May 1, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



369 



and should life still have been left when arriving, the life was 

 always starved out of them in a few short weeks. Many times 

 have I heard that plants of this genus were difficult to rear ; so 

 would anything be. so should we be ourselves if we were com- 

 pelled to live in a Turkish bath or an oven. Since, however, 

 we have come to understand the natural positions and sur- 

 roundings of these beautiful unorchid-like Orchids they have 

 proved themselves both quick and free in growth and profuse 

 in flowering. The soil we have recommended suits Masde- 

 valUas admirably. Keep the sphagnum growing around them, 

 and_ never allow them to become dry summer or winter, though 

 during the winter days water will necessarily have to be used 

 viith more caution. 



M. Veitchiana. — The stem-like pseudo-bulbs of this species 

 attain a height of about 8 inches, bearing a thick, fleshy, dark- 

 green leaf. The scape bears a large solitary flower of a peculiar 

 shape, measuring about 6 inches across ; the three sepals are 

 ovate in shape, and lengthened out into tail-like points, but 

 the lip and petals are quite small and hidden by the sepals. 

 The prevailing colour is vivid orange scarlet, through which 

 runs a beautiful shade of yellow and purple, resembling shot- 

 silk. It blooms both early in summer and in autumn, and 

 should be grown by all lovers of Orchids. Its home is in the 

 mountain regions of Peru. 



M. LiNDENii. — Truly this is a gem of gems. In general 

 appearance the plant resembles the previously-named kind, 

 and, like it, the flowers are solitary, and the dorsal sepal is 

 erect ; the colour is a rich violet rose or brilliant magenta, 

 a shade which is so rare and conspicuous as to attract the 

 attention of all beholders. This species does not produce 

 such large flowers as the other kinds, but it is perhaps more 

 chastely beautiful than any. Native of New Grenada. — Ex- 

 I'EKio Ckede. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 Dr. F. Arnold Lees and Mr. T. B. Blow propose to form a 

 club under the name of the Botanical Locality Record Clcb, 

 the object of which shall be to collect and keep a record of the 

 exact localities of all the rarer British plants, with the dates of 

 the latest observance of each, to be published yearly at the end 

 of each season. The yearly report, containing not only a de- 

 tailed list of the localities, but also a geographical summary of 

 each year's work, is to be published and distributed only to 

 members of the club, and to certain learned societies ; to the 

 former a subscription of 5s. wiU be charged. The names of 

 botanists desiring to become members are to be forwarded to 

 Mr. T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Hertfordshire. — {Nature.) 



The supporters of the Wimbledon Horticultural and 



Cottage Garden Society are energetic and liberal. There are 

 thirteen special prizes oiifered by private individuals, and they 

 include collections of plants ; table-decoration flowers ; Pelar- 

 goniums ; Grasses ; buttonhole bouquets ; arrangement of 

 flowers; cut Roses, Pansies, Pinks, and Carnations, and lastly 

 (added since the schedule was printed) " A Silver Medal 

 for thirty-four blooms of cut Roses, distinct ; open to all 

 comers." 



Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, of Wellington Road 



Nursery, have published a coloured plate of the novelties for 

 the flower garden they intend sending out this season. The 

 subjects figured are Sedum acre elegans. Lobelia Mazarine 

 Gem, Altemanthera amcena spectabilis, Altemanthera paro- 

 nvchioides major, Cineraria ceratophylla, and Golden Fleece 

 Thyme. 



Sale of Orchids. — On the 17th ult., Mr. J. C. Stevens 



sold by auction at his Rooms, King Street, Covent Garden, 588 

 lots of New Grenada and East Indian Orchids, &c. ; the gross 

 sura realised was £828. Among the lots were Masdevallia ele- 

 phanticeps, £6 12s. 6d. The Utricularia montana was sold in 

 lots of six and twelve, they realised about 6s. per plant. Mr. 

 Stevens had another auction of Orchids on the 24th, but these 

 were from Burmah. There were 443 lots, and they sold for £889. 

 Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, £13 and £8; Vauda cserulesoens, 

 £9 ; were among the prices realised. 



of good temper on your face ; carefully root out all angry feel- 

 ings, and expect a good crop of happiness." 



Gardening for Ladies. — The following condensed system 

 of gardening is recommended by a contemporary for the study 

 of ladies : — " Make your bed in the morning ; sew buttons on 

 your husband's shirt ; do not rake any grievances ; protect 

 the young and tender branches of your ifamUy ; plant a smile 



WOEK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Embrace every opportunity of destroying weeds and insects. 

 Clear away old Cabbage and Broccoli stumps as soon as done 

 with, as they only harbour one of the greatest enemies of gar- 

 deners. It is a common but bad practice with some gardeners 

 to cut away the weak as well as the strong shoots of Asparagus 

 until cutting is altogether discontinued; it is weakening the 

 roots unnecessarily, and therefore should not be persisted in. 

 As the weather brings Broccoli forward, some of it should be 

 pulled up before it is fully grown and laid in a cool place, so as 

 to prolong the season. Where the soil is very hard between the 

 autumn-planted Cabbages, it will gi'eatly benefit the plants to 

 dig between them, and after rain they should be again earthed- 

 up. Dig up the soil surrounding Cauliflowers with a fork, and 

 afterwards give them a good soaking with water, which must be 

 repeated twice a-week during dry weather. All the Celery that 

 is fresh pricked-out must be shaded and watered until it get 

 good roothold. If it is required very early, put siuRle plants 

 into some small pots, and set them in a frame until they get 

 roothold, when they may be fully exposed to the air, but must 

 be kept well watered, or the plants will be liable to run before 

 they attain any size. Where Cucumbers are grown on dung 

 beds, the frame will want raising to allow the plants room and a, 

 sufficient depth of soil. Trenches should now be prepared for 

 hand-glasses; they may be 2J feet wide, and 1 foot below the 

 surface; it should then be filled with prepared dung, leaves, and 

 short grass 6 inches above the surface ; prepared soil should be 

 put beneath the glasses, and the rest of the dung may be 

 covered with the soil that came out of the trenches. Give a 

 few of the earliest Lettuce plants a good supply of water to 

 bring them forward. Some of the Cos may be tied-up to cause 

 them to form hearts. Keep a steady heat of from 55° to 60" 

 where there are productive beds of Mushrooms ; continue to 

 form fresh ones for summer and autumn use. Sow both Long 

 and Turnip-rooted Radishes ; water those from which they are 

 drawn for use. 



FRUIT gabden. 



Strawben-ies ripening their fruit may be placed in a frame 

 where a free admission of air can be given. Wall trees must 

 now be attended to, as their welfare depends in a great measure 

 on their treatment at this season. As soon as insects make 

 their appearance wash the trees with tobacco water, in which 

 mix some sulphur, and apply it while the latter is in a state 

 of suspension. Head-down young wall trees, this being the 

 beat season for the purpose. 



FLOWER gabden. 



The drying winds and the present clear weather have rendered 

 it necessary to supply water to recently-transplanted trees, 

 shrubs, vegetables, and also seedling crops which are just making 

 their appearance, otherwise they had better be allowed to re- 

 main in a dormant state until we have rain, as continued water- 

 ing binds the surface of the soil into a hard crust impenetrable 

 by air, and is extremely prejudicial to the germination of seeds ; 

 this, however, may in some degree be prevented by shading 

 from the sun or covering the soil, so as to prevent evaporation 

 as much as possible ; frequent waterings are not then necessary, 

 and the soil is kept in an open porous state, which is of the ut- 

 most importance. When the nights are warm seeds and herba- 

 ceous plants of all kinds should be watered in the evening, so 

 that the soil may gradually imbibe the w-ater ; but if cold nights 

 prevail, the early part of the morning is the best time for its 

 application. Trees and shrubs recently transplanted should 

 be watered and immediately mulched with short litter, and rare 

 and choice kinds should be shaded and occasionally sprinkled 

 overhead with water in the morning. Some of the early-sown 

 annuals will now require thinning-out, in doing which remove 

 but five or six of the strongest plants, and those, if not very 

 strong, may have the terminal leaf-bud removed to make them 

 bushy. Stir the ground around the plants deeply with the hoe. 

 Many of the herbaceous plants will now require a little train- 

 ing, and in regulating them do not bundle them up Uke so 

 many peasticks, but tie the branches out separately as you 

 would a prize Pelargonium. Attend to young growths on 

 cUnibers before they get crowded, and remove any strong 

 branches which are not likely to produce flowers. Auriculas 

 are in most situations fully expanded, with the exception of the 

 northern counties, where they are somewhat later. In order to 

 presei-ve the bloom the pots must be removed to a cool place 

 having a north aspect, and should be placed on a neat stage, 

 " tier above tier ;" covered with an awning of calico, and regu- 

 larly watered, they wUl retain then- beauty for at least a fort- 

 night or three weeks. The direct rays of the sun have a pre- 

 judicial effect on the colours, causing the dark or body colour to 

 start or diffuse itself over the margin. Few spring flowers are 



