The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

242 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [February 20, 1892.

native of the mountains of Java, at an elevation of from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, and may be serviceable for hybridising purposes.

Hydnophytum Forbesi, t. 7218, is one of those curious plants whose tuberous root-stocks afford a home for ants. The plant does not seem to be injured by the ants, which repay their obligations by keeping off undesirable visitors. The plant in question is cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew, where it flowered in 1889 and again in 1891.

Begonia glaucophylla, t. 7219.—A plant of unknown origin—possibly a garden hybrid. In any case, a very beautiful form, with spotted stem, oblong-lanceolate leaves, and pendulous short-jointed clusters of pink flowers. Grown as a basket plant it is very handsome. Kew.

Vicia narbonensis, tab. 7220.—The chief interest attaching to this species is that it has been supposed to be the origin of the common field Bean (Vicia Faba). Judging from the figure here given, those who indulged in that supposition must have had an extraordinarily vivid imagination, for it is scarcely possible to have imagined two plants of the same genus more different in appearance.

Neo-Benthamia gracilis, t. 7221.—A coloured figure of the very singular terrestrial Orchid, described and figured by Mr. Rolfe in our columns in 1891, vol. x., p. 272. It is a native of Zanzibar.

FORESTRY LECTURES: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. —The Council of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society announce to the members and others interested, that the course of lectures on "Forestry" is about to be resumed in the University by COLONEL BAILEY, R.E., a distinguished forest officer. The Council urge landowners, foresters, and all interested in forest education to take advantage of these lectures, which began on the 10th inst. Landowners would do well to send one or more foresters to attend the course, and they would thus derive immediate benefit by the employment of men instructed both in the art and science of forestry. The Council point out the excellent opportunity which these lectures provide to intelligent youths for acquiring a thorough scientific knowledge of their profession. To enable them to take advantage of the lectures, the Council have arranged that young men who desire employment while attending the course can obtain it in the nurseries, or elsewhere, near Edinburgh, on applying by letter to W. J. MOFFAT, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer, 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh.

GHENT HORTICULTURAL MEETING.—Certificates of merit were awarded at the last meeting for the following plants:—1st, Odontoglossum pulcherrinum ×, a new hybrid of the Alexandræ type, shown for the first time; the form is beautifully rounded, the colour white, the edges slightly yellowish, and the entire flower evenly spotted with brown. 2nd, Odontoglossum Holfordianum leopterum, a rare variety with large flowers, the ground golden yellow with large brown spots. 3rd, Masdevallia ignea perfecta, an entirely new variety, imported from Columbia and flowering for the first time; it has never before been shown. The flower is exceedingly beautiful and very large, in colour purplish flushed with dark blue; this is one of the most beautiful forms of ignea. 4th, Masdevallia ignea aurora, another novelty from Columbia, and flowering for the first time; the habit is very distinctive, the colour flame-orange. 5th, Amaryllis flammea ×, a new hybrid remarkable in habit and form, deep red with very fine wavy lines of white. These five fine novelties were from M. CH. VUYLSTEKE, of Loochristy. 6th, a species of Odontoglossum from M. JULES HYE; a magnificent flower, the ground pink, the sepals and petals fringed, bordered with white, the mid-rib whitish, each sepal and petal having a large brownish-red spot surrounded and underlined with smaller spots of the same shade; the lip has a golden-yellow ground, with tiny spots, the edge white, very finely fringed—the flower is robust. 7th, Odontoglossum Pescatorei album, from the same Orchicist, the flowers very fine, pure white, numerous and very fresh. 8th, Odontoglossum sulphureum,

also from M. J. HYE, flowers sulphur-yellow and very distinctive, the several parts of the flower have a small circular spot of brownish-red, which is repeated on the lip. 9th, Pteris Wallichianum, from MM. DURIEZ FRÈRES, of Wondelghem, a plant interesting among the many novelties recently introduced. Certificates of Merit were awarded for:—1st, Adiantum venustum, to M. SPAE, Vandermeulen, a very pretty species in vigorous health; 2nd, Nephthytis picturata, from the Congo, to M. L. DESMET DUVIVIER, a dwarf plant, with fine leaves of unusual size; 3rd, to MM. E. VERVAET ET CIE, for Cattleya Masereelii, a white-flowered variety. Honorable mention was awarded for:—1st, Cattleya Trianæ, to MM. VERVAET ET CIE., the lip very dark in colour; 2nd, Cattleya Trianæ, to the same exhibitors, the lip fringed—very pretty; 3rd, Miltonia vexillaria, to M. ALF. VAN IMSHOOT, flowers large and dark; 4th, Microlepia hirta cristata, to MM. DURIEZ FRÈRES; 5th, Cœlogyne Lemoniana ? delicata, to M. J. HYE.

ACREAGE OF FRUIT IN GREAT BRITAIN.— Prominent attention has lately been called to the extending cultivation of fruit in different forms in Great Britain. A relatively large advance is now reported in the Agricultural Returns of Great Britain for 1891. The area under small fruits now exceeds that used for Hops, 58,700 acres being returned, compared with 46,200 acres in 1890, and 36,700 acres in 1888, the last year when this form of cultivation was first separately recorded. By the introduction of a newly-arranged table this particular area has been more closely analysed than has hither been possible, and it will be seen that on 23,416 acres small fruit is grown in plots already returned as orchards—that is doubtless under the larger fruit trees; while 22,510 acres in market gardens, and 12,778 acres of ordinary farm land are now returned as carrying Gooseberries, Strawberries, Currants, and other small fruit. The small fruit area has increased in every county of England and Wales, and in some counties by a remarkable percentage, although nearly a third of the English small fruit area is still to be found in Kent. The changes are not so uniform in Scotland, although there also a larger fruit acreage is reported. The ordinary orchard surface in Great Britain in likewise greater, covering, in round numbers, 210,000 acres. The area, ten years back, was given as under 185,000 aceres. A still larger advance appears in the returns of land used by market gardners for the growth of vegetables, and other garden produce. These were reported as covering 46,604 acres in 1881, while the figures for 1891 make the market garden area 81,368 acres.

TOOPE'S FOG-ELIMINATING PLANT-HOUSE.— As suggested in our issue for November 28, p. 650, when making mention and giving a small illustration of Mr. Toope's invention for mitigating, if not altogether eliminating, the injurious effects of London fog on plants, we have made two visits, and on both occasions have had our previously-formed favourable opinion verified. Situated in the corner of his factory-yard, in one of the foggiest districts in London, viz., Stepney Green, Mr. Toope has erected his experimental house in two divisions. Heated on his own plan, fitted with his chemically-charged air-filters, his charcoal-filters for the water used, and a new and perfect plan of ventilation, it must be said that the plants in the houses, which, it will readily be supposed, could not exist under ordinary circumstances, are in the best health, and progressing well, although the experimenter has fairly enough only begun with small, and in many cases, weak specimens, Orchids being the plants chiefly grown. The evidence of the production and duration of the flowers is a great point; and both in November and December a good show for so small a collection was found. Last week we found some Cattleya Trianæ in bloom, C. citrina, showing flower strongly; several Dendrobium Wardianum, a fine D. crassinode, Cœlogyne flaccida, Zygopetalum Mackayii, Odontoglossum Rossi majus, with seven blooms; a fine O. maculatum, which to our certain knowledge,

has been in bloom since the middle of December, and in one corner was a small case in which were plants of Anæctochilus petola and Goodyera discolor, besides others. If regarded only as a system of perfect ventilation, the invention is a good one, and deserves a trial by those who try to grow plants in large cities and smoky manufacturing districts.

SHREWSBURY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— At the annual meeting on the 11th inst., the Mayor presiding, a balance-sheet was produced, showing the income of the society for the past year to have been £3334 10s., as compared with £2963 in 1890— the highest amount ever reached by the Society in one year. The subscriptions for the year amounted to £428 7s., and the receipts at the exhibition in August last were £2796. The amount of prize-money was £428 7s. 6d.; amusements and fireworks cost £421; bands, £253; and the profits on the year's exhibition was £970. A sum of £500 has been added to the invested capital, which now amounts to £3500. Since the Society started, the annual balances have been expended in the improvement of the public grounds in the Quarry, the Free Library, and some money has been given to the charitable institutions of the town, last year £753 being so expended. The balance in the banker's hands amounts to £747.

BIRMINGHAM GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION.—At the last meeting, and admirable paper on "The Gloxinia, 1739 to 1892", was read by Mr. J. MARTIN (Messrs. SUTTON & SONS), in which the history of its introduction and improvements were sketched, and instructions given as to culture. Anyone who has visited Messrs. SUTTON & SONS' nurseries when the Gloxinias are in flower, will know full well that Mr. MARTIN is an excellent cultivator and crossbreeder of them. On the following evening, the second annual social meeting of members and their wives took place at one of the largest hotels, and about 140 persons were present, Mr. W.B. LATHAM, of the Botanical Gardens, presiding.

THE WEATHER IN THE MIDLANDS.—Mr. J. W. WOODFORD, Atherstone, says that "On February 15, it was snowing hard all day, with gale from north-east, thermometer 26[degrees]; altogether, the most winterly day we have had."

A VENERABLE CAMELLIA.—Probably there is no exotic tree or shrub in West Cornwall with a more interesting pedigree than the Camellia at Penalvern, Penzance, writes the Western Morning News; and, like so many other things with a glorious past, its future is an unknown quantity, except in the rapidity of its decay. It is but a wreck of its former self, and the merest imitation of the blizzard of last March will completely settle it. Half-a-century ago there were scarcely any Camellia trees in West Cornwall, and for a very long period, up to last year, the one in question maintained its reputation as being the largest in the county. When in full bloom, its magnificence could not have been excelled by any single specimen in its native country, Japan. It reached an altitude of nearly 20 feet, and possessed a circumference of nearly three times its height. It was, at its prime, so densely covered with flowers that to photograph it was impossible. The young tree was brought about half-a-century ago by the late Mr. T. S. Bolitho from the gardens of his father-in-law, in North Cornwall, and the vigour with which it grew and thrived in the genial locality of Penzance was little short of marvellous.

"NATURAL SCIENCE."—Messrs. MACMILLAN & Co. announce the publication of a new monthly scientific review—Natural Science—devoted more especially to the interests of biology and geology. The first part of Natural Science will be published on March 1, 1892.

BRUSSELS BOTANIC GARDEN.—A member of the Belgian Parliament has denounced as excessive the sum expended on the Botanic Garden, which sum we believe is ridiculously small. He pro-

754 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [DECEMBER 10, 1881.

Orchid Notes. WORK IN THE HOUSES.--Whilst the present exceedingly mild weather continues the houses can be kept at their proper temperature with little anxiety on the part of those who have charge of the fires. There can be no doubt that with such weather out-of-doors the treatment now being given is much better for the plants than when there is heavy snow on the ground, and a continuance of severe frosts for days and nights together. Still whilst it is so mild, the thermometer may safely indicate a few degrees higher than it would be wise to keep if much firing were now being used. The object now, let the weather be what it may, is to induce many to remain in a state of rest, or but slight growth; it will not do, therefore, by excessive heat unduly to excite any into growth, or to hasten on the blooming period. There are always among the cool Orchids some pushing-up flower-spikes, or starting again into growth, and the difference of treatment these require at any period of the year is comparatively slight when the other sections are taken into consideration. These must not be drived off in a bulk, though a partial rest after blooming must be individually encouraged by a slight withholding of water; and so, whatever the season may be, the treatment in this section will be a careful and consistent round of a regular and uniform character, bearing in mind the requirements of indviduals. The temperatures of the houses in the early morning, at 7 A.M., should now be as near the following figures as possible : — East India-house, 60[degrees]; Dendrobium-house, 58[degrees]; Cattleya-house, 55[degrees]; Odontoglossum-house, 50[degrees] to 53[degrees]. If the Phalænopsis, and a few recently imported East India plants, are placed in a separate divisiion, it may range a little higher; but if less air is given it will cause this department to be a little warmer and closer, and will answer the same purpose. When it is practicable, give air on all occasions, especially to the Odontoglossum-house; with the glass outside ranging from 40[degrees] to 50[degrees], little fear need be felt that any harm will follow. The rare and distinct Vanda Cathcarti, where it has been secured, should now be well advanced with flower spikes. This generally commences to show as early as August and September, and the spike and buds come slowly on until the flowers expand by Christmas, or sometimes not till January is far advanced. The flowers last a long time, which is some compensation for the lenght of time one has to wait for their appearance. This will in some cases grow as free as can possibly be desired; in other instances it is just as difficult to manage. One cause of this I believe to be that it is grown in too much heat. This encourages yellow thrips, and once this pest has settled upon it it seems to have the plant completely in its power. The leaves being of a thin papery texture are soon disfigured, and must be cut away; smoking or dipping must then be resorted to, and repeated if the first operation is not successful. The coolest end of the East India-house, where it can have plenty of light, will suit it best. Being a quick grower naturally, it doubtless soon lifts its head above the plants or foliage at its base, and reaching upward it would therefore enjoy an abundance of light. It is also much benefited when growing by being syringed overhead morning and evening, and is most at command when grown in a pot. Among the late additions to the Dendrobium few were distributed more quietly than the singular-growing Findleyanum, and probably not one has given more pleasure, or caused greater surprise, than this. At first, with many growers, it did not appear very deserving, but now it is admitted to be a most beautiful species—very free in blooming, the flowers of fine size, and the colours soft and pleasing. This is best managed in baskets, and during the summer grows very quickly. It flowers on the new growths whilst the leaves, in some instances, are still upon the bulbs; but if these miss blooming the first year they will generally do so the second. It will now be showing flower along its knotted bulbs, and will soon prove it is worthy of all the care that has been bestowed upon it. Wherever it can be obtained it should be added to the collection without delay. Another choice thing of recent introduction is Maxillaria grandiflora. This succeeds best in a pot, in peat and sphagnum, and, grown in the Cattleya-house during the summer, it will have made stout bulbs and leaves, and will now be flowering from the base of the newly formed bulbs. Its erect showy blooms rival in some respects the rare Lycaste Skinneri alba, and should

be represented in the collection by more than a single specimen. Miltonia spectabilis, virginalis, rosea, Moreliana, &c., will now be pushing new growths. Pick out the old peaty soil, and top-dress them with some fresh sphagnum and peat, using some crocks among the soil. Do not shake them out unless it is absolutely necessary, as they do not like to be often disturbed; it causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and the plants become weaker in a very perceptible manner. The Cattleya-house will suit these, as well, too, the taller growers, as Clowesii, Regnelli and its variety purpurea; candida grandiflora requires a little more heat than any of them. W. Swan, Fallowfield.

ORCHID SEEDS. I am not sure that the instructions given at p. 733 are quite sufficient for a beginner in the field of raising seedlings. It would depend very much upon how or where the living sphagnum was placed before I should care to trust Orchid seeds on it. If they were sown on a pot or pan of luxuriant living sphagnum I would not expect to see a plant come up. The method usually pursued, and which I have found successful, is this. For instance, if the seeds to be sown are those of a Cypripedium I would select a plant of the same species as one of the parents that had been potted some time—say six months; and I would prefer one that had not too much living sphagnum about it. The surface where the seeds are to be sown should be one of bits of charcoal, tufts of fibrous peat and potsherds, with live sphagnum at intervals. The seed-pods will riper on the plant, and the seed should be sown as soon as the pods open. The seed, which resembles very much the dust in the sunbeams, should be shaken out on to the surface; and if there are any thick roots on the surface the seeds may vegetate on them, and nowhere else (at least, I had an experience of that kind once). I merely took the Cypripedium as an illustration, but it is a fact that the best way to rear seedling Orchids is to sow the seeds on the surface of the compost on which other plants of the same kind are growing. There are, however, such an enormous number of seeds in a pod that it is easy to try them in various ways. I think it was the late Mr. Donald Beaton who sowed Orchid seeds in rather an eccentric manner; but he was successful in raising plants, which was the first point gained, although he stated at the same time that he never reared one. Mr. Beaton filled a flower-pot with water, in which were some good-sized lumps of charcoal; his fingere were held over the hold in the bottom of the pot. The seeds were then sown on the surface of the water, the finger was withdrawn, and the water rushed out, leaving the seeds attached to the charcoal, which was kept moist afterwards. In this way he raised a large number of plants; but it takes a long time before they are ready to be pricked off, and they did not derive sufficient sustencance from the charcoal to bring them on to that stage. J. D.

ORCHIDS IN FLOWER AT GLASNEVIN On December 1 there were sixty-one species and varieties of Orchids in flower here, and of these thirty-one were in flower on November 1. The following is a list of them:— [two columned table]

Acropera Loddigesi	Masdevallia ignea
Angræcum pellucidum	Maxillaria lepidota
Calanthe Masuca	" grandiflora
" Veitchii	" pallidiflora
" vestita	Nanodes Medusæ
" " Calanthe vestita rubro-oculata	Neottia picta maculata
Cœha macrostachya	Odontoglossum grande
Cymbidium pendulum	" cirrhosum
" elegans	" Insleayi leopardinum
" Mastersii	" Rossii majus
Cypripedium venustum pardinum	Oncidium ornithocephalum
" Harrisianum	" flexuosum
" insigne	" varicosum
" " Maulei	" ornithorrhyncum
" longifolium	" Forbesii
" javanicum	" tigrinum
" barbatum superbum	" Kramerianum
" Stonei	Phalænopsis Lüddemanniana
Dendrobium formosum giganteum	Pilumna fragrans
Epidendrum inversum	Promenæa Rollissoni
" Epidendrum alatum	Pleurothallis plumosus
Liparis longipes	Sarcanthus teretifolius
Lycaste macrophylla	Sophronitis grandiflora
" Skinneri	Trichoceros suavis
" Lawrenciana	Vanda cœrulea
Masdevallia melanopus	" lamellata Boxalli
" Veitchiana	" tricolor
" Davisii	" furva
" octhodes	Zygopetalum maxillare
" tovarensis	" Mackayi superbum

PILUMNA FRAGRANS This is one of the choicest Orchids we have for flowering this season. Mr. Low has also a large importation coming into flower; and as the flowers

open the plants are arranged in two sections. The large-flowered variety is grown under the name of P. nobilis. Why it should be elevated to the rank of a distinct species merely because the flowers are larger does not seem to be so easy to answer. P. fragrans nobilis it ought to be, if a distinctive name is necessary. The large-flowered variety is the best certainly, although both ought to be grown in every collection. The sweetly-scented flowers are of teh most delicate white, with a lemon or yellow mark at the base of the labellum. This is also a free-growing plant, and should be potted like Cattleya Mossiae. It favours either the cool or Cattleya-house. J. Douglas.

MR. BULL'S COLLECTION. The following are now in flower at Mr. William Bull's establishment, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W.:— [two columned table]

Ada aurantiaca	Maxillaria grandiflora
Angræcum sesquipedale	" venusta
Barkeria Lindleyana	Mesospinidium vulcanicum
Cœlia macrostachya	Microstylis metallica
Calanthe Masuca	Odontoglossum Andersonianum
" pleiochroma	" baphicanthum
" Veitchii	" bictoniense
" veratrifolia	" Chestertoni
" vestita luteo-oculata	" cirrosum
" " rubro-oculata	" constrictum
Catasetum macrocarpum	" cordatum
Cattleya maxima	crispum (Alexandræ), upwards of 200 spikes in a bud and flower
Cœlogyne barbata
Cymbidium giganteum
" Mastersii
" sinense
Cypripedium Argus	" crispum grandiflorum
" barbatum	" crocidipterum
" " plumosum	" gloriosum superbum
" " superbum	" grande
" Crossianum	" Hallii
" Dominii	" hastilabium
" Harrisianum	" Londesboroughianum
" Hartwegi	" maculatum
" Hookeræ	" madrense
" insigne	" Pescatorei
" " albo-marginatum	" polyxantum
" " Maulei	" Roezlii
" longifolium	" " album
" niveum	" " splendens
" Sedeni	" Rossii majus (about 100 flowers)
" venestum pardinum	" tripudians
" virens	" Uro-Skinneri
Dendrobium chrysanthum microphthalum	" vexillarium rubellum
" formosum giganteum	Oncidium carthaginense
" heterocarpum	" cheirophorum
" nobile	" crispum
" McCarthiæ	" cucullatum
" primulinum	" excavatum
" " giganteum	" Forbesii
" Wardianum	" Kramerianum
Epidendrum cuspidatum	" murinum
Goodyera Dawsoniana	" ornithorrhyncum
Lælia autumnalis	" Papilio majus
" " atrorubens	" roseum
" Dayana	" tigratum
" Dormanniana	" tigrinum
" marginata	" trullum
" præstans	" unguiculatum
Lycaste mesoschlæna	" varicosum
" Skinneri	" Weltoni
Masdevallia Estradæ	Phalænopsis amabilis
" Harryana	" grandiflora
" " atropurpurea	Pilumna nobilis
" " cœrulescens	Polystachya grandiflora
" ignea	Restrepia antennifera
" inflata	Saccolabium blumei majus
" militaris	" giganteum
" peristeria	Sophronites cernua
" polysticta	" grandiflora
" " brevior	Trichosma suavis
" tovarensis	Vanda cœrulea
" Veitchii	" tricolor insignis
" violacea	" " limbata
" xanthina	Zygopetalum Gautieri
Maxillaria foveata	" Mackayi majus

ONCIDIUM CHEIROPHORUM. In entering one of the Orchid-houses in Messrs. Low's nursery at Clapton, the other day, the visitor might observe what seemed to be a bed of the dwarf yellow Wallflower coming into bloom, but on a closer inspection it was found to be a quantity of exceedingly healthy plants of O. cheirophorum; many spikes are fully opened, and numbers more are coming on to succeed them. The flowers open pale yellow, and when fully opened they are of a golden-yellow, and most sweetly scented. Mr. Low grows this in quite a cool house, and I saw it doing well since in one with a night temperature ranging from 60[degrees] to 65[degrees]. Now that there are large importations of this it may soon beomce an inmate of most Orchid-houses. J. D.

ORCHIDS IN MIXED COLLECTIONS: FERGUSLIE. Mr. Williams, in the Orchid Album for last month gives a very just and appreciative notice of the Orchids grown by Mr. Thomson at Ferguslie, the seat of T. Coates, Esq., and remarks that they were not grown in a house or houses specially set apart for them, but in houses mixed up with stove and finefoliaged plants. My reason for noticing this is, that I remarked the same success attended similar treatment of Orchids by the late Mr. Ingram, at Alnwick Castle. I saw them last autumn, and never saw plants in more robust health grown in a large plant-stove, with fine-foliaged and other stove plants. The Dendrobiums were quite remarkable