118 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Mr. Appleby, gardener to Thomas Brocklehurst, Esq., M.P., of the Fence, 

 near Macclesfield, observes : — 



" In the Botanical Register for this month is an observation that the genus 

 Cyrtopodium does not flower freely in the Orchidaceous houses near London. 

 As I have been successful in blooming several of that genus last season, and 

 they are now showing flowers again, 1 send you the particulars of the method 

 by which I have succeeded. As soon as I perceive the buds springing at the 

 bottom of the pseudo-bulbs, I take the plants and carefully shake off all the old 

 soil, and cut off all the decayed roots ; I then pot them in large pots well 

 drained, in a compost of turfy loam chopped into pieces about the size of pigeon 

 eggs, and peaty turf broken in the same manner, and leaf-mould about half 

 rotten, in equal parts ; to which I add about an eighth of bones, also broken 

 into small pieces ; I mix these all well together, and place the plants as near as 

 possible level with the rims of the pots, and finish by giving a good watering to 

 settle the compost. The plants are put in the warmest part of the house, and 

 wateied very moderately at first, increasing the quantity as the plants advance 

 in growth until the leaves aie fully developed, when I give them manure water 

 once a week to encourage the production of strong pseudo-bulbs, without which 

 it is in vain to look for flowers. In this I succeeded to my satisfaction; and 

 last year had the pleasure to perceive the flower-stems appearing at the same 

 time as the bulb shoots. I had flower-stems five feet high, with numerous side 

 branches, making a bundle of flower-stems on one shoot more than 18 inches 

 diameter. They are coming up this year equally strong. As soon as the 

 pseudo-bulbs are perfected I gradually reduce the water, and when they are at 

 rest I give them no more. To induce more perfect quiescence I have them 

 removed to a cool dry house, the average temperature of which is about 55°. 

 The essentials of this method are, to use a rather rich but open compost, to give 

 plenty of water during growth, and a season of complete rest. Those who 

 attend to all this need not fear flowering Cyrtopodiums. We have now in 

 flower here Dendrobium nobile, a fine specimen, with spikes of 10 and 1:2 

 blossoms each; D. coerulescens ; Cyrtochilum maculatum ; C. Bictoniense ; 

 Epidendrum aurantiacum; and a fine var. Epidendrum ciliare ; var. latifolium ; 

 E. capitatum; E. nutans; E. nocturnum ; Leptotes bicolor, minor and major; 

 Cymbidium sinense ; Brassavola nodosa ; B. angustata ; B. tubeiculata; Onci- 

 dium Cebolleta; and a var. O. ampliatum ; Brassia caudata; Gongovas, several 

 species; Lissochilus parviflorus ; Bletias; Cypripediums, &c. &c. ; altogether 

 making our Orchidaceous houses very gay, forming a strange yet pleasant 

 contrast to the savage winter now howling around us." 



Descriptive List of New Geraniums, by J. K. — Indian Chief (Gains's.) 

 The upper petals nearly black, with a small white mark round the edge, under 

 petals pink, sometimes has a spot on each, good form and habit. 



Lady Broughton (Gains's). The upper petals dark crimson, with a pink mark 

 round the edge, the under petals pink, good form. 



Incomparable (Gains's). A very fine clear white, with large furry spot, good 

 form and habit. 



Fire Ball (Gains's). A very brilliant scarlet, similar to Isidorianum, but much 

 finer shape and growth. 



Exquisite (Gains's). Orange pink, with large dark spot, fine form and habit. 



Queen (Parsons'). Colour similar to Lady Denbigh, much rounder flower, petals 

 of great substance. 



Mary Guy (Stewart's). Rich, rosy purple, exquisite shape, compact habit, and 

 immense bloomer. 



Tamburini (Stewart's). Peach colour, upper petals covered with black, of good 

 form and habit. 



Duchess of Richmond (Stewart's). Similar in colour to Fosterii Rosea, with 

 dark spot, and beautiful cupped petals, very fine form and habit. 



Miss Hawtrey (Stewart's). Bright rose, form round, petals with pure white 

 throat, and large black spot of excellent form and habit. 



Louisa (Wilson's), The upper petals of this splendid flower have a fine dark- 



