183 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ February 27, 1873. 



the non-reoiprooity iu others, as I have notiood, in the hope of 

 perhaps drawing out from others their experiences of such 

 matters, wliich I humbly thinlc are not unworthy the con- 

 sideration of the Scientifio Committee. — (Journal of Royal 

 Horticultural Socictij.) 



A CENTURY OF ORCHIDS FOR AMATEUR 

 GROWERS.— No. 4. 



LYCASTE. 



As a genus this comes very near to Maxillaria, differing, 

 liowever, in some slight degree, in the arrangement or dis- 

 position of the pollen masses, 

 which to the amateur grower 

 is not of vital importance. 

 There are several good and 

 showy species well deserving 

 the attention of those with 

 EufBcient accommodation, but 

 the best of all is L. Skinneri, 

 and as this species breaks into 

 such a great variety, both in 

 the intensity of colour and dis- 

 position of the markings, the 

 amateur should endeavour to 

 find space for as many plants 

 asjiossible. The cultivation of 

 Lycaste is extremely simple. 

 The soil should be a mixture 

 of peat, sphagnum moss, and 

 a little sand. Water should 

 be given iu abundance during 

 the summer, and at no time 

 should it be entirely with- 

 held. 



L. Skinneri. — This plant 

 (represented in the accompa- 

 nying illustration) has stout 

 pseudobulbs, and large, dark 

 green, plicate leaves. The 

 scape rises from the base of 

 the bulbs, and bears a single 

 very large flower, which lasts 

 a long time iu full beauty. 

 The colour of the flowers va- 

 ries from pure waxy white 

 tinged with rose, to rich crim- 

 son. They are produced iu 

 great profusion, and appear- 

 ing, as they do, all through 

 the winter and spring months, 

 they are doubly valuable. This 

 plant is very hardy in consti- 

 tution, and has a fine effect 

 in the boudoir when in flower ; 

 it may be kept there in full 

 beauty during winter for two 

 or three months without suf- 

 fering the slightest harm. It 

 is a native of the highland 

 regions of Guatemala. 



L. Harrisoni.e. — This very fine old species is placed by some 

 authorities hi the genus Maxillaria, whilst others place it in 

 Bifrcuaria. The flowers are large, measuring upwards of 

 3 inches in diameter ; the sepals and petals are broad, fleshy, 

 and waxy white, whilst the lip, wliich is rich velvety purple and 

 lilac, forms a lovely contrast to them. The flowers remain in 

 full beauty for a great length of time, usually opening in May. 

 It comes from Brazil. — Expehto Cbede. 



the surface of the water is good, when the plants have quite 

 filled their pots with roots. I have some Ferns which are 

 grown for exhibition, and must not be shifted into pots larger 

 than 12 inches in diameter ; tliey require watering twice or 

 thrice a day in summer, and often suffer from neglect when 

 standing on the stage with oiher plants, but when the pots are 

 placed bodily in saucers of water they are not a tithe of the 

 trouble, and seem to do well with the treatment. — J. Douglas. 



Lyeaate Skinneri. 



The 



ADIANTUM FORMOSUM. 

 above-named Fern, noticed by your correspondent 



" W. T. F. M. I.," is certainly an exceedingly useful variety. It 

 is very easily cultivated and can be propagated freely, the 

 mature fronds have also the good quality of keeping longer 

 after been cut than any other of the species ; but that it is 

 more beautiful than A. cuneatnm I cannot admit. It is quite 

 as easy to grow. I noticed it in an article on Ferns last year. 

 The method alluded to of inverting a small garden saucer in- 

 side a larger obo, so that the bottom of the pot just touches 



THE COMMON BIRCH. 

 Vehy few hardy deciduous trees are equal in beauty or grace 



to the common Birch, Betula 

 alba. Hardy and accommo- 

 dating in its nature, it thrives 

 perfectly well in situations 

 and soils where other trees 

 could barely exist. Many a 

 stern mountain side or rocky 

 glen, that would otherwise be 

 utterly bare, does it clothe 

 and make cheerful with its 

 pretty summer greenery, or 

 picturesque when in its winter 

 guise of pendulous spray, that 

 in its red-brown hue contrasts 

 so charmingly with the silvery 

 sheen of the glossy white 

 bark. It is, doubtless, most 

 liked in its old age, when 

 its pliant branches, drooping 

 with a graceful sweep from its 

 lofty top, yield to the influ- 

 ence of every breeze more 

 readily than the Aspen ; but 

 it also possesses so much 

 beauty in its infancy, long 

 before it has attained the dig- 

 nity of a tree, as to render it 

 worthy of a prominent posi- 

 tion among the choicest of our 

 shrubs. It is true that the 

 graceful air imparted to the 

 tree by its drooping branches 

 is not then present, but stiU 

 there is elegance of form with 

 that sprightly up-springing 

 air so peculiar to that tree. To 

 my mind very few objects in 

 plant life are more beautiful 

 than a Birch of ten or twelve 

 years' growth, as when on 

 some dull murky day of dreary 

 November the mass of slender 

 spray is seen laden with thou- 

 sands of liquid globules, im [ 

 parting an air of life and ani- 

 mation that is most striking; 

 or iu spring, just when the 

 buds are expanding into fo- 

 liage of the most delicate 

 yet bright green shade, so different is it then to all other deci- 

 duous trees. To those who care most for evergreen shrubs — 

 to all I would say. If you have not yet introduced the Birch 

 into your shrubberies do so, and you will have an object that 

 is so beautiful in itself, and has such distinctive characteristics, 

 that it is a desirable subject for affording relief from tanieness 

 or monotony, and to contribute to the elegauco and finish of 

 pleasure grounds of the most refined or dignified aspect. — 

 Edwakd Luckhukst. 



DARK-LEAVED BEET AS A WINTER-GARDEN 

 PLANT. 

 Three or four years ago, having a number of small plants of 

 dark-leaved ornamental Beet that were too small for culinary 

 purposes at the usual taking-up time, I tried them in the flower 

 beds for winter decoration. Although I found them not so 

 effective there as plants with a light-coloured foliage, they were, 

 nevertheless, useful in connection with others, and unless the 

 winter is very seyere, only the large outer leaves succumb to 



