The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

October 8, 1881.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 465

the common Sugar Pine of California, but the cones are not half so long; and, even when young, the scales are strongly reflected, suggesting the Doctor's new name for the species—"Pinus reflexa." It is frequently met with in the deer park referred to, also on a similar plateau on Mount Graham, and is reported also from several other ranges." American Gardeners' Monthly.

NOTES ON VEGETABLES.

PEAS.—The season has been very favourable for these—that is, so far as regards their productiveness and the gathering of them green for cooking; but I fear seed will be scarce and dear, as the weather at the time of ripening set in wet, and prevented crops being harvested in anything like the condition they ought to be. Among the tall kinds the best with us has been Telephone, which is a grand Pea, bearing pods from 5 to 6 inches in length, and these not wind-bags, like those of Superlative, which created such a stir some years back, but every one as full as they can be packed; and the Peas being large, when shelling takes place they soon fill up a dish. It was stated that Telegraph and Telephone are identical; but that is not the case, as they are not only distinct in color, but the last named is much the best Pea of the two, as, eaten either raw or in the cooked state, it is more sweet and tender. Being a strong grower, Telephone should be sown thin, and it is a good plan to have the rows at wide distances, as then they get plenty of air and light on both sides, and crop nearly down to the ground. We grow ours 10 feet apart, and plant a row of Celery between, which enjoys the shade till late in the summer, when it gets full exposure by the Peas being cleared, and there is then plenty of soil for earthing it up, and to get a row of Lettuce or Cabbage between. As yet I have not tried Telephone late, my favourite sorts for this work being British Queen and Ne Plus Ultra, both of which we are now picking, and as they are still full of bloom and vigour they will yield a supply for some time to come. In growing Peas, we always mulch heavily, as it saves labour in watering and keeps the earth cool. J. S.

FRENCH BEANS.—For yielding a suply during the summer and autumn there are none equal to Canadian Wonder, which is a strong grower and a very heavy cropper, bearing pods 8 to 10 inches long, of great width, and these when cooked are remarkably delicate and tender. Unlike most French Beans, that bear only for a short time, Canadian Wonder may be said to be perpetual, as so long as the pods are kept picked off when ready the plants continue to blossom and yield in succession. To afford proper room the rows should be a yard apart, and the Beans 10 inches, and when growing it is a good plan to stick a few brushy twigs by the sides to assist in holding them up, as without support wind and wet often knocks them about. Not only is Canadian Wonder the best late outdoor Bean, but it is a valuable one to grow in pits or frames, planted on a little bottom-heat in March, as towards the end of May the lights may be removed, and the crop the plants yield under such treatment is immense. For pots they are rather too tall and strong, but growth may be restricted by stopping the tops and pinching off some of the leaves—a practice I generally adopt with all winter Beans. F. S.

MARKET POTATOS.—We think that three varieties of Potatos well deserve, after the experience of them this season, where grown in large quantities, to be termed "market Potatos." One of these is Covent Garden Perfection, a second early, of remarkably good quality, and a heavy cropper. In the Northampton district we saw this Potato being dug, and clean, medium-sized tubers in good quantity following a quick growth, dwarf top, and early ripening, was the prevailing characteristic. It is a sort that finds a ready sale in market when dug. It is understood to have come out of the same batch of seedlings as Magnum Bonum. Burbank's Seedling, a white kidney variety, is a sort that finds great favour with the Northamptonshire people. It is an American variety, now rarely found in catalogues. It has a short top, makes a good second early, the produce is good, and the flesh eats dry and well. Our third variety is Vicar of Laleham, a comparatively new sort, that has come out grandly during the summer. It is a variety with a purple skin, and the snowwhite flesh peculiar to this class of Potatos—a heavy cropper, and but little diseased generally. It is in the fullest sense of the word a main crop variety, and, being a good keeper, should be kept till March and April. It is a remarkably fine Potato for mashing. Looker Round.

Orchid Notes.

SPIRANTHES ROMANZOVIANA.—This is not an Orchid which is likely to find favour with lovers of Orchids for their decorative value only; nevertheless, its white and deliciously fragrant flowers render it attractive even from this point of view. The main interest attaching to it consists of its singular geographical distribution. So far as is yet known it is found wild in Europe only in a wet meadow, near Bantry Bay, Co. Cork. But in North America it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Did it migrate from America, or was the current in the opposite direction? Did it ever occupy other European territory? These and many such questions this plant suggests for the philosophers to solve if they can. It is a near ally of the Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes autumnalis), now to be found in bloom on our Kentish downs, and elsewhere. Our figure (fig. 86)

[black and white illustration] FIG. 86.—SPIRANTHES ROMANZOVIANA AND FLORAL DETAILS: NAT. SIZE. POLLEN MASSES MAGN. FOUR TIMES.

was kindly furnished by Mr. Burbidge, under whose care the plant has been successfully cultivated for the last two years in the Botanic Garden of Trinity College, Dublin, the plant having originally been collected by the Professor of Botany, Dr. Percival Wright.

DENDROBIUM CHRYSANTHUM.

I can fully agree with all that Mr. Swan says, respecting the glorious spectacle of such a plant as he brought under notice in your last issue, p. 434. We have here— in the gardens of John Riley, Esq.—at the present time in flower, a specimen of the above with twenty-four flowering growths, several of which are 6 feet long. On one bulb I counted upwards of eighty blooms. The plant is suspended from the roof with Ferns underneath, and I need scarcely add that is a goodly sight to look on. Another Orchid, which is seen to advantage suspended from the roof in close proximity to Ferns, is the chaste Maxillaria venusta, which. in addition to blooming at this time of the year, lasts for several weeks in beauty. Jas. Almond, Hapton House Gardens, Burnley.

PLANT PORTRAITS

ABUTILON REINE D'OR, Floral Mag. t. 458.— Flowers of a rich golden-yellow; valuable as a winter-flowering plant in a warm greenhouse.

ARDISIA METALLICA, N. E. Brown, Illust. Horticole, t. 421.—A stove shrub of dwarf habit, with oblanceolate bullate purplish or metallic-green shortly stalked leaves. Native of Sumatra. Hort. Linden.

ASTILBE THUNBERGII, Floral Mag. t. 457.—A very elegant Japanese Spiraea, with the habit of A. japonica, but with the flowers in long slender compound spikes.

AURICULA DOUBLE PURPLE, Floral Mag. t. 460. —A beautiful novelty, grown by Mr. R. Dean.

BERTOLONIA LEGRELLEANA, Hort., Flore des Serres, t. 2407.—Leaves cordate, broadly ovate-acute, velvety green, hispid, marked with white veins.

BOLBOPHYLLUM BECCARII, Rchb. f., Bot. Mag. t. 6567.—This is the gigantic Bornean Orchid described in our columns, 1879, i., p. 41; 1880, ii., p. 326, 525. The flowers are in dense pendulous ovoid racemes, the individual flowers being 1/3 inch in diameter, ochreous-yellow, with red reticulations, and a most abominable fetor. Messrs. E. G. Henderson were the first to flower it in Europe.

CHOISYA TERNATA, Monatsschrift des Vereines zur Beförderung des Gartenbaues, t. 4.

CRINUM BALFOURII, Baker, in Bot. Mag., t. 6570.—A well marked new species, discovered in Socotra by Dr. Bayley Balfour. The bulbs and leaves are much smaller than in most of the cultivated kinds. The umbels bear ten to twelve very fragrant flowers, with a long slender tube (2 inches long) and linear-oblong white segments.

DENDROBIUM BRYMERIANUM, Floral Mag., t. 459.—Flowers racemose, each 3 inches across, orange-yellow; the heart-shaped lip with an orange spot on each side at the base, and with the edge deeply fringed.

DENDROBIUM DALHOUSIANUM, Paxton, Illust. Horticole, t. 423.—Flowers almost 4 inches across, fawn coloured, flushed with red; the roundish lip is of the same colour, with two large purple spots on each side at the base. Birmah.

EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM MAJUS, Williams' Orchid Album, t. 4.—A fine variety, with orange-scarlet flowers 2 inches across.

GEUM ELATUM, Wallich, Bot. Mag., t. 6568—A Himalayan species with oblong unequally and interruptedly pinnatisect leaves and yellow flowers. Kew.

HOMALOMENA WALLISII, Regel, Bot. Mag., t. 6571.—The plant figured and described in Gard. Chron. 1877, p. 108, fig. 16, as Curmeria Wallissii. It may be remarked that the names is "Homalomena," not "Homalonema," as commonly written.

KNIPHOFIA COMOSA, Hochstetter, Bot. Mag. t. 6569.—A dwarf species, with a dense oblong obtuse head of flowers of a yellow colour, with very long protruding stamens. Mr. Elwes.

MUTISIA DECURRENS, Cav., Flore des Serres, t. 2408.—A climbing Composite with sessile decurrent lanceolate leaves, ending in a long tendril; flowerheads 4 inches across, bright orange.

PINANGA VEITCHII, Wendl., Flore des Serres, t. 2405-6.—A highly ornamental Palm, with oblong leaves tapering at the base, truncate, and deeply two-lobed at the apex, mottled green above, with reddish nerves, rich claret coloured beneath. Borneo. Messrs. Veitch.

PLUM, REINE CLAUDE DE RAZIMBAUD, Revue Horticole, July.—Fruit medium sized, globose, with a well marked suture, golden-yellow blotched and spotted red on the sunny side; flesh yellowish, melting, separating readily from the stone, of good flavour. Stone small, oval, rugose.

RHODODENDRON MADAME L. VAN HOUTTE, Flore des Serres, t. 2409-10.—Flowers pale shaded rose, spotted with brown, and with a white centre. The habit is said to be good.

ROSE GLOIRE DE DUCHER, Journal des Roses, July, 1881.—Shoots reddish, robust; prickles red. Leaves deep green; flowers large, solitary, crimson, slaty at the edges.

SALVIA M. ISSANCHON, Revue de l'Horticulture Belge, July, 1881.—Supposed to be a form of S. splendens. The calyx is white or yellow, striped with red; the corollas red at the base, whitish above.

SOLANUM PYRACANTHUM, Dun Flore des Serres, t. 2411.—Stove shrub, with oblong pinnately-lobed leaves, studded with stout orange-coloured prickles; flowers violet. Madagascar.

716 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [December 2, 1882.

(which has a good hard bright gravel walk in front of it, with massive Ivy-covered arches at intervals) contains the stouter growing plants. It is well arranged to present a bright aspect at all times by planting the evergreen and deciduous plants so as to be mingled in something like order, some old-fashioned Roses being very lovely; one (Rosa Stanwellii?), which bore many heads of irregularly formed double blush flowers, pleased me much better than any of the new hybrid-perpetuals. In addition to the ordinary herbaceous plants in these large borders are fine Rhododendrons, Sedums, Andromedas, Gaultherias, Vacciniums, Pernettyas, Hypericums, Berberis, and a great quantity of other rare shrubs, the foliage of many of the Berberis being as bright as flowers.

The lower rockery is devoted to mossy Saxifrages, and plants of a like habit, each of which by its own arrangement displays a wonderful piece of Nature. The shrubbery and pinetum are well stocked with a good collection of principally rare things, mingled with Pampas-grass, the Hollies being especially fine, a grand Libocedrus decurrens 20 feet high, perfect; and another of Podocarpus koraiana, lovely. In front of the house is the variegated plant garden, which contains many grand foliage plants I had never seen before, the whole forming a most interesting place, and one from which the owner and his family seem to get a great deal of pleasure.

The garden-house, covered with that little known Hedera algierienses variegata, and its porch with Travellers' Joy, is very picturesque and beautiful. James O'Brien, Harrow-on-the-Hill.

The Arboretum.

CORNUS CANADENSIS.—In reference to your interesting notice of Cornus canadensis in the Gardeners' Chronicle for Oct. 28 (p. 565), it may be well to state that the name of "Baked Apples and Pears," applied to it in Collinson's note, is probably an error. "Bake Apple" is the common name used here to designate the fruit of Rubus chamæmorus, which grows abundantly down to the sea-level in several parts of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, and fruits freely. The "berries" are brought to the Halifax market, and sold as "Bake Apple"—the only name, indeed, by which they are known here. In the highlands of Scotland they are called Avrons, and in books Dewberries. The Cornus canadensis is very abundant in Nova Scotia, often covering roadside banks, and producing plentifully its clusters of bright coral-red fruit; but the fruit is not edible. It is called "Pigeon Berry," and is commonly used for personal decoration, for which purpose it is not excelled by any fruit known to me. I should be glad to know the date, actual or probable, of the note in which Collinson refers to the Cornus canadensis growing "all about Halifax," &c.; also when and where Collinson probably got his first plant or seeds of C. canadensis. George Lawson, Dalhousie College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nov. 15.

CASTANEA CHRYSOPHYLLA.—At p. 435 of vol. xiv. may be found a notice of this most interesting Californian tree, along with many others that flourish in the beautiful grounds at Tortworth Court. This Chestnut is unquestionably one of the most distinct and handsome evergreen trees that has been introduced during the present century. Not attaining more than what may be described as a small or medium height, it is essentially a species that admits of being introduced to the lawns or shrubberies of gardens of limited extent, as well as where the grounds are extensive, and on this account is the more valuable. It has small handsome foliage, bright green on the upper surface, and almost as yellow beneath as the best varieties of the golden Fern (Gymnogramma chrysophylla). the noble owner of Tortworth—who, we understand, is an enthusiastic lover of trees—may be congratulated upon possessing what we suppose to be the finest specimen in Europe, and, so far as we know, the first that has borne fruit in England. The seeds, excepting those so kindly forwarded to us, have, we believe, all been sown, and with Mr. Shingles' care and experience will stand an excellent chance of growing, and in this way being the first of a race raised from English raised seeds, representing a species likely to become a favourite with

all who take an interest in arboriculture. Accompanying are Mr. Shingles' remarks upon it. T.B.

"Amongst the evergreen trees and shrubs that have been introduced into this country this is one of the handsomest; and the fact that it has stood uninjured through the late severe winters much enhances its value as a decorative tree. The specimen growing in the arboretum here, in a somewhat sheltered position in a sandy loam resting on the Old Red Sandstone, is possibly the finest to be found in Great Britain; it is 22 feet high, and 15 feet through. It has annually borne quantities of sterile burrs, with a miniature Chestnut about the size of a very small Pea. But this year, and for the first time, it has produced fertile burrs with perfect fruit. The leaves are dark green above, with a rich golden powder beneath, and when moved with a gentle breeze produce a most charming effect rarely seen. It inhabits California and Oregon, where it is seldom found more than 6 feet high, but in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, it is said to attain a height of from 30 to 50 feet. It will be most interesting if any of your readers will report through the medium of your columns their acquaintance with this beautiful

[black and white illustration] W.J.W-Sc. Fig. 126—CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE, VAR. MAULEI. (SEE P. 717)

tree; also, if this is the first instance known to them of its having produced fertile fruit in this country. I may add that the plant in question was purchased from the Messrs. Veitch directly after its introduction into this country. Thomas Shingles, Tortworth Court, Gloucester." [We have seen it in fruit at Combe Wood, but whether the seeds ripened we do not know. Perhaps Messrs. Veitch will oblige by telling us. ED.]

CRATÆGUS CARRIEREI.—This tree was raised from seed of C. mexicana, which it surpasses in vigour, foliage, and flowers. The latter expand in spring, are at first white, subsequently flesh-coloured. The fruits resemble Cherries in form, size and colouring (bright red), but the principal merit is its persistence throughout the winter. A leafless tree laden with orange or crimson fruit is certainly a first-class decorative plant. The tree is very hardy, since it endured the winter of 1879-80 unhurt. It is grafted on the Hawthorn, and is introduced into commerce by MM. Baltet, of Troyes.

AMARYLLIS AUTUMN BEAUTY.—One of the most beautiful of the Amaryllid family. We lately saw a nice plant of it in flower in Messsrs. Veitch's nursery, with from four to five flowers upon a spike. The flowers are of a crimson hue, deeply veined with lilac.

Orchid Notes and Gleanings.

WORK IN THE HOUSES.—Some of the spring- flowering Denrobiums that finished up their growths early in the season, and have been at rest for a couple of months, will now be commencing to show their flower-buds up the sides of the bulbs, and if the pseudobulbs are strong, and have been well ripened, they ought to produce flowers from every joint. When these plants arrive at this stage they require to be very carefuly watered; in fact, very little, if any, will be required for another month, as a sudden saturation at the root just at this stage of development would most likely turn many of the embryo flowers into growths. Later batches of this section, and also the raceme-flowering kinds, such as D. thyrsiflorum, must be kept as quitely at rest as possible in a temperature of 50[degrees] to 55[degrees] with a dry atmosphere. There are not that many Dendrobes that flower during

the winter season, but D. bigibbum and D. superbiens —though not first-rate kinds—are worth growing for late autumn flowering, and these will be succeeded by D. macrophyllum, which is well worth growing. The next two months are the most critical in the year for any plants that are in growth, and any that are now in this state should be grown as quickly as is consistent with maintaining them in health. It is not difficult to detect at this season of the year whether a plant is getting attenuated through being subjected to too much heat and moisture. Where this is seen to be the case a slight reduction in the temperature should take place, which will produce better ripened growth. These remarks apply to such plants as Sobralias and the few Dendrobes that make their growth during the winter months. They are also applicable to imported Orchids of any kind that were started at the end of summer or early in autumn, and are now just getting into growth. These, in additon to being kept moving as quietly as possible, must be very carefully watered, otherwise some of the tender growths may get rotted, and thus throw the plants back for a couple of seasons. All the Aërides and Vandas will need close attention in the matter of watering during the dull season. Avoid keeping them either too wet or too dry at the root. The former