DOMESTIC NOTICES, 



443 



forth from their lurking places, and are readily 

 observed on the roots, sides of the pots, &c, 



It was to prevent their depredations that Mr. 

 Lyons made his ingenious invention, called tlie 

 Onyscamyntic Epiphyte stand, for which the 

 growers of those plants generally owe him a debt 

 of gratitude. (The name seems a difficult one, 

 but is well chosen from the Greek words, oniseus, 

 a wood-louse, and amynticus, defensive, or used 

 in defence against.) This stand consists of a 

 massive saucer, or feeder with a raised centre, in 

 which is fixed a block of wood of whatever size 

 required ; the saucer being always kept full of 

 water, forms a sort of fosse impassable to vermin. 

 They are made of various sizes, to suit conveni- 

 ence. 



This is the most natural mode of growing them 

 yet known ; as it seems to possess every combined 

 requisite for growing them according to their na- 

 ture, and in tlie highest degree of perfection, 



They take up no more room than a pot; and if 

 judiciously managed, each block, according to its 

 size, will hold from one to twelve or more plants. 

 They are tied on with fine copper wire and small 

 white tacks, such as are used to nail down carpets. 

 Copper nails, of a similar size, are preferable; 

 they being less subject to rust. The roots are 

 then covered over with thin flakes of hypnum, or 

 some similar moss, neatly tied on, to preserve a 

 little moisture till the plants begin to grow; they 

 will soon protrude their roots, and lake firm hold 

 of the rough bark of the wood. This is far pre- 

 ferable to what was formerly used, and to which 

 many of the old school seem still to adhere, viz., 

 lumps of turf, stones, potsherds, pieces of wood, 

 inverted flower pots, sand, SfC, were all tumbled 

 together, heaped high in a pot, for no other pur- 

 pose than endeavoring to imitate nature, in pro- 

 curing material to which the roots could adhere, 

 and secure a perfect drainage, to guard against 

 too constant a submersion in water, or a supera- 

 bundance of moisture about their roots. 



Towards the end of February, several of the 

 plants will be making their new growth. The 

 temperature may be gradually increased to 70 de- 

 grees during the day, and from 60 to 65 at night. 

 Water must also be carefully given to such as re- 

 quire it. Some make it a general rule to shift all 

 their orchids annually, sometime from February to 

 May. This is a practice indeed unnecessary, 

 except in some particular eases; for instance, 

 where a large plant be crammed in a small pot, 

 or such as will otherwise actually recpiire it, keep- 

 ing always in mind to sluft when they show indi- 

 cations of growth; that is, when the plants begin 

 to protrude their roots, as there is then the least 

 danger of a cheek. This is a matter that is sel- 

 dom or never attended to, and is of such impor- 

 tance that I wish I could sufficiently impress a 

 strict observance of it. As the season advances, 

 the plants will be getting more active in their 

 growth, and consequently require a gradual in- 

 crease of temperature. 76 degrees fire-heat, by 



the first of May, will be sufficient, and from 65 fc 

 63 at night. 



As the sun shines strong by the middle of April, 

 the temperature of the house will often rise to 90 

 degrees or more, the house can then bo opened to 

 any extent required. There is no danger to be 

 apprehended from an increase of day temperature 

 if sutficient air is given, and the blinds pulled over 

 the roof from 10 to about 3 o'clock, to prevent the 

 scorching rays of the sun shining upon the plants. 

 Their supply of water must be also increased, and 

 a moist atmosphere maintained; they live upon it. 

 They may now be occasionally syringed. The 

 best time for syringing previous to the month of 

 June, is about 3 o'clock in the morning. To afford 

 an opportunity of drying the plants during the 

 day, it would be unsafe to frequent the syringe too 

 often at this season; for indiscriminate syringing; 

 before the pseudo bulbs are formed, is often de- 

 structive to a general collection. When the water 

 lodges in tlie young shoots, they soon damp off". 

 The loss of the leading shoot so enfeebles small 

 plants that they are seldom able to make a second 

 effort; consequently their death is inevitable. 

 Syringing with strong force, as is often practiced 

 on other plants, where the removal of green fly 

 and other insects is the object, would be destruc- 

 tive to orchidacea. Our own mode is to let the 

 water come on the plants gently from a fine rose, 

 so as to represent a heavy dew; the house being 

 then shut close, it gives a fine humid atmosphere, 

 and will never over-water any of the jdants. 



The singular habit of growth of Epiphytal or- 

 chidacea, is no less remarkable than the various 

 forms they assume, of which the sportive mon- 

 strosities observed in the genus Catasetum is the 

 most anomalous instance on record. Sir Robert 

 ScHOMDURGK found in Demerara Monachanthus 

 Viridis, Myanthus Barhatus, and a Catasetum, — 

 three supposed genera upon the same spike. A 

 similar specimen is figured in the Botanical Regis- 

 ter, as having flowered at the Dxjke of Devon- 

 shire's, at Chatsworth. A plant of the same 

 species, under our own care, in 1846, produced 

 its normal blossom {Myanthus Barbatus.) In 1847 

 it turned out to be Monachanthus Viridis ; and in 

 1848, we had both Myanthus and Monachanthus on 

 the same stem. A similar peculiarity has lately 

 appeared in the genus Cycnoches, where two dis- 

 tinct species, Cycnoches Ventricosum and Egerto- 

 nianum have appeared together. 



As our space is limited, we must defer any fur- 

 ther remarks for the present. I am, sir, respect- 

 fully yours, M. C. Newburgh, January, 1849. 



Special Manures — Letter from Prof. Kirt- 



LAND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE OhIO FrUIT- 



Growers' Convention. — It is with regret that I 

 find myself compelled to forego the pleasure of 

 participating in tlie doings of your meeting. There 

 are several subjects on which I am anxious to 

 exchange ideas with mv horticultural friends. To 

 one of them I will allude by letter. 



