1878.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



103 



fill, that as much nourishment as possible may 

 be left for the crown. To prevent the bulb fall- 

 ing out, place a little green moss close around 

 it, and fasten the whole with some small wire, 

 A handle to this Beet-basket, by which to sus- 

 pend it, can easily be formed by twining a piece 

 of galvanized wire, fastening the ends in the 

 opposite sides of the Beet. This will also an- 

 swer as a support for the flower-spike. It will 

 require to be kept constantly moist to induce 

 the Beet-root to send leaves freely from the 

 crown, which faces downwards. The result of 

 this is that the foliage twines gracefully round 

 the sides in an upright direction, shrouding 

 everything from view, the dark leaves being in- 

 termixed ■with the inflorescence of the Hyacinth, 

 which by that time will be in its perfection. 



The effect is exceedingly pretty. — C /. White, 



The Gardens, Ferniehurst. 



•••• 



NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



Varieties of Primula. — The Japan Prim- 

 rose, Primula japonica, introduced some years 

 ago by Mr. Wm. Bull tlu-ough Mr. Fortune, has 

 hitherto resisted all attempts to break it up into 

 varieties. Now a rosy crimson is figured in the 

 Belgian Horticultural Review. Two pretty 

 varieties, one a mottled, of Primula cortusoides, 

 are also figured. 



Venus Looking Glass. — This, Campanula 

 speculum of old authors, has been produced in 

 Europe with double flowers. It is said they 

 come true from seed. 



Green House and House Gardening. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



ORCHIDS, WITH OTHER PLANTS. 

 ONCIDIUMS. 



BY C. II. S., BALTIMORE, 3ID. 



Among Orchids, Oncidiums are probably one 

 of the best for an amateur to try his hand 

 on. Though, as a whole, they have not the 

 beauty or fragrance of many other species, their 

 easy culture, free blooming, and comparative 

 cheapness recommend them strongly to begin- 

 ners. Yellow, striped, or speckled with light 

 brown or chocolate, are the predominant colors, 

 though there are some noted variations, which I 

 will notice later. Owing to the length of the 

 flower spikes, most Oncids show to better 

 advantage grown in hanging baskets, which 

 should be made of red cedar (Juniperus Virgini- 

 anus) or the locust (Robinia pseud-acacia). If 

 well made, using strong copper wire, they will 

 last many years. They also give a more natural 

 appearance to the plants, the roots of which will 

 soon attach themselves to the wood. The bas- 

 kets should be half filled with broken crocks and 

 charcoal, using fresh green moss next to the 

 plants. All Orchids should be set on top of the 

 moss, just inserting the plants deep enough to 

 keep them steady until the roots have penetrated 

 the moss. By having the plants above the 



moss, it will be easy to see the young growth, 

 which should never be kept very wet, as they 

 are apt to rot off in their early stage of growth. 



Oncids differ in their growth more than any 

 other species of Orchid that I have seen. Some 

 varieties have short corrugated bulbs. Some 

 others have long smooth bulbs, and other varie- 

 ties, such as luridum and Lanceanum, have no 

 bulbs, but thick, succulent leaves. Then, again, 

 there is a little group with long terete leaves, 

 and no bulbs, of which O. junceum is a 

 noted example. In the shape of the flowers 

 there is great similarity, except 0. Papilio (the 

 Butterfly Orchid), which many botanists con- 

 sider a different species, and not a true Oncid. 

 I will now give a short description of some that 

 I have bloomed, commencing with the bulbless 

 group, having thick, fleshy leaves. I will here 

 reniurk, that all Orchids with thick fleshy 

 leaves are apt to spot if kept too moist and 

 cold from November to February. 



Oncidittm Cavendishii. Guatemala, South 

 Mexico •, bright thick leaves ; blooms in Winter; 

 flower stems from 2 to 4 feet long ; flower about 

 U inch diameter; sepals and petals yellow, 

 barred Ijrown lip, liright yellow. 



0. bicallosum Growth like O. Cavendishii ; 

 flower stem about 15 inches, stiff" and upright; 

 sepals and petals brown, lip yellow; blooms in 

 Winter : Guatemala. 



