466 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ June 21, IS'iT. 



some twenty bright yellow blossoms, having a deep stain of 

 crimson on the cucullate lip in the manner and of the size of 

 a Dendrobium. Again, another with fleshy leaves and an erect 

 stem of about 2 feet, supporting from fifteen to thirty large 

 yellow flowers, the lip lined and blotched with pale purple, 

 bearing the aspect of some robust Epidendrum.' Many of 

 these fine things would no doubt ere now have enriched our 

 gardens had Mr. Plant been spared to return alive. Wbat 

 can be more gorgeous than the Diaa grandi flora ? There are 

 numerous members of this family at the Cape, and though 

 they are not so large in the flower as the species just named, 

 yet they are exquisitely beautiful. Again, the elegance of the 

 North American Cypripediums is not surpassed by those which 

 inhabit the tropics. Now all these can be cultivated in a cool 

 greenhouse or frame, either planted out or In pots. Indeed, 

 many of the terrestrial kinds will succeed well in the open air 

 if a little care is bestowed upon the selection and preparation 

 of the situation. The number of species I have here enume- 

 rated is not extensive, but there is no reason to prevent us in 

 the course of a few years from largely increasing them it the 

 plant-loving ladies and gentlemen, as well as gardeners, will 

 encourage the growth of these beautiful plants ; and anyone 

 having friends at the Cape, North America, or Australia, should 

 strongly press upon them to send home the tubers of any 

 Orchids they may find. By this means we should have a 

 great many new additions to our collections. 



" The terrestrial species must not be elevated above the rim 

 of the pot, as is the custom with the epiphytal ones, but there 

 must be a space of an inch or more from the rim to the soil to 

 allow of a sufficient quantity of water being given at one time. 

 The soil best adapted for their growth is a mixture of good 

 fibrous loam, turfy peat, and silver sand, adding more or less 

 of each according to the peculiar habitat of the particular 

 plant to be potted. They must all have good drainage, and 

 the addition of lumps of sandstone to the soil will have a 

 beneficial eilect, serving to keep the soil open and the roots 

 cool and moist. They are mostly all propagated by division 

 of the roots just as the fresh growth commences ; and though 

 they all require a season of rest, they must never be allowed 

 to become dry at the roots, nor must the temperature be 

 allowed to be lower in winter than from 35' to 40 , not but 

 some of the kinds will withstand some few degrees of frost, 

 but I believe they will all thrive far better if not subjected to 

 such extremes. In the gro:ang season abundance of water 

 should be poured round and about them to keep a moist and 

 cool atmosphere, in which they delight." 



Mr. Williams then describes the Cypripediums, but we can 

 afford space for only two species; — Cypripedium Atsmori 

 (Many-leaved Japan Lady's Slipper). A leafy-stemmed hardy 

 perennial, growing about a foot high, with acute, lance-shaped, 

 plaited, smooth leaves, and about two flowers, of which the 

 labellum is yellow, slipper-shaped or calceiform, and the sepals 

 and petals rich purplish brown, the petals with purple hairs at 

 the greenish-yellow base. It is allied to the true C. caloeolus, 

 according to M. Morren, from which it differs in having its 

 leaves more lanceolate and glabrous, in the bracts being much 

 more narrowly lanceolate and pointed, in the flowers being 

 altogether narrower and more meagre, in the base of the petals 

 being distinctly hairy, in the remarkable narrowness of the 

 sepals, in the less veutricose pouch, cleft rather than toothed 

 in front, in the lengthened trowel-like form of the sterile 

 stamens, and in the longer filiform base of the lateral stamens. 

 From Japan. Introduced by Dr. Von Siebold in 1S30 to Bel- 

 gium. Flowers in summer. Probably cultivated in the bo- 

 tanic gardens of Ghent and Leyden. 



Cypripedium guttatum (Spotted-flowered Lady's Slipper). A 

 beautiful little herbaceous perennial. It has a short stem, 

 bearing a pair of ovate-elliptic, smplexicaul, plaited leaves, 

 with the margins and ribs hairy. The flowers, one to each 

 stem, are white, beautifully blotched with rose purple. The 

 sepals and petals are shorter than the lip, which is subrotund, 

 with a plain surface. The whole plant is under G inches high, 

 the flowers measuring about 2 inches lengthwise. It grows in 

 boggy places in cold countries, but appears shy under cultiva- 

 tion. From Siberia and North America. Introduced originally 

 in 18'28. Flowers in summer. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR EXHIBITING TEA ROSES. 



On comparing a stand of Tea Roses with one of Hybrid 



Perpetuala I thmk one is struck with three peculiarities in the 



former. First, the prevalence of yellow, light, and bewitching 



half tints in the Teas ; secondly, with their large, graceful, wax- 

 like petals, not quite so compact and symmetrical as the Per- 

 petuals, but more artistic and picturesque in their outline ; and 

 lastly, their refined and peculiar fragrance. Now to bring out 

 these points to the greatest advantage by contrast of form and 

 colour, would it not be well at the Grand National Rose Show 

 and other societies to offer some gcol prizes, specified as 

 under :' — 



For Nitrsenimen. — A stand of twenty-four trebles, consisting 

 of twelve Teas and Noisettes, twelve Hybrid Perpetuala and 

 Hybrids, three trusses of each, as far as poesible in different 

 stages of development. The Teas and Hybrids to be arranged 

 alternately. 



for Amateurs. — Twenty-four singles, half Teas and Per- 

 petuals, arranged in like manner. 



This would insure a bright and most attractive stand of 

 flowers, and would be appreciated by all rosarians. Tea Roses 

 should not be judged by so severe a test as Hybrid Perpetuals ; 

 but while many, such as Niphetos, Madame Hippolyte Jamain, 

 and others often throw their large beautiful petals beyond the 

 circular line prescribed by the florist, it is indispensable for 

 perfection that these should have high full centres. 



Since wrilinr" the above I am happy to state that the Hon. 

 and Rev. J . T. Boscawen has kindly offered to test the merits 

 of the above suggestion by offering, as at Bath, two ten-guinea 

 cups for stands of alternate Teas and Perpetuals at the Oxford 

 meeting. Another interesting feature might be added to onr 

 Rose shows bv giving a prize for a stand of twelve tinted Teas, 

 such as Jean Ducher, Comtesse do Nadaillac, Marie Van Houtte, 

 Homer, David Pradel, etc. ; rich colour and distinct shading to 

 take the precedence of size in this class, thus encouraging the 

 production of these brilliant gems which are always so much 

 admired. — Henkv Cuetis, Devon Rosery, Torquay. 



GARDEN ENEMIES. 



As everybody but Mr. Huie and " A Mastek Gaedener " are 

 agreed that bullfinches are garden depredators, it would be 

 well it all would wage war against our common enemy, and 

 his forces would be speedily reduced. In the winter months 

 probably the readiest weapon is a double-barrelled gun, but in 

 these days everybody is not allowed to carry a gun, and the 

 law which prevents it is, for aught I know, a good one, even 

 though it is inconvenient to a few. But failing a gun there is 

 another and a more certain way of destroying them at this 

 time of the year. Of course it is cruel, but we cannot help it. It 

 is impossible to have both bullfinches and outdoor fruits ; nay, 

 the very existence of the trees is at their mercy where they are 

 as numerous as they are here. I have had fifty-nine of them 

 shot in and close to the kitchen gnrden this season, but still 

 they seem as plentiful as ever ; and if tlie remainder are allowed 

 to breed unmolested their numbers will be speedily increased 

 rather than reduced, for they are not content with bringing-up 

 one family in a season, but must needs have two or three. 

 Their nests are easily found by watching the old birds about, 

 and advantage must be taken of their well-known filial 

 affection by placing the young birds in a trap cage. The 

 simplest arrangement that I know of is a sort of double cage, 

 one compartment being underneath to hold the young birds, 

 and another which the old birds are obliged to enter to convey 

 food is at the top and closes immediately the perch is touched. 

 A piece of stout elastic stretched while the door is open holds 

 it sufficiently firm to prevent the bird's escape when closed. 

 Both old birds are certain to be caught within an hour or two 

 after the trap is set, as they never fail to attempt to feed the 

 young at whatever age they may be. Of course, it must be 

 rendered impossible to convey food through any other part of 

 the cage than the one intended. 



The next great enemy which I have a word to say about is 

 the wasp. I know of a great deal of good which the wasp 

 does. He renders very efficient aid to the gardener, but I 

 had better not tell your more sentimental readers what it is, 

 or they may claim a close season for him, and as his bad 

 deeds more than counterbalance his good actions I would 

 rather have him destroyed. The year before last I paid tome- 

 thiug more than £40 for wasps and vermin ; ncarly>ll of it 

 was for wasps, and yet wasps there were by the million, so 

 tliat not even uniipe Apples were safe from their ravages. I 

 thought it was time to have a change. Even if I went back to 

 the old plan of letting them take their chance things could 

 Mot be much worse. . Queen wasps are always paid for ; that I 

 consider a most effectual way of keeping the numbers down. 



