Deoember IS, 1877. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



455 



weeds, and pot or plant as the case may be from 2 to 3 inches 

 deep, using rather strong fibrous loam and leaf soil. Water 

 freely if grown in pots when in growth and until the foliage 

 commences to decay, then plunge in ashes in a sheltered 

 situation, the site being well drained ; the rains will after this 

 be sufficient moisture. Introduced to gentle heat in January 

 (they will come in with spring bulbs, and are truly grand, their 

 handsome foliage and superb spikes of bloom being charming. 

 I will note a few more that are, perhaps, more curious than 

 ornamental, and which so far as I know do not succeed in an 

 ordinary border. 



Orchis fusca (Lady Orchis or Brown-winged Orohis). — The 

 supper part of the flower brownish purple, lower lip white, 

 finely spotted. Sometimes it is not over a foot high, but on a 

 peaty loam and rather strong over chalk, is 2 to 3 feet in 

 ■height, with flowers proportionately large. 



Orchis ustulata (Dwarf-winged or Scorched Orchis) is found 

 in chalky pastures. Its brown or rusty purple flowers with 

 coarse spots, and low close growth distinguish it. Three to four 

 inches high, flowering in May and June. 



Orchis tephrosanthos (Ash coloured flowered or Monkey 

 Orchis). — Flowers lead-coloured, more or less variegated, on a 

 tall spike about 18 inches high. Found on chalky hills in 

 peaty loam, flowering in May and June. 



Malaxis paludosa (Bog Orchis) is found in peat or turf bogs, 

 having yellow and green flowers in August or September, grow- 

 ing 3 or 4 inches high. Does well on the margin of a pond 

 in sandy peat. 



Ophrys aranifera (Spider Orchis) has green flowers in May. 

 Very singular, growing about 9 inches high, and is found in 

 light soil on chalk. 



Ophrys fucif era (Drone Orchis). — Purplish and green flowers 

 in May and June. Nine inohes to a foot in height. In chalky 

 pastures iu heavy loam. 



Ophrys arachnites (Cobweb Orohis). — Brown flowers tinged 

 Wue. In May and June. About 9 iaches high. Heavy loam 

 among chalk. 



Neottia spiralis (Lady Tresses or Ladies' Traces) has spikes 

 ■of whitish flowers in August and September, and sweet, the 

 flowers all pointing one way. Seldom over 8 inches in height. 

 it grows iu chalky upland pastures. 



Neottia nidus-avis (Bird's-nest Orchis) is found in chalky 

 woods in loam with a surface-covering of. vegetable debris, and 

 ■differs from a majority of British OrchiseB in the roots being 

 fibrous instead of bulbous. lis appearance is not unlike a 

 •drooping Oak leaf, the roots crossing each other like the sticks 

 of a bird's nest. 



Aceras anthropophora (Green Man Orchis) has its flowers in 

 •a lax spike, greenish yellow, with a reddish border, but is very 

 unlike man unless it be a hung traitor. Chalky pastures in 

 •strong loam. Flowers in June, attaining to a height of 

 12 inches. 



Gypripedium Calceolus (English Lady's Slipper). — Purplish 

 ■brown, slipper (lip) clear yellow. Leafy stems 12 to 18 inches. 

 Heavy loam and limestone. 



Cephalanthcra rubra — Flowers purplish red, 18 inches or 

 •more in height, flowering in June and July in heavy loam 

 over limestone, but not unfrequently over grit, with a little 

 vegetable debris. Woods in partial shade. 



Goodyera repens has white sweet flowers in July and August, 

 and is found in woods at considerable elevation partially 

 shaded, in leaf soil or decayed vegetable debris, interspersed 

 ■with sand, the debris being that of moss as well as leaves. 

 6 to 9 inches. 



All Orchises have more or less of shade; if in the meadows 

 the grass affords protection from the Bcorching sun, and in 

 woods they are more or less protected from the sun by the 

 trees ; yet the best specimens are found in partially shaded 

 situations only. Those described as growing in loam over or 

 among limestone or chalk should have pieces of that substance 

 mixed with heavy loam, a good depth of limestone be placed 

 at the bottom in good-sized lumps about 9 inches thick, and 

 over this 9 inches depth of the loam and limestone mixed in 

 about equal proportions, employing surface loam preferably 

 to that taken from a depth. The site must be well drained, 

 and the exposure facing east, with a projecting rock or bush 

 that will Bhield the spot from cutting winds. The soil must 

 be kept moist, water being given copiously during growth, 

 pouring it between the plants and not over their foliage ; and 

 after flowering a slight mulch of cocoa refuse may be given. 

 Those growing in woods should have shade from midday sun, 

 the several requirements of the plants being met at the base 



of rockwork having different aspects ; good drainage being 

 essential, with a thorough moisture of the soil; none of our 

 native plants experiencing a dry season, yet the moisture they 

 reoeive is peroolating and thorough. The roots are not un- 

 frequently in contact with the limestone, from which they 

 may derive support. — A. 



SCOTTISH HORTIODLTUBAL ASSOCIATION. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of this Association was held at 

 5, St. Andrew Square, on the evening of the 4th inut. There 

 was a large attendance of members. The President (Mr. M, 

 Dunn of Dalkeith Palace Gardens) occupied the chair. Fifteen 

 new membsrB were duly admitted, and seventeen new names 

 were proposed and seconded for admission as members at the 

 next meeting. 



The subject treated was the " kitchen garden " by Mr. Law- 

 rence Dow of Laughton Hall Gardens. At the outset he urged 

 upon young gardeners the necessity of devoting great attention 

 to the proper management of the kitchen garden, so as to keep 

 up a constant Bupply of first-class vegetables. Some were very 

 apt to overlook this department in their anxiety to have a fine 

 display of bedding and greenhouse plants. He then in a prac- 

 tical and lucid manner described the different methods of treat- 

 ment by which he had been most successful in growing Potatoes, 

 Onions, Jerusalem Artichokes, Parsley, and Asparagus. Several 

 members expressed concurrence with Mr. Dow's views as to the 

 importance of the subject, and also as to the modes of culture 

 pursued. Mr. Dow received the thanks of the meeting for his 

 paper, and at their requeBt agreed to continue the subject at a 

 future time. 



A communication from Mr. James Morrison, Preston Hall 

 Gardens, was read advocating the autumn planting of the Potato, 

 and attaching great importance to the proper ripening of the 

 seed tubers. -A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Morrison for 

 his excellent contribution. The Bubject for the next meeting was 

 announced to be the " Phlox and Pentstemon " by Mr. James 

 Grieve, Pilrig Park Nursery. 



NEW BOOK. 



The Rosarian's Year Booh for 1877. Edited by the Rev. H. H. 

 Dombrain. London : William Blackwood & Sons. 

 This little volume furnishes information that must be ac- 

 ceptable to all Rose-growers, for it contains contributions from 

 Rev. A. Cheales, Rev. Canon Hole, Mr. G. Paul and others. 



The object of the editor, we presume, has not been to diffuse 

 practioal instruction so much as to furnish pleasant reading 

 on a congenial topic ; yet Mr. Paul's contribution ou stocks, 

 supplemented by observations by Canon Hole, is eminently 

 useful. The opening chapter on Rose-showing by Mr. Cheales 

 ia as freBh as the blooms at 4 a.m. — the hour recommended for 

 cutting for the show. After enumerating the delights of pre- 

 paring, exhibiting, and winning, the other contingency, losing, 

 is thus referred to — 



Do not abuse the judges. They have done their best, and 

 deserve our sincerest sympathies. Judging Roses is no bed of 

 RoBes. " Truth should be told," say the Turks, "with one foot 

 in the saddle." But it should not be essential after judging to 

 take the first train and get off as Boon as possible ! Neither, 

 again, come down upon your unfortunate gardener. He cannot 

 help it if somebody else's soil is better. Let us carry our 

 Christianity even with our Rose-growing, and learn to rejoice 

 ia the gain of another, even though it involve our own dis- 

 appointment. One thing more, one more delight I must 

 mention, and that is the delight of giving away the prize Roses. 

 Send to those who have not any. During the rest of the season 

 help one of the flower missions. If you so much enjoy those 

 Bplendid flowers about your drawing-room, think of the bright- 

 ness they must shed round the sick- ward of the hospital 1 Let 

 these lead them — have they led us ? — to thank the Great Giver 

 of all good things. That is to oarry love of Rosea beyond the 

 world. 



Rose 1 for the banquet gathered and the bier ; 



Kose I coloured now by human hope and pain ; 



Surely "where death is not, nor change, nor fear, 



Yet we may meet thee, joy's own flower, again 1 



NEWTON HALL. 

 Northumberland is by many regarded as a "county of coal" 

 almost exclusively. It is pictured as honeycombed with mines 

 and surface-strewn with black refuse. Its atmosphere is re- 

 garded as repulsive — contaminated with smoke, which obscures 

 the light of the sun, rendering the trees stunted and the 

 pastures barren. It is true that these conditions exist, but 

 only to a very limited extent in comparison with the aggregate 



