them  in  the  end,  and  the  last  stage  becomes  worse 
than  the  first.  At  Westonbirt  the  leaf  mould  is  not  in  very 
high  repute,  and  a  fibrous  peat  in  greater  percentage  is  being 
used. 
The  plants  now  in  bloom  comprise  some  brilliant  pieces  of 
Cattleya  Skinneri  in  great  pans,  and  one  plant  carrying  fullj’’ 
fifteen  trusses.  C.  Mendeli  and  C.  citrina,  so  very  different  in 
character  yet  .so  lovely,  are  not  lacking  in  effective  display,  while 
Lselia  purpurata  is  everywhere  most  pleasing,  and  seven 
graceful  flowers  per  plant  were  noted.  C.  elegans  showing  twenty 
leads  is  also  worthy  of  a  reference  ;  while  Lfclio-Cattleya  callisto- 
glossa  excelsa,  with  eleven  leads,  speaks  Avell  for  so  fine  a  hybrid. 
Amongst  others  of  distinction  there  were  C.  Walkeri  and  L.-C. 
Hippolyte  Mossise,  coming  into  flower. 
Cypripedium  bellatulum  makes  a  quaint  shoAv,  and  this  ha.'^ 
been  used  as  a  pai'ent,  I  believe,  in  a  number  of  the  We.stonbirt 
crosses.  The  new  bigeneric  gem,  Zygo-Colax  Wiganise  superba, 
though  “  bad  to  do,”  is  happy-looking  here,  and  has  formed  three 
leads.  In  a  corner  by  themselves  .stand  some  stately  Vandas, 
said  to  be  between  thirty  and  forty  years  of  age,  and  Avhich 
have  been  exhibited  in  days  gone  by  at  Bath  Show.  Having 
been  petted  and  care.ssed,  so  to  .speak,  they  are  again  protruding 
their  horns  (to  continue  in  metaphor)  and  moving  into  a  fresh 
lease  of  life. 
The  Miltonias  are*  a  host  in  them.selves,  though  there  are 
not  many  of  them.  These  plants  are  potted  in  spring,  and  I 
should  have  stated  that  the  Westonbirt  grower  pots  his  Cattleyas 
at  the  time  they,  start  to  grow.  The  Miltonia  vexillariums  were 
bearing  on  an  average  three  spikes,  each  with  nine  flowers,  or 
twenty-seven  per  plant,  Avhich  is  a  creditable  record. 
There  are  some  fine  specimen  Cymbidiums,  particularly 
bright  being  C.  LoAvianum  Westonbirt  variety,  with  light 
cinnamon  petals  and  sepals,  and  a  shoAvy  purple-crimson  lip. 
V.  Lowianum  conoolor  Avas  likeAvise  of  notable  merit.  Amongst 
the  Cypripediums  other  than  those  named  one  cannot  well  pass 
over  .such  handsome  forms  as  C.  insigne  Sanderee,  C.  i.  Harefield 
Hall  variety,  and  C'.  CharlesAvorthi,  each  in  batches  and  though 
not  in  floAver  yet  interesting  by  comparison  of  their  distincth'e 
habits  of  growth. 
The  flaming,  orange  crimson  flowers  of  Masdevallia  ignea  at 
all  times  lend  colour  to  a  collection,  and  happily  ferv  are  with¬ 
out  so  fine  a  species.  Masdevallias,  as  a  genus,  are  not  largely 
groAvn  in  Captain  Holford’s  houses,  but  M.  ignea  is  flowered  in 
fine  form. 
As  I  started  with  Odontoglos.sums,  so  I  have  to  conclude 
these  insufficient  notes  Avith  a  further  remark  on  the  magnifi¬ 
cent  display  of  crispums  noAv  occupying  one  of  the  span-roofed 
houses.  The  flowers  are  generally  large  and  of  good  substance, 
form,  and  appearance,  numerously  set  on  the  arching  racemes. 
Many  are  carrying  a  dozen  and  thirteen  flowers  on  each  spike, 
and  Mr.  Alexander  staged  a  plant  of  O.  crispum  at  an  R.H.S. 
meeting  that  carried  seventy-two  flowers  on  thirteen  racemes. 
He  says  the  secret  of  success  wuth  the  Odontoglots  lies  in  the 
Avatering.  At  the  same  time  the  stages  of  the  house  are  so 
planned  that  they  (and  the  plants)  can  be  raised  up  to  near  the 
roof  glass  during  the  Avinter  and  lowered  as  far  from  it  as  i;< 
convenient  during  the  bright  days  of  summer.  Thus  does  he 
count  every  point  that  makes  for  success. 
Cattleya  Magneana. 
This  splendid  novelty  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
species.  It  was  produced  by  crossing  a  superior  variety  of 
Oattleya  guttata  Leopoldi  with  C.  Mas.saiana,  one  of  the  best 
of  the  Hardyana  group.  The  height  of  the  plant  when  in  bloom 
is  about  20in,  and  of  the  pseudo-bulbs  lOin.  The  leaves  are* 
about  Sin  by  2^in.  They  are  thick,  tough,  and  of  a  beautiful 
dark  green  colour.  The  floral  stem  has  four  branches,  and 
consequently  fiAm  flowers.  The.se  when  fully  open  are  of  a  re¬ 
markable  size ;  indeed,  the  largest  known  diameter  is  3|in. 
The  sepals  are  firm  and  cohesiA’e,  the  upper  one  being  remarkably 
erect,  and  they  are  of  a  plain  ruby  colour.  The  sicle  petals  are 
very  wide  and  firm,  with  wavy  edges  and  of  an  intense  dark  ruby 
colour.  The  lip,  perfectly  formed,  very  large,  well  opened,  and 
Avith  large  curves,  is  of  an  intense  ruby  colour,  which  is  deeper 
round  the  curves.  The  bottom  of  the  orifice  as  well  as  its  under 
side  has  a  fawn-tinted  shade.  The  rostellum,  in  front  of  the 
orifice  of  the  labellum,  is  very  laA’ge. — Ch.  Maron  (“  Le  Jardin”). 
Irish  Roses. 
When  looking  through  the  catalogues  of  Roses  that  are  sent 
out  by  the  various  noted  groAvers,  one  cannot  fail  to  notice  in 
the  columns  cf  raisers  that  are  generally  given  the  frequent 
appearance  of  the  name  of  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons, 
Ltd.,  of  NeAAtoAvnards,  Belfast,  and  Dublin.  It  is  perfectly 
safe  to  say  that  they  have  gis^en  us  most  of  the  best  Roses 
that  Ave  can  procure  to-day,  and  the  fact  that  many  of  them  are 
to  be  found  in  all  the  prizeAA’inning  collections  of  Roses  of  last 
year  is  sufficient  to  prove  they  are  first  and  foremost  every Avhere. 
When  one  considers  the  amount  of  time  and  trouble  necessary 
for  the  safe  conveyance  of  exhibition  blooms  from  the  North  of 
Ireland  to  such  places  as  W'indsor,  Gloucester,  Bath,  Halifax, 
Manchester,  Mearns,  Leicester,  &c.,  and  being  continually 
successful,  it  speaks  Avell  for  the  la.sting  qualities  of  the  Roses 
and  the  indefatigable  energy  of  the  firm  to  ensure  success. 
One  is  surprised  to  find  as  many  as  fifty  of  their  introductions 
catalogued  by  various  nurserymen  in  the  British  Isles,  amongst 
them  being  no  fewer  than  sixteen  N.R.S.  gold  medal  Roses,  a 
record  untouched  by  any  raiser. 
Amongst  Hybrid  Perpetuals  we  have  Ards  Rover,  a  most 
distinct  and  valuable  climbing  crimson  Rose  ;  Bob  Davison,  one 
of  last  year’s  introductions,  a  fir.st-rate  Rose  in  every  respect, 
colour  dazzling  scarlet,  shaded  crimson  ;  Earl  of  Dufferin — Avho 
AA’ill  not  admit  this  velvety  crimson  Rose  is  onei  of  the  best  r 
Helen  Keller,  rosy  cerise,  a  gold  medal  Rose,  lovely  and  dis¬ 
tinct;  Jeannie  Dickson,  soft  silvery  pink,  one  of  the  finest  Roses 
grown;  Lady  Arthur  Hill,  ro.sy  lilac;  Lady  Helen  Stewart, 
bright  crimson,  highly  perfumed;  Marchioness  of  Downshire, 
beautiful  satin  pink,  gold  medal  Rose  ;  Marchioness  of  Dufferin, 
gold  medal  Rose,  rosy  pink:  Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  gold 
medal  Rose,  ivory  AA-hite," flowers  very  large;  Margaret  Dickson, 
gold  medal  Rose,  Avhite,  with  pale  flesh  centre,  a  Amry  fine 
A-ariety,  groAvn  everyAvhere;  Mavourneen,  a  charming  pillar  Rose, 
delicate  sihmry  white;  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman  Crawford,  one  of  the 
verv  finest  Roses  groAvn,  aAvarded  gold  medal,  deep  rosy  pink, 
outer  petals  shaded  pale  flesh,  distinct  from  all  other  H.P.  s , 
Robert  Duncan,  bright  rosy  lake ;  Rosslyn,  delicate  rosy  flesh 
colour,  a  sport  from  Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi ;  Tom  V\  ood, 
a  vigorous  cherry  red,  flowering  freely  and  continuously  ,  ulstei, 
gold  medal  Rose'  a  strongly  perfumed,  bright  salmon,  of  immense 
in  the  Hybrid  Tea  class,  Avhich  is  likely  to  be  the  most 
popular  in  the  future,  Ave  have  quite  a  large  number  of  Irish 
Roses.  Roses  in  this  class  have-  no  er^ual  in  fohage^or  floAver, 
being  in  nearly  everj^  case  hardy,  vigorous,  early  to  bloom,  and 
lasting  a  long  time.  Alice  Lindsell,  a  splendid  gold  medal  Rose, 
creamy  white,  Ai'ith  pink  centre;  for  exhibition,  garden  decora¬ 
tion,  or  pot  culture  it  is  certain  to  rank  amongst  the  most 
select;  Ards  Pillar,  a  perfect  pillar  Rose  of  vigorous  growth, 
with  beautiful  foliage,  producing  large  velvety  crimson  blossoms ; 
Bessie  Brown,  creamy  white,  at  the  top  of  the  tree  as  an  phibi- 
tion  Rose,  and  necessary  in  every  collection ;  Countess  of  Cale¬ 
don,  carmine  rose,  highly  perfumed ;  Climbing  Kaiserin  Almost  a 
Victoria,  a  climbing  sport-  of  the  original  type ;  Edith  D  Urn- 
brain,  white,  a  good  forcing  variety  very  distinct;  Darsy,  a 
fraerant  rosy  pink;  Duchess  of  Portland,  gold  medal  Rose  of 
great  beauty,  a  pale  yellow,  most  useful  for  all  purposes, 
Gladys  Harliness,  a  vigorous  and  profuse  flowering  deep  pint 
variety;  Kathleen,  coral  pink,  suffused  with  rose. 
Kiilarney,  flesh,  shaded  white,  of  perfect  form;  John  Ruskin, 
a  magnificent,  bright  rosy,  carmine  Rose,  likely  to  become 
popular;  Lady  Clanmorris,  creamy  Avhite,  with  delicate  salmon 
centre;  Lady  Moyra  Beauclerc,  a  rich  bright  madder  rose  in 
colour  with  siU’erv  reflexes,  valuable  for  forcing  and  exhibition. 
Li4rtv,  brilliant  velvety  crimson,  very  profuse  bloomer, 
.should  be'  in  every  garden;  Mamie,  rosy  carmine  perfectly 
formed,  of  great  substance,  Avith  Amluable  lasting  qualities  when 
cut;  Marjorie,  white,  suffu.sed  with  salmon  pink,  useful  pot  Kose, 
blooming  profusely.  ^  i  t  i 
Mildred  Grant,  silvery  Avhite,  edge  of  petals  shaded  and 
bordered  pink,  a  perfect  Rose  in  every  fonm  worthy  of  being 
termed  the  finest  ever  raised ;  Miss  Ethel  Richardson,  v  hite, 
with  nale  flesh  centre.  ,  .  ,  -r.  <•  r  1^.1  c  
Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  a  gold  medal  pink  Rose  of  faultless  form, 
flowering  freely  ;  Sheila,  bright  rose,  a  sood  buttonhole  Rose , 
Shan  don,  a  similar  type  of  Countess  of  Caledon  . 
Coming  to  Tea  Roses,  we  find  many  beautiful  and  popular 
varieties:  Berjd,  deep  golden  yellow,  very  A'aluable  for  cutting. 
Ethel  BrownloAv,  .salmon  pink,  shaded  with  yelloAV  at  ba^e  ct 
petals :  Lady  Mary  Corry,  a  lovely  deep  golden  yellcnv,  finely 
formed  ;  Meta,  colour  crushed  straAA’berry,  suffused  Avith  saffron. 
