172 THE GARDENER. [April 



sphere, especially when making their growth. Good fibrous loam is 

 the soil in which they thrive best : if dense and heavy, it will be im- 

 proved by mixing a little good fibrous peat with it ; and sand, in any 

 case, is an essential part of the compost. The drainage of the pots 

 should be good. The plants should be cut back more or less imme- 

 diately after flowering is over, and it may be necessary to thin out 

 the branches at the same time, in which case the weakest should be 

 selected for removal. In thinning out, care should be taken that 

 the plants be not opened out too much, while the opposite extreme 

 of excessive thickness is also to be avoided. They are easily propa- 

 gated by cuttings of nearly ripe shoots inserted in sandy soil in a cool 

 propagating-house, giving them time to establish themselves, not 

 attempting to hasten them in any way. "W. S. 



A WORD ABOUT MELONS. 



The last year being a very dull and wet season, the crop of Melons in general 

 was very poor. The want of sunshine tells much against the Melon when in 

 flower. I tried an experiment last year with the ]\Ielon, which I give to the 

 readers of the jSIagazine for what it is worth. The experiment was this : 

 After impregnating the flower, I tied the petals together. This I did with 

 the view to keep dampness from the heart of the flower, and the result was 

 that we had a splendid crop : in eight lights upon dung we had sixty fruit, 

 some of them about 6 lb. Some of the readers of the Magazine might try 

 the experiment this season, and see how it succeeds with them. 



Alex. Gibson, 

 vogrie, foed. 



PLEIONES. 



Having been a reader of the ' Gardener ' since its commencement, I naturally 

 take a little interest in reading and supporting it — by recommending it amongst 

 the gardening community. 1 was pleased to see, in a late issue, " Notes on 

 Pleiones," by F. W. B. ; and I trust a little of you.r space will be devoted to Or- 

 chids and stove-plants. 



Pleiones deserve to be more known and grown. Perhaps they would be if 

 they were rather cheaper. 1 had one pot of P. lagenaria — an 8-inch common 

 flower-pot — with 13 bvilbs, each bulb carrying 2 spikes, making 26 spikes. It 

 was very much admired. Some of the bulbs measure 2 inches across. They 

 were grown in a mixed collection of Orchids ; but I never allowed them to go 

 thoroughly dry. I consider it weakens the bulbs, and likewise the bloom, to dry 

 them much. They remain in bloom nearly 4 weeks in a cool stove. I have now 

 several in peat, sj)hagnum, a little loam, and rotten manure, giving them a 

 slight bottom-heat to start them. Could any of your readers let me know where 

 P. humilis can be, obtained — good bulbs. Notts. 



