3i8 



Garden and Forest. 



[July 3, 1889. 



their first leaves, after which water may be given mvicli more 

 freely without injury to the plants. As to the time for potting 

 off, it will he found best with most species to wait until the 

 second leaf bei^ins to push up, but with some of the free-g'row- 

 ing sorts, such as Areca iutescens and Livisto7iia Chinensis, it is 

 not necessary to prolong the time to this extent, and plants 

 may be potted as soon as the first leaf is fully expanded ; but 

 they should in any case be kept in a warm house and shaded 

 from the direct sunJis^ht until they are well established. 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. H. TapHu. 



Orchid Notes. 



Cattleya Mossice. — Ever since the flowers of this grand Cat- 

 tleya first developed themselves under cultivation they have 

 been the admiration of all beliolders. Some fifty years 

 have elapsed since its introduction, and where Orchids are 

 grown it is invariably found occupying a prominent position 

 among" the other species. It is by no means a difficult plant 

 to grow. The tiowers are very showy and durable and most 

 remarkable for their great variation in form and color. There 

 are two beautiful white forms of this Orchid, but, like the 

 majority of white-Howered Cattleyas, they are extremely rare. 

 These are C. Wagenerii with large flowers, having a yellow 

 blotch on the labellum, and C. Reineckiana, a variety with pure 

 white sepals and petals and a broad, rich-purple labellum and 

 yellow throat. The flowers of C. Mossice are borne on stout 

 stems, four or five together on each, and they measure, indi- 

 vidually, six or eight inches in diameter, with broad rosy 

 sepals and petals, and a lip large and exquisitely fringed. 

 They make their appearance during the months of May and 

 June, and if removed to a cool temperature will remain four 

 weeks in good condition on the plant. After the flowering 

 period is past the plants that require it should be repotted 

 before root-action begins. If this is not done at the proper 

 season, the most careful cultivator may break or injure the 

 roots in potting and thereby check the plant for a considerable 

 time. The usual compost given to Cattleyas will suit this 

 species, that is, good fibrous peat with a little sphagnum, and 

 ample drainage, and during the period of growth an abun- 

 dance of air and moisture. 



Laelia inajalis. — Mr. Charles Carpender, of New Brunswick, 

 New Jersey, is the possessor of some remarkable specimens of 

 this Orchid. On a recent visit to this collection I observed a 

 plant carrying numbers of its enormous flowers, wliich in 

 many instances measiu-ed seven inches in diameter, their broad 

 lips beautifully penciled with fine purple, forming a pleasing 

 contrast with the lilac color of the sepals and petals. This is one 

 of the largest-flowered Orchids in cultivation. It is somewhat 

 objected to on account of its shy-flowering habit. The 

 plants here noted were attached to wooden blocks and 

 suspended well to the light where a plentiful supply of air 

 reaches them at all times. After the bidbs are fully grown a 

 thorough rest is given to the plants by placing them in a 

 cooler and drier atmosphere. 



Summit, N. J. A. DviiniOck. 



Raspberries. — The variety of this fruit which is best for the 

 market is seldom tlie one for the home-garden. A red rasp- 

 berry, like the Brandywine, which is so dry and firm that it 

 keeps its shape and bright color in transportation and pro- 

 duces large crops, will suit tlie market-grower, but in our 

 home-garden we want better fruit — ^we want a raspberry of 

 good size and full of juice, such a berry as the market-grower 

 cannot handle. It is a great misfortune for private gardeners 

 that nearly all the efforts at so-called improvements in the 

 Raspberry have been in the direction of getting a large crop- 

 per and a good shipping fruit, so thatquality and juiciness have 

 been largely sacrificed. Among all the new Raspberries we 

 have none to compare in quality for home use with Brinkle's 

 Orange, Fastolf, Franconia, Hornet and others of the old tribe, 

 which nurserymen have almost ceased to grow, because everv 

 one in planting follows the lead of the market-men. 



For a combination of good qualities for home use the old 

 Hornet is still unsurpassed, and with me has always been as 

 hardy as any of the newer red varieties. Herstine is close to it 

 and rather more productive. Brinkle's Orange is unsurpassed 

 in flavor, but very tender. But in our gardens hardiness is a 

 minor consideration. It is a small jol) to bend the canes down 

 late in autumn and throw a few shovelfuls of earth on them after 

 the old canes have been cut out. I plant them four by six feet 

 and tie to a single wire stretched about four feet from the 

 ground. If space is valuable, and this seems to be too much 

 to occupy, it can be utilized by Cucumbers planted in the row 

 between the Raspberry-plants about the fime the fruit is ripe ; 

 and the winter-supply for pickles can thus be easily grown, for 



the shade of the canes will not interfere with the Cucumbers. 



I have said nothing about the Black Cap Raspberries. Those 

 who like fine fruit do not care for them, and, from sad ex- 

 perience, I know that, owing to their abundant seeds, Black 

 Caps are dangerous if eaten too freely by children. B. R. 



Albemarle Co., Va. 



Manure is the leading topic of inquiry among all classes of 

 farmers and gardeners. The values of certain substances, in 

 fact of almost every substance, are still mooted points. We are 

 only beginning to learn in this direction. But something is 

 accomplished when we know what we are talking about. 

 "Manure is plant-food" is a poor definition ; "manure is a 

 promoter of plant-growth" is better. One definifion contem- 

 plates the use only of the elements of plant-growth, employing 

 potash merely as so much potash, and nitrogen as so much 

 nitrogen ; the other admits of the mechanical improvement of 

 soil and food for the plant at the same time. Our knowledge 

 of the use and treatment of stable manure is yet imperfect. But 

 we no longer hold to the notion that manure applied in the 

 fall leaches away and is lost, or that its essential elements 

 vaporize. On the contrary, we know that the best results 

 come from application in the fall, and the mare vegetable 

 matter the soil contains the more complete will be the reten- 

 tion of the soluble ingredients. In barn-yards the soluble 

 materials may pass into the underlying soils or be carried down 

 gutters, but in compost piles which are four or five feet high, 

 or even less, it is doubtful if the rain-fall of any season is suffi- 

 cient to wash away the elements of fertility. But we do not 

 recommend composting manure ; there is no necessity for 

 such an operation. But the refuse of the garden, the vines of 

 Squashes, Potatoes, Tomatoes, the trimmings of Cabbage, 

 Celery, and vegetable refuse,, become valuable when com- 

 posted. Of commercial substances, no doubt wood-ashes, 

 finely-ground bone and nitrate of soda are the best for the 

 gardener. But ashes are often of doubtful history, and should 

 be purchased cautiously. 



^A^eeds. — I never saw a good gardener who knew or cared 

 much about weeds. In fact, ignorance of weeds is commonly 

 a proof of good gardening. It matters not whether certain 

 weeds are ten per cent, bad or ninety per cent, bad ; they all 

 succumb to good culture ; all perish by the same process. 

 When we all come to realize that we till for the good of 

 the crop and not for the sole purpose of killing weeds, we 

 shall have no occasion to study the tares, for they will never 

 find the chance of growing. But some people cultivate only 

 when the weeds force them to do so, and here the credit accrues 

 to the weeds. Weeds are oftener a blessing than a curse. 

 Even Virgil knew this. L. H. Bailey. 



Cornell University. 



Spiraeas. — One of the finest herbaceous Spiraeas is 5. Ariincus, 

 or Goat's Beard. It is indigenous to the Alleghany and Catskill 

 Mountains, and is cultivated considerably in European gar- 

 dens, where it is used in groups on lawns with fine effect. It 

 is a plant of noble habit, and in rich soil, with plenty of water, 

 its panicles of cream-white flowers develop into magnificent 

 proportions. S. astilboides is a recent addition to the list of 

 garden-plants, as it is also one of tlie best. It resembles S. 

 Arunciis in many respects, but the latter, under liberal treat- 

 ment, often grows five feet high, while 5. astilboides does not 

 exceed two feet. The flowers are similar in color, and have 

 the same massive appearance, and for forcing it is far superior 

 to Astilbe Japonica. S. palmata is perhaps the brightest- 

 colored species of all. Its large corymbose panicles of 

 brilliant crimson flowers make it one of the most strik- 

 ing and effective species in cultivation. We have never 

 been so successful with this plant as during the past sea- 

 son, when it was planted in low, marshy soil with Iris 

 Kampferi, where it thrives luxuriantly. .S". lobata, or Queen of 

 the Prairies, is a native species, and well worthy of cultivation 

 There are, apparently, two forms of this plant — one having 

 much darker-colored flowers than the other. The better of 

 them rivals S. palmata, with its bright rose-colored flowers, and 

 has also a delightful fragrance. S. filipendiila is a distinct 

 plant, with large loose cymes of white flowers on stems two 

 feet high, with the leaves flat on the soil. There is also a 

 double form of this species much dwarfer in habit and with 

 very beautiful double flowers. We have also a tall-growing 

 Spiraea from Japan, the name of which we have never been 

 able to ascertain. It grows six feet high, with large whitish 

 flowers, the whole plant resembling a gigantic 6". ulmaria. 

 This plant makes an excellent plant for the back row of the 

 flower-border. All of the above are desirable garden-plants, 

 and are at their best just now, adding considerably to the 

 attractions of the garden. 0. 



Passaic, N, J. 



