March 20, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



139 



rowed bulbs, with two dark-green coriaceous leaves. Tlie 

 pendulous racemes spring from the base of the bulbs, bearing 

 about a dozen creamy-white flowers, the lip being prettily 

 blotched and streaked with yellow and crimson. This is an 

 admirable plant for basket culture. It grows best in the cool- 

 house, with abundance ot water. It should never be dry. 



Another species in flower now is C. ocellata, which some- 

 what resembles C'.y^ari;/^'^ in general appearance. This species 

 produces half-drooping racemes from the top of the matured 

 bulbs, bearing nine to ten comparatively large pure white 

 flowers, relieved by irregular blotches of yellow margined 

 with reddish brown on the lip. This is a superior species, 

 and will be found extremely useful for cutting and for window 

 decoration, as it lasts a long time. It needs the same treat- 

 ment as C.flaccida, and, I think, grows even more freely than 

 that species. The variety Maxima differs from the type in 



spreads very rapidly, and will cover the ground with a good 

 permanent sod. It is very beautiful wlien in bloom, bearing 

 spikes of small blue flowers about two to three inches long at 

 the axils of the leaves. 



I found this plant about fifteen years ago, growing wild in 

 great aljundance in the vicinity of Boston. Never having seen 

 it in this section before, I called Dr. Gray's attention to it, and 

 he stated that he had not before known of its growing on this 

 side of the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. A 

 few plants were then planted in the shade of some Pines, where 

 they have flourished ever since. 



This plant can be propagated very rapidly by making cut- 

 tings about three inches long and planting them in boxes of 

 prepared soil two parts sand, and one of soil. They should then 

 be placed in some cool spot where they will get a little light 

 until spring, when a lot of nice plants will be ready to be set out. 



Longleat.— See page 134. 



having larger and more numerous flowers on a raceme. Both 

 kinds emit a delightful Cocoanut fragrance. This Orchid was 

 introduced more than sixty years since from northern India, 

 and should be met with more commonly than it is. 



Phajus grandifolius. — This is one of the oldest and best 

 known of all tropical Orchids, having been introduced more 

 than 100 years since under the name of Bletia Tankcrvillice. 

 It may be found in almost every green-house, and, conse- 

 quently, is more rationally treated than many of its rarer con- 

 geners. We grow a quantity for cutting. It is unsurpassed 

 where very heavy work is required. It lasts a long time, and 

 will open its buds in water. The stout spikes are about three 

 feet high, rising above the dark-green foliage and bearing a 

 score or so of large white and brown flowers. It is a luxuriant 

 grower, delighting in a compost of rich loam manure, and 

 plenty of sand. Care should be taken to retain the old foliage 

 until the new growths are well advanced. F. Goldritis:. 



Kenwood. N. Y. 



One of the best features about this plant is the foliage, which 

 is evergreen, keeping its color well all winter in the most ex- 

 posed situation. 

 Somerville, Mass. 



Plant Notes. 



H. M. Pratt. 



Veronica officinalis is one of our most valuable wild plants 

 for planting in shady places where grass will not grow. It 



The Soap-tree of the Chinese.* 



IN G.A.RDEN AND FOREST for February 13th it was stated in 

 the very interesting article on the Kentucky Coffee-tree 

 that its Chinese congener, Gyinnocladus Chinensis, " has not 

 been introduced into the United States or Europe." This 

 would, I believe, have been absolutely correct had it been writ- 

 ten rather more than a year ago ; at the present moment we 

 have at Kew a number of plants about a foot high raised from 

 seeds forwarded from Ichang by the indefatigable botanist and 

 traveler. Dr. A. Henry. None of the plants have as yet devel- 

 oped characteristic leaves, but only simply pinnate ones with 



* GvMNocLADus Chinensis, Baillon in Compt. Rend. Assoc. Franp. pour I'Avanc. 



Sc. 1874. p. 418, t. 4. 



