FIRST 



point, and until lately the general impression appears 

 to have been that the practice was attended with so 

 many dangers that it were better let alone. Of course 

 there are a considerable number of orchids whose style 

 of growth and requirements at the root in a great meas- 

 ure approximate those of ordinary in-door plants, and 

 these for many years have been fed with manure in a 

 liquid form and by mixing it with the soil. Calanthes, 

 pleiones and thunias occur to me as well-known exam- 

 ples. But evidence has latterly been forthcoming which 

 undoubtedly shows the beneficial effects of manure for 

 a much larger class of orchids, and especially is this the 

 case with the guano manufactured from fish refuse. 

 One of the first occasions when public attention was 

 drawn to its value was at the orchid conference held in 

 London, in 1885. A splendid specimen of Cyinhidiiim 

 Lowianum was exhibited, whose luxuriant growth was 

 attributed to the use of this manure. The history of 

 its development from a small plant, which was given by 

 the owner, showed a rate of growth far surpassing what 

 is usually characteristic of this orchid. Mr. Moore, of 

 the botanic gardens at Dublin, has also made and pub- 

 lished the results of many experiments with the same 

 fertilizer, and now uses it largely in his fine collection. 

 The most striking demonstration of its effects, however, 

 has been furnished from a garden in Herefordshire. 

 A Mr. Spencer, an enthusiastic cultivator of orchids, has 

 lately sent to Kew a spike of Cypripediicm Spicerianum 

 bearing three flowers. This is the only instance on 

 record of a three-flowered spike of this cypripedium, 

 twin-flowered ones being by no means common ; yet the 

 plant from which it was cut bore altogether seventeen 

 spikes, no less than thirteen of which were double- 

 flovifered, three only being single. Now this plant was 

 bought six years ago, and at that time was accommo- 

 dated in a four-inch pot. It has been systematically 

 treated with fish manure, and there can be no doubt that 

 to this, combined with careful attention, its extraordi- 

 nary vigor is due. 



It may be used for anguloas, calanthes, cypripediums, 

 cymbidiums, houlleteas, lycastes, phaius, pleiones, thu- 

 nias, and generally speaking for all terrestrial or semi- 

 terrestrial species. It may be either sprinkled on the 

 soil once every three or four weeks (a thimbleful say 

 being sufficient for a plant in a six-inch pot) or it may 

 be mixed in water and watered in. It is always best to 

 begin by small doses and watch the results. It must 

 only be given to well-rooted plants, and only during the 

 four or five months of most active growth. 



Plant labels. — The requisites of a good plant label are 

 legibility, neatness and durability. To supply these the 

 inventive capacity of many an amateur and gardener 

 has been exercised, and the number of different kinds 

 of labels is, in consequence, enormous. Some of these 

 are good, but the majority are so expensive that most 

 plant growers prefer to still use the old label of wood 

 and white paint in spite of its defects. In the opinion 

 of many, the nearest approach to a perfect label yet in- 

 vented, is one which is being extensively used at Kew, 



FRUITS. 367 



and both in the glass houses and out-of-doors has proved 

 very satisfactory. The following is the method of pre- 

 paration : Pieces of zinc of the size and shape required 

 are first cleaned with sand paper and then coated over 

 with Aspinall's white enamel. This is then allowed to 

 remain several days until thoroughly hard and dry. 

 When the label is required for use, another coat, of 

 black enamel, is laid on, and w/iilst ivel, the name, coun- 

 try, etc., of the plant is written on with a pointed stick. 

 The letters then stand out conspicuously in white, the 

 rest of the label being black. The merits of this label 

 consist in its durability and in its being easily read with- 

 out being obtrusive. 



Richardia .Kthiopica. — At one of the autumn meetings 

 of the horticultural society a rather remarkable variety 

 of this plant was exhibited by Mr. Elliott, of Jersey. 

 It is a miniature form of the type, and does not grow 

 more than nine inches to a foot high, a pot six inches in 

 diameter being the largest required to grow it in. The 

 spathes are quite perfect, and the whole plant is a 

 diminished, but exact reproduction of the ordinary 

 form. It is said to have appeared in a batch of seed- 

 lings. In the December issue of The American Garden 

 the richardia was I believe, recommended as a window 

 plant. For such a purpose this small form will prove 

 convenient. It is now being sent out by the raiser, who 

 has named it "Little Gem." 



Asparagus pliiinosiis. — The value of this plant for the 

 decoration of rooms is not so widely known as it deserves 

 to be. The beauty of its delicate feathery foliage is 

 equal to that of any fern, but I know of no fern that 

 will grow in a room as it does without glass covering. 

 I have seen a plant that has been grown for two years 

 contmuously in a sitting room, and it is now not only in 

 perfect health, but has increased considerably in size. 

 In winter it should be kept away from the stove and 

 should not be very moist at the root. The temperature 

 may fall to freezing point or even a degree or two below 

 without injury. A writer in the English Gardeji has 

 recently recommended the variety nanus as a room 

 plant. This, however, is probably more tender than the 

 type. 



Cattleya Warocqneana. — In my notes on new orchids 

 in the February issue, this cattleya is put down as a 

 variety of C. Mossix ; it should have been C. labiata. 

 Some controversy has taken place as to its true position 

 in the genus. Some authorities consider it a form of 

 C. Gaskelliana , but M. Linden, who imported it, claims 

 it to be identical with the old autumn flowering C. 

 labiata, which was introduced to cultivation seventy 

 years ago but has never been met with in a wild state 

 since, and is consequently becoming rarer and more 

 valuable every year. He also states that the locality in 

 which his agents found it is widely removed from the 

 one where C. Gasielliana grovjs. However this maybe, 

 its value, as one of the finest orchids introduced for 

 some years, is in no way affected. — W. J. Bean, Ke%v, 

 London. 



