ORCHIDS, FERNS. &c„ OF 1886.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8146, 18 April 1887, Page 2

ORCHIDS, FERNS. &c„ OF 1886.

{Gardeners' Chronicle.)

In reviewing the gains which horticulture has secured during the past year it seems but natural to advert to the plants which have received the certificates of either the Royal Horticultural Society or the Royal Botanic Society, as they have been tested by an amount of scrutiny to which other new or reputedly new or recently introduced plants have not been subjected. Many of these latter are well worthy of keeping company with the best I am aware, of such for example, is that beautiful and interesting hybrid of Messrs Yeitch, Laelia Batemanniana, and of such are many other new orchids, of which the dried flowers and descriptions bear witness; but let them wait their turns. OECHIDS. Cattleya Lawrenceana has proved itself a worthy new plant. C. Reineckiana, certificated to Messrs Hugh Low and Co., is a welcome addition to the large-flowered, light-coloured Mossisea; the C. Mossioe splendidissima, also of Messrs Low, perhaps the largest and richest coloured of the species, and the C. Mossite silvia of Mr Douglas, a very pretty and distinctive form. Of Trianais, only two varieties were certificated, but they are both very fine; the C. T. Schrbderiana being in form and size erf flower and colour of lip second to none; and the C. T. Ernesti of Mr R. I. Measures, a bright novelty, with flower generally good, and with the addition of rich crimson markings on the petal tips. C. gigas (Hill’s var.) is a fine form, very rich in colouring; the C. speciosissima, Fairfax of Admiral Fairfax, a grand flower; and the C. El Dorado virginalis of Mr H. M. Pollett, a chaste white and fragrant variety. The certificated odontoglossums necessarily get fewer each year, as the standard of merit is raised. If value has anything to do with merit, some of these of this year should be superb, for three of them realised in the aggregate over .£4OO. Foremost among them must be placed Baron Schroder's O. crispum apiatum, a grand flower in size, substance, and marking; next come 0. c. Hrubyanum, of Baron von Hruby, very like the preceding, but not quite so good; 0. c. Mrs Dorman, a fine white, completes the certificated criapums of the year, and I do not think that any who know the large number submitted will accuse the Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society of being thoughtless in their awards —indeed, an analysis of the year’s transactions proves that the same care has pervaded their judgment in all sections of plants. 0. Pescatorei excellens, Knox’s var., is a grand yellow and crimsonspotted form ; 0. P. Vervaetiana of Yervaet, of Ghent, a pure white, with heavy violet markings; O. mulus Courtauldiana ,of Sydney Courtauld, Esq., a fine yellowgrounded crimson-blotch flower, of great fragrance; and O.luteo-purpureum leucoglossum, and O. Ruckerianum marginatum of Messrs F. Sander and Co., of special merit. During the year that unquestionably pretty scarlet Masdevallia racemosa Crossi (first exhibited by J. Fellows, Esq., of West Bromwich), was certificated to Sir Trevor Lawrence, who exhibited a very neat specimen of it. The Dendrobes are represented by D.Williamsianuma very beautiful species, exhibited by Mr B. S. Williams, of Holloway, in July, and greatly admired by all; D. Wardianum crassinoue from Baron Schroder’s garden, with its nearly 3ft psendobulbs furnished with large waxy-white magenta-tipped blooms, appears to be just intermediate between the two species compounded in its name and D. Leechianum, about which so much argument has been ; when properly grown, flowered, and exhibited by Mr William Thompson, of Clovenfords, received an unanimous- award. The Angneoum aviculare of Sir Trevor Lawrence is one ot tne prettiest and purest white of the long, drooping spiked Angrtecums and Cyrtopodium Saintlegerianium, as exhibited by Mr A. H. Smee, shows a very high development of C. punctatum. The Cypripediums bring us the very curious and interesting C. Sanderianum; C. Walhsn, a fine species of the C. caudatum group, known to science for many years, but beautifully flowered last season by William Lee, Esq., from one of Messrs Sander's importations. C. eallosum a pretty introduction of Mr William:

Bull's, from Cochin China. This has the foliage of C. barbatum, the size of tower of C. Lawrenceanum, with that purity of. white and crimson in the upper sepal which is to be found in C. purpuratum. C. Hyeanum is an interesting form, and is probably a green variety of C. Lawrenceannm. Phaius Humbloti, exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, proves to be a very handsome species. Mr B. S. Williams? Lmlia pnrpurata bella, is neat and pretty; W Southgate’s variety of Oneidium macranthum, the richest yet flowered; Lseli* anceps virginal is, sent by F. A. Philbrick, Esq., the largest and purest white form of anceps, bearing no- colour except a tinge of yellow in the lip; and Baron Schroder’s Vanda Dearei, an unexpected acquisition, in growth like the large form of V. tricolor, but with large ivory-white flowers; Zygopetalum leopardinnm, a Veitchian treasure, is a real acquisition, and must not be omitted. Amongst the certificated plants it is pleasant to see that some very fine old species are recognised. Among the Orchids is that beautifnl and singular Angracum candatnm sent to the Royal Horticultural Society by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in October last, and the pretty and profusely flowered Oneidium undnlatum exhibited by Major Lendy. Such fine plants, demand recognition whenever presented. The Ferns and Ltcopods. Of these we have some elegant and useful additions. Two of the finest, perhaps, are Davallia retusa, with massive arching foliage, something like a large pinnulea D. Mooreana, and Nephrolepis rufescens tripinnatifida, with elegant plumes of 1 frondage, much tasselled and fringed; both these were from Messrs James Veitch and Son, and the same firm introduced Todea grandipinnula, an elegant filmy fern and a supposed hybrid, and Pteris tremula foliosa, which will perhaps b» one of the best decorative and market ferns extant. Mr James Naylor, of Harrow, received a first-class certificate for his superbly created strain of Pteris serrulata; Mr May, for his of P. cretica; while Mr William Bull introduced a very fine shiny greenfronded fern in Davallia solida major. Of Maidenhairs we have acquired three, all good in their classes. A. Capillns-veneris imbricatnm, approaching in beauty A. Farleyense; A. cuneatum, Phillips’ var., with very tall and elegant frondage; and A. Fragrantissimnm, which may be a cross with A. amabile. Gymnogramma schizopbylla gloriosa was certificated to three exhibitors. As a free-grow-ing, finely-cut fronded fern, either for basket or pot, it is not to be easily beaten. Of filmy and hardy ferns Messrs James Backhouse and Sons, of York, received certificates at the Liverpool show for some very elegant things, viz :—Trichomanes neriifolium, with beautifully divided fronds; Hymenophyllum pictnratnm, in which the nerves are very prettily displayed; Polypodium vulgare trichomanoides and Asplenium marinum plnmosum, both finely cut and resembling filmy ferns. At the same time Mr James Birkenhead received certificates for Lastrea montana coronaria, a fine-crested hardy fern; and Nephrodium Sangevelli, a good ornamental greenhouse fern. There were but two Selaginellaa new certificated for 1886—S. gracilis of Messrs Veitch, and S. tessellata —and both are distinct so far as their present growth will permit of judgment. THE FOLIAGE AND FLOWEEINO INDOOR PLANTS. Under this heading may be brought tho fine Amaryllis of Messrs Veitch, of which it is sufficient to say that in them they have surpassed all their former efforts; and the same may be said of the greenhouse rhododendrons, of which they are well worthy to retain the monopoly-of the new things, so long as they continue to improve them as they now do. Eight new varieties ’ of greenhouse rhododendron were certifi- A cated to this firm, and none to any Mr B. S. Williams and Mr James also received acknowledgment for some very fine amaryllis; and Mr Laing, Mr Cannell, and Mr Owen succeeded in passing a few begonias, but the already known kinds are so fine that a tuberous begonia must have extraordinary merit to pass muster nbw. Impatiens Hawkeri of Mr William Bull will prove a real boon to plant lovers, giving them a plant as easily grown and propagated as a pelargonium, and a profusion of very large rich crimson flowers; his Aphelandra chrysops, with foliage prettily marked in the way of A. Leopoldi, will also prove a good decorative plant. The Cespedezia discolor from the same establishment, too, is a very handsome spreading foliage plant, but will probably not prove free to propagate. Phrynium jncundum of Messrs Veitch is a great beauty, with oblong ovate leaf-blades which are about half-white and half-green quaintly and. beautifully mixed. Among the flowering indoor plants certificated this year, too, I call to mind three very old plants which seta one longing for something new of equal merit, viz.—Beaumontia grandiflora, with large Datura-like flowers, sent by Mr Ruffet from Earl Cowper’s garden (see Gardeners’, Chronicle, vol. xxv., p. 593) ; Clerodendron nutans, with long drooping sprays of white flowers (figured in the Gardeners’ Chronicle , p. 689, vol, xxvi.) sent by Mr Head from the Crystal Palace ; and Bignonia Chamberlayne, from Mr C. E. S. Dickens. Certainly these examples were from very old-established plants, so it is hardly fair perhaps to expect onr recent acquisitions to come up to them yet. Onlyone dractena —D. nobilissima (Williams), and two Crotons—C. Aigburthensis and C. Newmanni (R. P. Ker), were honoured with certificates—the two Crotons beingbeautiful enough to gain over any despisers. HAKDT PLANTS. Crataegus pinnatifida major (Messrs Veitch) furnishes a shrub with handsome flowers succeeded by fine large scarlet berries, and that, too, with handsome foliage. It is very hardy, and it should bo extensively planted. Ulmus Pitteursii pendula, certificated to W. Paul and Son, also brings us a desirable new ornamental tree; and the Crinum Powelli, certificated from Burford Lodge on Sept. 21, proves to be the stateliest and most beautiful whifca or blush-flowered hardy bulb we have. 1886 has been marked by what was called the revival of the Hollyhock, and that finegarden flower was shown clean and well bloomed by several exhibitors at South Kensington—Messrs Webb and Brand, MrChater, and Mr Blundell, bringing a few deemed worthy of certificates. The Pyrethrums and Gladioli of Kelway, the Narcissi of Mr Barr and others, the Carnations and Picotees of Mr Douglas, and, for summer decoration, the Dahlias of Cannell, Ware, Keynes, Turner and Rawlings, furnish good account in new things for the now, at the finish, I come to a class I should like to see better represented in certificated plants, viz., that which is commonly called hardy herbaceous and alpine plants. Mr Ware has, during the pastyear, received certificates for a few good things ; and in his Primula capitata major and P. Reidi, G. F. Wilson, Esq., Heatherbank, Weybridge, introduces to notice two really fine and distinct plants. The former is a bold tall-scaped plants with fine heads of violet coloured flowers, and the latter a neat white and delightfully fragrant highland Indian species, and quite a novelty to growers. I cannot, however, help thinkingthat more might be done for these " everybody’s ” plants, if growers would butexhibit them more frequently.. Add to the good things enumerated some fine new chrysanthemums, and many other desirable odd things, and I think we must conclude that the work of improvemen and addition to our known and proved plants was satisfactorily done in 188 j. ■