102 



THE 



GARDENERS' 



MAGAZINE. 



February 



I2 > it* 



Notes on Orchids. 



Cattleya Hardyana Fanyauiana. 



This is an extremely handsome form of the well-known i natural I hybrid I ; it 

 first flowered with the Messrs. Linden, at : Moortebeek. The broad and nlled 

 petals are of bright rose colour, heavily vieded with reddish-rose the petals we 

 deep rose towards the margin, but paler along the centre. The hp is very fine 

 and has a rich red-purple apex and border ; the side lobes are deep yellow and 

 the throat is purple veined with yellow, the latter colour radiating into the large 

 frilled apex This handsome orchid is dedicated to M. Oscar Fanyau, a trench 

 amateur orchidist. Lindenia, t. 593* 



ODONTOGLOSSUM BICTONENSE. 



This charming orchid is not met with in collections nearly so often as 

 formerly, but it is, nevertheless, a fine plant when well grown, producing bold 

 and erect spikes of pretty flowers. The latter have green sepals and petals 

 elegantly marked with brown ; the cordate hp is the chief attraction, it is large and 

 of a clear and bright rosy lilac shade. We refer to this species now chiefly to 

 draw attention to th<* coloured illustration of it and its white-lipped variety alba 

 given in the current issue of the Lindenia, t. 594. 



Trichopilia brevis. 



The genus trichopilia containrseveral species that are among the most interest- 

 ing and handsome of orchids for basket cultivation. T. suavis and T. crispa are 

 perhaps the best known and mo=t generally cultivated, but those who admire 

 these should not omit to include T. brevis in their collections. It is a most 

 distinct species, having the broad campanulate base of the lip much shortened. 

 The sepals and petals are greenish yellow, heavily blotched with deep chocolate. 

 The large lip is pure white save for a light stain of pale yellow on the front 

 lobe. The flowers are from three to four inches across, and most effective when 

 several are produced together. T. brevis was introduced by Messrs. Linden and 

 Co., Brussels, and first flowered with them in August, 1891. The Mexican house 

 is a suitable structure in which to grow the species, and, as in the case of other 

 members of the genus, it should be planted in a basket or pot, well drained, and 

 raised so that there is little chance of the growths damping, and also so that the 

 deflexed flower scapes may extend without hindrance. Not many orchids resent 

 over-watering more than trichopilias. The present illustration represents a flower 



TRicHoriUA brevis. (Flowers greenish -yellow, chocolate and white.) 



Young, orchid 

 recent R.H.S. 



from a specimen exhibited by our able coadjutor, Mr. W. H. 

 grower to Sir F. Wigan, Bart., Clare Lawn, East Sheen, at a 

 meeting. An award of merit was granted. 



Cyi'ripedium insigne Janus. 



The variations in the popular Cypripedium insigne seem to be endless and on 

 one or more occasions we have objected to the excessive multiplication of varietal 

 names that has taken place during the past few years. In the present instance 

 judging from an illustration in the Lindenia t. 595, there is little to complain of 

 m this respect for the variety Janus is very distinct both in the heavy vein-like 

 stripes of reddish brown along the greenish yellow sepals, and in the somewhat 

 abnormal development of the ventral sepal. The latter is white with a wedee 

 shaped stain of greenish yellow extending from base to apex down the centre 

 I he dorsal sepal has a pure white apex and border and a pale greenish-vellow 

 base with brownish spots and dots. The lip is of the usual shade, with brown 

 shading and shows up well against the ventral stpal. 



Catasetum splendens Grignani. 



an/r^T 6 ° rChid rf PP arent 'y intermediate between Catasetum Bungerothi 

 and C. macrocarpum It ,s a new variety that appeared last autumn in the estab 

 lishment of Messrs. Linden and Co., Brussels. The tips of the crTamy e pal fare 

 S ^ d, t b r rOW ? ; the P/^ are broad, pale rose, spotted wkh red and 

 trppedwtth red fine deeforange cen£' 



t. 596. 



ed base of the lip is also tinged 



L.iaiO-CATTLEYA 



the 



Lindenia 



It wa. obtained by crosl^ 



latter being the Jed parent * **" ° f C MoS81aB Wlth U P^purata, the 



Black Currant Gall Mite. 



IN his annual report the zoologist of the Royal Agricultural SociVh, i 

 properly so, that the Black Currant Gall Mite (Phytoptus ribis) is S u* 1 ^ 

 present the most serious pest which attacks blackcurrant, and that 

 are annually rendered fruitless by its ravages, or robbed of a large n !^ 

 their crop. The nature of the injury is almost too familiar to need d • ° n * 

 The microscopic acarines infest the leaf buds, often causing them tw5* 

 swoollen or gouty, through many of the mites may be present witW ^ 

 much distortion. This pest seems to be very generally present even 

 where the infestation has not been severe enough to attract attention P P 

 purposes of experiment, black currant shoots entirely free from all su*nJ 

 attack were required, and these were sought in gardens, both at Cambri^ 00 * 

 at Southport, where no gall-mite infestation was suspected, but on everf 

 were to be found some of the characteristic galls. Much attention has be? • 

 to this pe<t during 1897, and though the results of the observations are 1 

 negative, it is perhaps advisable to report them. Examination of infested bud 

 frequent intervals from January to November has invariably shown the ore U 

 of eggs and larvae together with the mites. These were very numerous ?J 

 spring, and abundant for some time later ; but in November they were few th ^ 

 mites were still to be seen with unlaid eggs within them. 9 



It seems likely that reproduction practically ceases during December-f or 

 month out of twelve. If infested buds are simply cut open and shaken over* 

 slide, some of the mites come out, but the eggs are mostly overlooked. The pk 

 adopted was to slice the buds, cucumber fashion, and shake the sections up ini 

 tube containing methylated spirits. The mites and their eggs were washed oir 

 and formed a sediment at the bottom of the tube which could be examined unS 

 the microscope. 



Many of the spring buds are so severely attacked that their growth is entirely 

 arrested, while others, more slightly affected, succeed in putting forth their leaves* 

 In both cases they are soon deserted by the mites, not one being visible where bat 

 a few days previously there were swarms. It seemed likely that, on the opening 

 of slightly infested buds, numbers would be precipitated to the ground, perhapsto 

 spread infestation by crawling up other stems. Experiments to ascertain this mtt 

 with but little success. Dishes containing water were fixed beneath developk 

 buds containing mites, and watched from day to day, A few mites were found 

 in the water, but only a few. Eggs were not found, perhaps on account of their 

 small size, for it is difficult to imagine how they could have done otherwise t] 

 fall. 



Infested shoots, teeming with mites, were planted in flower-pots, the stems 

 being passed through a sheet of black paper, upon which the mites could readily 

 be observed. In the course of a few days mites in considerable numbers were 

 certainly found on the paper, but they were all near the shoot, and did not seei 

 to have tallen, but to have crawled down the stem, upon which others were found 

 wandering. It is clear, then, that mites leave the buds as they begin to grow un- 

 inhabitable, and crawl elsewhere. This must happen extensively as the leaves are 

 developing, and it is at that time, therefore, that spraying is likely to have the 

 greatest effect. The statement of some entomologists, that the mites wander only 

 in July, is therefore incorrect. 



What becomes of the eggs I have failed to discover. The tremendous fertility 

 of the mite is A priori evidence that a large portion of the brood is destroyed, and 

 it is quite possible that, though I did not find them, multitudes of the egp, 

 turned out of their shelter, were blown away and failed to develop. 



I was anxious to see if a healthy plant, placed in earth taken from beneath 

 infested bushes, contracted the disease, but could not, at the time, find one com- 

 pletely free from infestation. 



In conclusion, I have seen reason to doubt whether very severe pruning is 

 altogether advisable as a means of combating this pest. The mites are certainly 

 reduced in number, but so also are the available buds, and the enemy may surwe 

 in sufficient numbers to occupy all the buds available. It is probable that the old- 

 fashioned and tedious plan of picking off the buds is the most effective. In 

 November the plants are leafless, and the buds easily seen. It is not only the 

 swollen buds which contain the mites, for many may be found in those which m 

 apparently sound. In cases of severe attack I believe it would pay to seM 

 boys round in November to pick off into bags all the buds they find on the 

 bushes. 



Marguerite Carnations. 



The varieties of this class of carnations* 



valuable for cutting, and may well be treated as annuals. If sown now good 

 plants may be produced that will come into bloom after other established plants 

 have done blooming in August. The seeds should be sown in small boxes or 

 pans, filled with sandy loam and leaf soil, just covering the seeds, and star 

 afterwards on a mild hot bed until germination has taken place. As soon as* 

 seedlings appear remove to cooler quarters and prick off into other boxes wMi 

 large enough to handle. Plant outside in a prepared border eventually, and a 

 the after culture required is a stirring of the surface soil occasionally and aremova^ 

 weeds. The flowers should be staked and tied as soon as necessary. « g** 

 on in pots these Marguerite carnations are also very useful for autumn decoraa» 

 The pure white variety may now be obtained from seed sold in separate pacww 

 and can be relied on to come fairly true. The white fringed blooms are ay 

 sweetly scented.— C. H. 



Blue Chrysanthemums.— For the information of A. D. lrn ^^^ 



some years since I endeavoured by chemical application to change pink enr) , 

 themums into blue. In our soil, which is short of iron but contains abundant 

 lime, hydrangeas flower freely, but of the natural rosy pink hue. In P° ts ' 

 aid of sulphate of iron in the soil and frequent applications of alum water 1 

 roots, I produced really blue heads of flower. I had several tints of blue, ^ 

 exceedingly pale, really lavender, others deeper according to treatment. ^ 

 surprising what strong doses this plant will withstand of both iron and aiun.^ ^ 

 much so that some of the pots on the outside were covered with an . exu ^ ient » 

 the latter. As is well known, sulphate of iron is by far the best in S^.* 

 apply to plants or trees for the restoration of lost chlorophyll or green coiou^ ^ 

 the leaves. If, however, like some poisons, it is applied too freely it ore ^ 

 itself. The leaves on some plants we experimented with complete^ - ^ 

 whole of the green matter, and were quite of a bleached character. Keg* 1 ^ 

 changing of the colour of chrysanthemums by the same means I «J ^ 

 with several varieties, commencing with Empress Eugenie, Hero of ^ t0 ^ 

 ton, Alfred Salter, Beauty, Baron de Prailley, Comtesse de Beauregard, wc 



estcA 



1 not one single instance did the plants yield to any variation 01 J**"**"^ e j* 

 peated experiments I came to the conclusion that blue chrysanthen pgi 

 only m the imagination of enthusiastic artists.— E. Molyneux, Swanmm 

 Gardens. 



were 



with all the varieties named will see that a variety of shades of pink 

 In not one single instance did the plants yield to any variation of coio • 



