NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



279 



Orchids, Hybridisation Of. By G. T. Grignan (Bev. Hort. Feb. 16, 

 1903, pp. 81-83). — A description of a number of recent successes in 

 France and England.— 6'. T. D. 



Orchids in the United States. By Crassinode (Orch, Bev. p. 104 ; 

 April 1903). — Some interesting particulars as to the growth and sale of 

 Orchids in a prominent trade establishment are recorded. — H. J. C. 



Orchids, Raising* Seedling. By H. J. Chapman (Gard. Mag. 

 n. 2568, p. 41 ; 17/1 /03). — A particularly lucid article on a subject which, 

 while of limited application among gardeners generally, is interesting and 

 instructive as showing the great amount of detail necessary to observe in 

 raising seedling Orchids. 



Beyond everything, seedling Orchid raising demands the exercise of 

 that rare virtue patience, as years in most cases elapse between the 

 sowing of the seed and the flowering of the seedlings. The writer, who 

 is a well-known orchidist, records what must be considered a remarkable 

 instance of the short interval of time between seed-sowing and flowering. 

 He states that a Calanihe fertilised in December 1901 ripened its seeds, 

 which germinated a few days after they were sown, on March 24, 1902. 

 In December of the same year the seedling produced a flower-spike, and 

 the photograph of the plant in flower is reproduced to illustrate this 

 article. 



This is surely a " record " of an Orchid seedling producing flowers 

 within a year of sowing seed. On the other hand, we know that several 

 years have elapsed between seed-sowing and flowering in the case of 

 Cattleyas and Laelias. The article is excellent reading, and illustrated in 

 an instructive way. — W. G. 



Oxalis crenata. By A. Worsley (Gard. Chron. No. 846, p. 171, 

 fig. 72 ; March 14, 1903). — The author says : " This excellent vegetable is 

 but little known in European gardens, although it has been introduced 

 for many years ; this is due to a little technical difficulty in its proper 

 cultivation, which can easily be overcome." This plant is grown for the 

 sake of the tubers, which are formed on the roots as soon as the growth 

 of the foliage is arrested towards autumn ; then, if early frosts occur and 

 kill the leaves before the tubers are properly formed, the crop is lost. The 

 difficulty, therefore, is to keep the leaves alive during October and 

 November. This, however, may be managed with the help of a little 

 protection in the way of litter, bracken, &c. This plant is a native of 

 Peru and Bolivia. Generally the plant is of the same hardiness as the 

 garden Potato, but the ' Oka ' (the Peruvian name) has this advantage, 

 that it can grow through severe drought and is not subject to disease ; 

 it will never be a rival to the Potato ; the tubers are not large enough, 

 being only H to 2 inches in length, yet it has many advantages in its 

 unique and delicious flavour, in its long keeping capacity, and in the fact 

 that it requires no preparation whatever before cooking. — G. S. S. 



Oyster-shell Bark Louse. By Prof. W. T. Macoun (Proc. Am. Pom. 

 Soc. 1901, p. 14). — After two years' experimenting at Ottawa, lime spray- 

 ing in the autumn is recommended. As soon as the leaves fall, spray 



