46 



IRISH GARDENING 



favoured position in an ordinary heated green- 

 house should, with a little special care, meet the 

 requirements of the following: — Cypripedium 

 insigne, Cynibidum Lowianunr. Ccelogyne 

 cristata, Epidendrum vitellinuna niajus. 

 Oncidium varicosum Rogersi, and Lycaste 

 Skinneri. Cypripedium insigne. is the easiest to 

 cultivate; in fact it might be called the poor 

 man's Orchid, as I have known it to thrive and 

 flower for years under window gardening treat- 

 ment. Some of the varieties, such as Cypri- 

 pedium insigne Sandene. almost a clear yellow. 

 and Cypripedium insigne Barefield Hall, a very 

 large and distinct variety — which can be pur- 

 chased at the present time for as many shillings 

 as they were pounds eight years ago — would be 

 the best investment, as they are much superior 

 to the type plant and of equally strong consti- 

 tution. 



Cymbidum Lowianum is one of the best known 

 garden Orchids, very free growing, and produces 

 spikes of yellowish green flowers with a red lip, 

 and lasting for a considerable time in flower. 



Lycaste Skinneri is an Orchid of the easiest 

 culture that should find a place in every green- 

 house : the flowers are of various shades of pink, 

 from light to deep, with a crimson lip. 



The above-mentioned species require a good 

 substantial potting compost consisting of equal 

 parts fibrous peat and loam, not broken up too 

 line, with a libera! addition of finely broken 

 crocks or coarse silver sand. 



Ccelogyne cristata. one of the most popular 

 and useful Orchids, carries a spike of from live to 

 eighl pure white flowers with yellow crests on the 

 lips, and is very useful for decorative work. 



Ccelogyne cristata like-; a long term of rest 

 when the pseudo-bulbs are completed — that is to 

 say. only give water when the bulbs show signs 

 of shrivelling, as the freedom in flowering of the 

 plants greatly depends upon the rest given. 



Oncidium varicosum Rogers ii is a very beauti- 

 ful and useful species having long branching 

 many flowered stems bearing clear yellow 

 flowers, a colour which is uncommon in Orchids 

 at its season of flowering. It requires to be kept 

 on the dry side for six or eighl weeks after 

 (lowering. 



Kpidendruni vitellinum tnajus is a most useful 

 and popular species and a good decorative plant, 

 lasting from two to three months in (lower: the 

 colour of the flowers are orange red. A most 

 suitable plant for the decoration of dwelling- 

 houses when in (lower Requires l<> U< kept on the 

 dry side for six or eight weeks after flowering, and 

 a potting compost of e.pial parts fibrous peal, 

 Osmunda fibre, and sphagnum moss will suit the 

 three last mentioned species. 



As success in the cultivation of Orchids depends 

 principally on good potting and careful watering, 

 1 will endeavour to give a few hints on these 

 points. Respecting the time of carrying out the 

 potting of Orchids, it is generally one month or 

 six weeks alter flowering, or when the plant s|| ( >ws 

 signs of making new roots after its rest, then it 

 should be taken in hand. All the bad and sour 

 material should be removed, also any useless back 

 pseudo-bulbs. Before fixing the plant in its new 

 pot or pan. the latter should be thoroughly clean : 

 let the drainage come nearly hall-way up the pot. 

 or, better still, regulate it according to the amount 

 of roots, placing a layer of the roughest of the 

 potting material over the drainage, and working 

 the soil firmly but carefully through the roots of 

 the plant with a dibbler and finishing off with the 



base of the plant on a level with the surface of 

 the pot. An Orchid may be fixed so firm in its 

 pot that it can be lifted up by the foliage without 

 disturbance at the root. 



Careful watering is necessary after potting, as 

 a great many fail to meet with success through 

 an overdose of water at this particular time, 

 therefore never saturate an Orchid that has been 

 disturbed at the root ; just give as much water as 

 will moisten the compost all through, keeping the 

 plant rather on the dry side until the new- roots 

 have got well established in the compost. Never 

 water an Orchid in driblets. When well estab- 

 lished give enough water to soak thoroughly 

 through, then let it dry out again. If you are 

 doubtful whether the plant is really dry let it go 

 another day without watering, for it is by giving 

 water when the plant is already wet that the 

 compost becomes saturated and sour, and harm 

 is done to the plant.— M . ('. 



Calceolaria Burbidgei. 



By Wm. Green. 



Tuts delightful yellow-flowered greenhouse plant 

 has many qualities to recommend it, yet one does 

 not see it as frequently as we ought. It makes 

 a most appropriate subject for covering the 

 pillars in the conservatory, blooming freely for 

 the greater' part of the year'. It also makes a most 

 attractive pot plant : the rich yellow panicles ol 

 bloom borne on stiff stems, are very pleasing and 

 much appreciated in the dull winter months. 

 Plants on pillar's or against walls should have all 

 the old wood cut away and young shoots coming 

 from the base carefully tied in. as it is from these 

 the large handsome trusses of bloom are produced. 

 For pot culture cuttings should be taken the 

 present month to form nice specimens for flower- 

 ing the following autumn and winter' in 6-inch 

 pots : short -jointed young side shoots should be 

 selected, two Or three inserted round the sides of 

 8-inch pots in light sandy soil, and placed in the 

 propagating frame, where they will quickly form 

 roots. Afterwards the usual care of an ordinary 

 greenhouse plant is all that is necessary. In early 

 stages of growth the strong shoots should have 

 their points pinched out to make the plants 

 bushy: rough mellow loam, with an addition of 

 leaf-mould and sharp sand added, makes a suit- 

 able pottiirg compost. At the commencement of 

 blooming weekly applications of liquid from the 

 farmyard tank, diluted, will greatly assist them. 



Given a fair amount of root room, the plant has a 

 natural tendency to grow long and adapt itself 

 for covering walls or' pillars in the greenhouse. 



e£* e^* 1 c^* 



Chives. This excellent vegetable should find 

 a place in every garden, and especially in the 

 amateur's, for it will lie found most valuable in a 

 variety of ways. Many consider' a dish of salad 

 not quite perfect if (his is not present. And for 

 soups too it is found to be a good substitute for 

 onions. If there are none in the garden, loots 

 might be planted at the end of this month or 

 during March. An> ordinarj soil made rich will 

 meet all their requirements, and they may be set 

 out at from six inches (o one foot apart. Every 

 few years established plants should be lifted and 

 carefully divided and a new bed allotted to them. 

 For the space they occupy exceedingly good value 

 will be given. — .1. T. 



