60 MK. GORDON ON THE CEYPTOMErvIA JAPONICA. 



of C. Japonica and Araucaria Cunninghami have so great a 

 resemblance that it requires a practised eye to distinguish the 

 one from the other. The principal difference is, that the Crypto- 

 meria has alternate spiral branches, which are rather slender, 

 while those of the Araucaria are vertical and placed at regular 

 distances. 



This Cryptomeria appears intermediate between Cupressus and 

 Taxodium, differing from the former in a seedling state by having 

 from three to five, but mostly four, seed-leaves, while Cupressus 

 has but two; and in its more advanced stages of growth, in its 

 longer, more distant, subulate, incurved, spiral, dark green leaves, 

 and in the cones having fringed scales. From Taxodium it is at 

 once distinguished by its spiral subulate leaves unlike those of 

 Taxodium, which are flat and two-rowed. 



In regard to cultivation, the Japan Cedar seems as easily 

 managed as the common Chinese Arbor Vitse, and like it suc- 

 ceeds in almost any kind of soil or situation which is not very 

 poor or wet. 



Tlie seeds, like those of all Conifers, should be sown in a light 

 sandy rather diy loam, and should be placed in a cool situation ; 

 when large enougli the i)lants should be potted singly and treated 

 in the usual way, and if properly attended to they will attain a 

 height of from twelve to eighteen inches the first year. It ap- 

 pears to be a very rapid grower. 



X. — On the Propagation of Orchids in India. By Cai)tain 

 Charles Giberne, Acting Paymaster, S. Division of the Army. 



[In a letter to the Vice-Secretary, dated Belgaum (70 miles E. of Goa), 

 October 20th, 1845.] 



As I believe the propagation of Terrestrial Orchids to l)e still 

 a great desideratum with English gardeners, I am induced, on the 

 suggestion of a friend, to detail two or three experiments 1 have 

 lately made with that view, and in which I have met with some 

 success. 



In July I took up a Platanthera Susannae when about three 

 inches high, removed the old tuber, leaving the rest of tlie root 

 attached to the plant, and then set them separately. In about 

 six weeks the plant had sent down a new tuber, the old one having 

 also, in the mean time, formed a new one wiiich had sent up a 

 single leaf for nourislnnent. I then broke off from the latter tlie 

 old tuber a second time, and reset it separately, but on examining 



