312 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 23, 187S. 



raw meat was placed on another leaf similai' to tbe first. No 

 immediate change was observable, and no increased flow of 

 the secretion ; but after the lapse of a few hours a perceptible 

 inclination towards the subject of the more distant glands 

 took place. The next morning the piece of meat was found, 

 like the fly, sunk down to the surface of the leaf, with almost 

 the whole of the glands converging towards it and above it in 

 just the same manner. The changes here were, therefore, 

 perfectly of the same kind as in the case of the fly, though 

 apparently somewhat slower. After the lapse of twenty-four 

 hours the piece of meat appeared decidedly lighter in colour ; 

 but an accident prevented the process of digestion being further 

 traced. On other leaves were placed a minute piece of wood 

 and a small piece of worsted ; and in neither of these cases 

 was the least change perceptible, after the lapse of a consider- 

 able time, in the position of the object, nor in that of any of 

 the glands — either those in contact with it or the more remote 

 ones. It would appear, therefore, as if the organised structure 

 of the fly and of the piece of raw meat had some power of 

 exciting this motion which is not possessed by matter of a 

 different description. There may be but little that is novel 

 in what I have just stated, but I hope to be able at some future 

 time to carry out a more complete series of observations on 

 this curious subject. 



_ [Many foreign Heaths have their corollaj and sepals covered 

 with an intensely glutinous secretion, elaborated by a system 

 of glands at the base of the corolla and sepals, and numbers of 

 insects in an apparently exhausted condition (i.e. bloodless) 

 may be seen adherent to them. The pitchers of Nepenthes, 

 as I have shown in this journal, almost invariably contain 

 numbers of flies attracted by the semi-sweet fluid secreted. 

 The ascidia of Sarracenia and Darlingtonia also are furnished 

 with chevau.r di' /rise admirably adapted, I do not say inten- 

 tionally, to permit an insect to enter freely, but entirely pre- 

 vent its exit. It is perhaps worth notice that some Drosera 

 sent me two or three years since by my brother, were found to 

 have adherent to their glands and the hollows of their leaves 

 vast numbers of diatoms and desmids. So that it would appear 

 the plant cared little whether its proteinaceous food were ani- 

 mal or vegetable.— H. P. H.]— (.Jis(rac« of a Paper read hij 

 Mr. A. W. Bennett before the Britisli Association. — English 

 Mechanic and Worid of Science.) 



A CENTUEY OF ORCHIDS FOE AMATEUE 



GEOWEES.— No. 13. 

 The first half of my task being-completed, I feel that I 

 must pause awhile and ponder for a few moments over the 

 numerous reminiscences which have flashed through my 

 memory as the descriptions of the various plants briefly re- 

 ferred to in my former articles have run off my pen. Several 

 of these incidents were extremely amusing, whilst a few of the 

 plants described have awakened sad remembrances of friends 

 who have passed away, some under peculiar circumstances, in 

 foreign climes. Co'logyne cristatn brought up the ghost of a 

 broken vow ; and do not be horrified, fair readers, when I say, 

 instead of finding me humbly penitent it provoked a hearty 

 laugh. The vow, truly, was a rash one, but the provocation 

 was great at the time, as all who read the facts of the case 

 must allow, and I feel sure they will grant me full absolution. 

 Some twenty years ago two ladies came into the garden in which 

 I was employed and asked to be shown through the hothouses ; 

 one of them was very stout and middle-aged, but the slender 

 figure and sharp features of the second completely prevented 

 me from foiuiing an estimate of her age. I conducted them 

 through the houses, and endeavoured to interest them in 

 the various plants by pointing out any peculiarities I knew, 

 without, however, meeting with any response. As we passed 

 through the Orchid houses I thought my visitors lingered more 

 than usual, and thinking these plants were the ladies' pets, I 

 enlarged upon their beauties, and pointed out the rarities of 

 the collection, when the elderly lady remarked, "I think them 

 excessively ugly, notwithstanding the strong advocate they 

 appear to have in you ; but I must say that several of them, 

 and that one in particular (Gcelogyne cristata), appear to me 

 as if they might make a very handsome pickle, though I can- 

 not say what the flavour would be." Readers, can you imagine 

 my feelings ? Perhaps you may, but I do not think you could 

 picture the elongation of countenance and the look of con- 

 tempt which I cast at them. " Pickles, indeed ! " said I to my- 

 self ; "had I only known how much you appreciated the beauties 



of Nature I would not have wasted so much time and breath 

 upon you, and I declare I will never attempt to interest any- 

 one with plants again." How I have kept this vow the Editors 

 as well as the readers are able to judge to some extent. 



To resume my subject, however, without further digression. 

 I must now ask you to bid adieu to the cool Orchids, as those 

 I am about to recommend require more fire heat than 

 those already enumerated, although I entirely repudiate the 

 stewing heat in which some amateurs, aye, and professionals, 

 will persist in keeping their plants, which, however, instead of 

 being a source of pleasure and enjoyment, when thus treated 

 disgust their owners, and their culture is relinquished. The 

 species which I intend enumerating in this the second portion 

 of my subject thrive admirably and bloom freely under medium 

 treatment. I do not object to the thermometer running up 

 considerably with sun heat during summer, providing they are 

 well supplied with air and moisture ; but in the winter months 

 the night temperature may be allowed to fall as low as 58° or 

 CO" with advantage to both plants and pocket, and this in 

 times of dear coal is of considerable importance. 



Section II. 



For which the meau temperature should be about 75°, but which tlirive iluriug 



winter in a night temperature of SfiP or 60'^. 



AEKIDES. 



This is a genus of Indian plants, for the most part produc- 

 ing large, showy, and deliciously-fragrant flowers ; indeed, 

 they may be considered to rank amongst the most beautiful of 

 the whole tribe. When out of flower they are very ornamental, 

 having erect stems and broad channelled leaves set in two 

 ranks, or distichous. In general appearance their habit of 

 growth resembles that of many species of Yanda, but the 

 flowers ai'e very distinct, and, moreover, although in the latter 

 genus we have several examples of blue, or partially blue 

 flowers, I am not aware that this colour has been observed in 

 any species of the genus now under consideration. Aerides 

 are all found in a state of nature clinging to the branches of 

 forest trees, and under cultivation may be grown upon 

 blocks of wood if the fancy of the amateur inclines that way ; 

 but independent of their requiring more attention under this 

 system, it is not possible to have such well-furnished plants as 

 when grown in pots or baskets, and surrounded with living 

 sphagnum moss. They are by no means diflicult to cultivate, 

 but the fact must be borne in mind that, unlike Cattleya, 

 Epidendrum, Gcelogyne, and many other genera, they have 

 no thick fleshy pseudobulbs from which to draw support during 

 the resting season ; and drought must be tempered with mercy, 

 for if the leaves begin to shrivel it is a sure sign that the 

 plants are in distress. I know the argument has been raised 

 that in a state of nature there is no help for them, and that 

 they have a drying such cs we have no conception of. This I 

 would not dispute by any means, but then there are no registers 

 of births and deaths amongst Orchids in a state of nature such 

 as exist at home. For instance, a gentleman purchases an 

 Aerides, say for five or ten guineas, with a given number of 

 leaves, and if this plant is sulijected to an overdrying during 

 the winter, the probability will be that two or three parts 

 wither, turn yellow, and have to be cut oft', which not only 

 disfigures the plant, but actually lowers its value. Thus every 

 plant under cultivation is under strict surveillance, but no 

 one ever keeps a record of the number of plants, especially 

 young ones, which never survive a dry season, and in all pro- 

 bability are never missed, for when the rains come everything 

 bursts into growth, and losses are seldom noticed ; whilst those 

 which siirvive no doubt bloom profusely, and thus, as it were, 

 compensate for those which have perished. Such compensa- 

 tion, however, is not accepted amongst Orchid-growers at home, 

 and therefore I say. Do not dry your plants in the winter 

 season to such an extent as to cause them to lose or shrivel 

 their leaves, for there is more enjoyment to be derived from a 

 handsome well-furnished plant with, say, two or three spikes 

 of bloom, than from a partially naked one, however well it 

 may be flowered. 



Aerides thrive well in wooden baskets or pots. The former 

 have a very neat appearance, and the roots will adhere to the 

 wood, and push out between the interstices. The great objec- 

 tion to their use, however, is that just when the plant has be- 

 come thoroughly established it is found that through decay it 

 requires renewing; to obviate this I would advise the use of 

 perforated pots, which have a light appearance and admit air 

 to the roots. I am quite aware some of my readers will say 

 thev admit cockroaches as well as air. This is undeniable li 



