148 THE GARDENER. [April 



HINTS ON ORCHIDS. 



A friend deeply interested in Orchids tells me that he finds cocoa- 

 nut fibre and charcoal the simplest and best compost for all such 

 Orchids as Cypripediums, Dendrobiums such as D. nobile, D. hetero- 

 carpum, D. macrophyllum, and others, and even for Vandas, brides, 

 and Angrcecums. He is particular to say that the pure coir fibre is 

 the thing he employs, and not the refuse. One great advantage 

 is the cleanliness and rapidity with which Orchids may be potted on 

 this plan. The fibre and nodules of charcoal are surfaced with fresh 

 sphagnum. Perfect drainage is insured. The roots fasten themselves 

 on the fibre greedily, and retain their life and freshness much longer 

 than in peat. One part of his secret remains to be told. When 

 the hungry roots have filled the pot, they are fed with a solution of 

 peat made by washing lumps of good peat in a tub of rain-water 

 until all except the fibre is held in solution by the water. This is 

 strained previous to use, and allowed to settle until it is clear. To 

 this mixture, and a modicum of soot washed from the roof, he attri- 

 butes his success in growing and flowering many Orchids with which 

 he used to fail under a peat-compost regime. For such Orchids as 

 grow best upon blocks he has another plan : not only are they dipped 

 in the solution of peat, but when wet, finely powdered peat is gently 

 shaken over their aerial roots. I must say I have been agreeably 

 astonished at the results of a two years' trial of Orchid-growing under 

 this novel regime, and have much pleasure in here putting my friend's 

 practice on record for the information of all whom it may concern. 



A NEW PLANT. 



Perhaps not really new — certainly not to botanists — but assuredly 

 so to most gardens, is Senecio cruentus of De Candolle, a stately 

 greenhouse composite of Cineraria-like habit, sent to me by Mr Smith, 

 manager of Messrs Roger, M'Clelland, & Co.'s nurseries at Newry, 

 Ireland, who raised it from imported seeds received by him under the 

 name of Doronicum papyraceum. It is a charming plant of robust 

 habit, and a most profuse bloomer, each branched stem being sur- 

 mounted by clusters of flowers each individually as large as a sixpence, 

 having a deep purple disc and delicate lilac ray florets. Although 

 somewhat resembling a stately Cineraria in fort and flower, this plant 

 has an advantage which many cultivators will appreciate. Seedlings 

 raised in the spring in gentle heat may be pricked into small pots, 

 planted out in June, and finally be dug up and repotted for blooming 

 in the conservatory during January and February. Either for decora- 

 tion, or for the supply of cut-flowers at this season, it will be both use- 

 ful and ornamental. 



EUPATORIUMS. 



Eupatorium riparium is a good early spring-blooming plant. E. 

 glaucophyllum is also most useful, but the best and most generally 



