19G THE GARDKNRR. [May 



is now making nice fresh leaves, 10 inches long in the blade by 4 

 inches wide. In dense shade and in pure soft water this plant is by 

 no means of slow growth. 



One of the finest of all Orchids now in blossom is the old but ever 

 lovely Cymbidium eburneum. Its culture is now becoming better 

 understood. It used to be grown in peat, and with care succeeded 

 moderately well ; but of late years a loamy compost hi^s been found to 

 suit it far better, and, so grown, its blossoms come larger and expand 

 better. Mr Spyers was, I believe, one of the first to try the plant in 

 loam, and he had his reward the other day when he brought a speci- 

 men to South Kensington bearing sixteen flowers ! The leaves are 

 gracefully grass-like, curving in a pleasing way, the one or two great 

 Lycaste-like flowers being borne on erect stems a foot or more in height. 

 It is wonderful how this plant roots into the lumps of loam; and those 

 who do not bloom it well in peat should give it a loamy compost at 

 once. 



Dendrobium fimbriatum oculatum is not one of the most modern, or 

 fashionable, or expensive of Orchids, but it is a robust grower, and, 

 under ordinary culture, rarely disappoints one. It comes in well for 

 April or May exhibitions also, and is showy enough for grouping with 

 other flowering exotics. We have a plant just now bearing fifty spikes 

 of from eight to fourteen flowers each, and the effect is quite brilliant 

 enough ; besides which, the spikes come in well for cut-flowers. It is 

 necessary to bear in mind, however, that as the flowers are produced 

 several years in succession from different nodes or joints of the same 

 old bulbs, the bulb itself should not be cut away with the flowers. 



There are one or two annuals that are not generally known, and so 

 they are rarely met with in gardens. One of the most showy (on hot 

 dry soils it is especially brilliant) is Venidium calendulaceum. The 

 flowers are more vivid than those of Calendula officinalis, and the 

 habit of the plant is neater and better in all ways. A bed of it here 

 last year attracted much attention. It was recommended to me by the 

 late Miss J. Hope of Wardie Lodge, and that is perhaps the best I can 

 say of it. Another tiny plant, quite different but still very pretty, is 

 lonopsidium acaule, a fully developed specimen of which is about 1^ 

 inch in height and 2 inches in diameter. It has a mossy appear- 

 ance, and is studded with pretty little lilac cup-shaped flowers, each of 

 four petals. For the margin of a rockery or the front of a herbaceous 

 border it is charming, and it may be successfully grown in small pots 

 for greenhouse or window decoration. 



Daffodils are now in perfection on this 11th day of April 1881: 

 locality near Dublin Bay. There was some sense in a remark a gar- 

 dening friend made to me the other day. " Oh yes," said he, " I 



