47G 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ June 13, 1872. 



species, Bellis percnnis. I am veiy anxious to prove if it will 

 icv^nt to the double crimson form. 



■With these changes before my eyes I find it extremely diffi- 

 cult to accuse my nurseryman if his plants do not all come 

 true to name, and I should be vei7 glad if some of my fellow- 

 wovkers would record theu' experiences of the eccentricities of 

 plants. — ExpEi-.io C'kede. 



IXTERMEDIATE ORCHID CULTURE AT 

 EERNIEHUEST. 



Hatixg, early in the year, offered a few remarks on the cool 

 treatment of Orchids at Ferniehurst (see page 99-101), I now 

 furnish some on the remaining portion of the collection, which 

 I shall term intermediate, there being no East Indian house. 

 These, however, consist of Dendrobes, Oattleyas, Oncidiunis, and 

 others requkiug a similar temperatm-e. The cool- house Orchids 

 doubtless constitute the most prominent feature, still the 

 intermediate Orchids may not prove uninteresting to some of 

 our amateur growers. The rapidity with which the cultivation 

 of Orchids has increased, even dirring the past few years, is 

 astonishing ; we now not only see them in the large gardens 

 of noblemen, but also in those of amateurs. To the latter the 

 cool section cannot be too strongly recommended, for they can 

 be grown at a much less expense than the others, and comprise 

 S'lme of the richest and loveliest of Orchids. Tiiily I can but 

 assert that the more I hear about Orchids the better I like 

 them, and the more I see of them the more ardent is my love 

 for them ; in fact, those who do not love them must be very 

 deficient in taste and judgment. 



Orchids are among the richest and rarest productions of 

 the whole floral kingdom, and present some of the most curi- 

 ous and interesting works of nature, borrowing largely from 

 the animal kingdom in the forms of their flowers. This is 

 noticeable in many species ; but here I must only take for 

 example the weU-kno\Tn Butterfly-plant (Oncidium Papilio), 

 the flowers of which resemble a butterfly ; or the Dove-plant 

 (Peristeria elata), in which the central parts of each flower 

 have a very striking resemblance to a dove, whence it has been 

 caUed El Spuito Santo. Indeed, nothing can be more inter- 

 esting than to look closely into their structure and formation. 

 As well as this, they present every imaginable shade of colour, 

 from the most brilliant to the dullest ; and what greatly en- 

 hances the value of many of the species is tlieir lasting quali- 

 ties, remaining in some cases for two months or more in 

 perfection. Others, however, are so fugacious as to last only as 

 many days, or even less; others possses the most delicious 

 fragrance. 



In my opinion success in Orchid culture depends chiefly on 

 attention to a few points ; certainly judgment must also be 

 exercised in the management of a mixed collection. 



I will first commence with potting, which, as a rule, should 

 be done just as the plant begins to grow. Be careful not to 

 overpot, and see that the pots are perfectly clean. These, with 

 othsr materials, and the compost, which generally consists of 

 peat, moss, and broken potsherds, with an admixture of river 

 or silver sand, should be kept in some convenient place, that 

 they may acquire the same temperature as the house in which 

 the plants are growing. Secure good drainage, for although 

 the majority of Orchids delight in a plentiful supply of water, 

 they are impatient of anything stagnant or sour. After placing 

 some of the compost over the crocks, the pot is ready to receive 

 the x^lant, which must have the old compost carefully removed 

 from its roots ; at the same time take awaj" any decayed roots. 

 Next jjlace the roots on the new compost, taking care to have 

 it shghtly elevated above the rim according to the size of the 

 pot, except in the case of the terrestrial species, and then make 

 perfectly finn, for if that is not attended to success cannot 

 foUow. On various occasions I have seen them nearly falling 

 out of the pots, iu all cases presenting a most miserable and 

 neglected appearance. 



With regard to watering it must be done with considerable 

 judgment, as some Orchids, particularly those from high ele- 

 vations, deUght in an abundance of water, while others will 

 not endure so much. At all times see that no water lodges in 

 the young growths, and avoid constant diibblings, as these 

 often cause damping-oft'. Moisture in the house may be kept 

 up by damping the pathways and benches, regulating it ac- 

 cording to the brightness of the weather ; and durmg the hot 

 months of summer, vriiii care, the syringe may be used freely 

 overhead in the morning and evening, which will assist in 

 keeping down red spider and other insect pests. 



Air should also be admitted as freely as the external tem- 

 perature will allow ; much superfluous moisture which may 

 otherwise prove somewhat injurious wiU thus escape. As 

 much Ught as possible should also be admitted, but at all times 

 prevent the direct rays of the sun striking on the plants. This 

 must be done by means of blinds, but upon no account allow 

 them to remain on except during the brightest sunshine, for it 

 is as injurious to exclude light as it is to admit the direct 

 rays of the sun. There are, perhaps, a few species which will 

 endure a little more exposure ; these, if possible, should have 

 a house to themselves ; if not, their' requirements must be at- 

 tended to as nearly as other means wiU allow. 



To retm-u to the principal object of this paper, from which I 

 have in some degree wandered. At Ferniehurst, where the 

 plants for the most part present a very luxuriant and healthy 

 appearance, in the first place the houses devoted to theu' cul- 

 ture are all-span-roofed, and 18 feet wide. The longest two are 

 about 40 feet long, and about 12 feet high in the centre ; the 

 width is divided into three stages, or rather flat benches, that 

 in the centre being G feet, and the side ones 3 feet each, thus 

 leaving 3 feet all round for the pathway, which enables the 

 cultivator or visitor to view the jilants with advantage from all 

 sides. I might add that the benches are covered with small 

 nodnles of CanneU coal, which give the whole a neat appear- 

 ance, as well as a steady amount of moisture, which the plants 

 seem to enjoy. 



Among the principal genera grown are Cattleya and La-ha, 

 many species and varieties of each. The most notable Cattleyas 

 are C. Acklandise, bulbosa, citrina, exouiensis, labiata, margi- 

 nata, and Mossia; (which last should be grown by the dozen, 

 for its splendour is only fully reaUsed when the plants are 

 seen in a mass), C. Skinneri, speciosissima, and Triana?, one 

 of the best of winter-blooming Cattleyas, generaUy lasting in 

 perfection about fourteen days ; one particular- bloom, how- 

 ever, was qirite fit for the flower-stand at the end of six weeks. 

 Many kinds of Lsehas are also gi-own, the glorious L. purpu- 

 rata being most prominent ; there are about two dozen plants 

 of it, a plant of L. elegans Tur-neri with upwards of tweutj' 

 pseudo-bxrlbs, and as many others of equal merit. Chysis brac- 

 tescens and Limminghii are two veiy desirable species ; of the 

 latter a fine plant exists in the small collection of Dr. Popple- 

 ton, of Newley, near Leeds. At the time I saw it last sum- 

 mer it had upwards of twenty of its Cucumber-like bulbs. It 

 was gi'owing in a large pot with its roots clinging to the out- 

 side as if it had not been disturbed for years, which very 

 probably was the case ; having so many roots it required to 

 be supplied with water twice during the day. 



Of the lovely Cu,-logyne cristata there are seven or eight 

 large pans, and most noticeable among the genus Cyjiripedium 

 is that splendid species C. (Seleuipedium) caudatmu, with its 

 variety roseum, of which eight plants now in flower have pro- 

 duced fifteen spikes, with twenty-eight individual flowers, one 

 spike bearing three. What renders this Cypripedium so cmious 

 and interesting is its tail-like sepals, often attaining the length 

 of 30 inches, or even more. Those on the plant referred to 

 are nearly of that length, and still gi'owing ; the rapidity with 

 which these lengthen after being released from the sheath is 

 very remarkable. Of its pretty httle companion Uropedium 

 Lindeni, there are two spikes which are similar to the above, 

 except that it is furnished with three tails or strings and has 

 not the slipper. Other Cji^ripediums are also to be seen, and 

 among them is a pan of C. villosum, which has borne nine- 

 teen of its rich flowers. Too much cannot be said in praise 

 of this lovely species, its lasting quaUties gi'eatly enhancing 

 its value for the decoration of the plant house, or the flower- 

 vase in the drawing-room. 



Dendrobiums are, perhaps, more largely grown than any of 

 the other genera ; however, I shall only mention a few of the 

 species cultivated, among which are several plants of the 

 lovely chiysotis, Bensonia?, Devonianum, McCarthia;, thjTsi- 

 floriun, and Wardianum with growths over 2 feet long just 

 showing flower. Of D. Falconeri, a large plant growing on a 

 block about 22 inches long is furnished with growths from 

 top to bottom, some of which measure from 18 inches to 3 feet 

 long. These, with their lateral growths, form quite a mass. 

 Others growing on lar'ge pieces of cork are becoming equally 

 vigorous. The well-known and useful D. nobile is mostly 

 gro^TX in hanging baskets, in which manner the plants bear a 

 far more characteristic appearance than when gi'own in pots. 

 Of D. chi-j-santhum there are several sturdy growths of fi-om 

 4 to nearl.y 6 feet ; this, although old, is one of the best. Lastly, 

 I woxild mention D. infundibulum, which on account of its 



