I20 



derives its name from the ruins of the ancient 

 Sardis, its home in Asia Minor, where it is 

 found growing at from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. 



Late-flowering Chionodoxa (C. L. var. 

 Tmoli. — A dwarf variety of strong growth and 

 latest of any in bloom. Its large flowers, freely 

 produced, are of rich bright blue with a large 

 white eye faintly outlined in purplish-blue, 

 and with a touch of deeper colour on the tips 

 of the petals ; its lateness is, however, its great 

 feature. This kind is said to need a damper 

 situation than its fellows, and certainly its 

 growth is more vigorous in a moist spot. 



Dwarf Chionodoxa (C. nana). — A dis- 

 tinct dwarf species from Crete, rarely more 

 than 4 inches high and not much planted for 

 effect. Its flowers are small but attractive, 

 and carried in dense spikes of white or pale 

 bluish-lilac. 



LYCASTE MARY GRATRIX* 

 The group of Lycaste contains some of 

 the most useful and showy of orchids 

 with a flowering season during the dul- 

 lest days of winter and early spring. They 

 are mostly from Central America and 

 the West Indies, being found at fairly 

 high altitudes where much rain falls dur- 

 ing their season of growth. Up to the 

 present few good crosses have been ob- 

 tained among these plants, the most dis- 

 tinct and beautiful yet sent out being the 

 fine new kind shown in the plate. This 

 seedling was raised^by Messrs. Charles- 

 worth of Bradford as a cross between 

 Lycaste Skin7ieri and L. macrophylla, 

 and was first exhibited by Samuel Gra- 

 trix, Esq. , of Whalley Range, Manches- 

 ter, being named in honour of Mrs. 

 Gratrix. The finest plant yet shown 

 was exhibited early last year at the Drill 

 Hall, Westminster, by Capt. G.L. Hol- 

 ford ; it carried seven fine flowers, the 

 brilliance and beauty of which are well 

 shown by the artist. 



The Lycaste are of easy culture, 

 needing little heat, the cool interme- 

 diate-house suiting them best. Good 

 fibrous loam and peat with a little leaf- 

 soil, chopped sphagnum, and coarse 

 silver sand, makes a good compost for 

 the plants; plenty of drainage should be 

 added, for, while growing, the plants 

 delight in water, providing that it passes 

 away quickly and that abundant air is 

 admitted at all times. When at rest less 

 water is needed, but they must never 

 become dry. h. ALEXANDER. 



Westonbirt, Tetbury, Glos. 



Tree Failures. — [To the Editor of Flora and 

 Sylva.] Sir, — In things treated of in garden cata- 

 logues one may be said to live in a world of adjec- 

 tive and strong description. Sometimes these adjec- 

 tives are justified, but too often they are not. It is 

 not a greatmatter when it merely concerns a little Al- 

 pine flower described in a catalogue as a "tremendous 

 bloomer," but if we have to deal with trees involving 

 perhaps heavy preparation of the ground and much 

 cost, then it becomes a more serious thing. I have 

 for many years heardgreat things of the Japan Cryp- 

 tomeria — " an avenue fifty miles long of this great 

 tree, with trunks straight as arrows and 150 feet in 

 height " — and I have always had hungry eyes for it 

 wherever I went, either in England, Scotland, or Ire- 

 land. As a result I never saw one that promised to be 

 such a fine tree, and there would seem to be some- 

 thing in our climate or rainfalbwhich is against it. 

 It lives, and is hardy enough, but that is not all we 

 want in a tree of its great character ; and if we know 

 a tree to be a failure, surely it is much better to own 

 it frankly, and cease cumbering the ground with 

 things that will never do any good in our country. 

 Very often in the places where we see such failures 

 scattered about, trees of greater value, which succeed 

 perfectly in our country, are not seen. The same 

 fault is shown by other trees of this small group, such 

 as the variety Lobbii, and the C. e/egans, which is not 

 even hardy. It is a form of Cjaponica, which, like so 

 many of the conifers, has a habit of sporting into 

 different shapes of shoot. I had a dozen trees de- 

 stroyed in one hard, snowy winter. No doubt it is 

 hardy in sheltered places near the sea, but that does 

 not justify its general use. Other forms of this tree 

 are open to the same objection. If the wild tree does 

 not succeed, we may be sure that none of its varieties 

 or sports will do any better. — I am, Sir, A Planter. 



* With coloured plate from a drawing by H. G. Moon, from a plant at Westonbirt. 



