7fi 



THE EL0KIST AND I>0U.0L0GIST. 



the wall. I would prefer it glass-covered, the trees trained close to the same, 

 to any temporary orchard-house, particularly for Peaches. These temporary 

 orchard wooden-houses cannot absorb and retain heat sufficient to mature 

 tender fruits, particularly in dark summers. I never have had any practice in 

 growing the Apricot under glass ; but I think it surely could be made prac- 

 ticable by having the sashes made so as they could be entirely taken off at 

 pleasure at certain seasons. Mr. Thomson, at the Duke of Buccleuch's, has 

 got a splendid covered glass wall ; one-half is adapted to Apricots, the other to 

 Peaches. Therefore, a person of his experience will be able shortly, I hope, 

 to give practical information as to whether the Apricot can be successfully 

 grown under glass or not. 



Dolmeny Park Gardens. William Melville. 



CULTURE OF THE ANCECTOCIIILUS. 



This tribe of pretty little plants deserves far more extensive cultivation. 

 As they are mostly all natives of Borneo, they consequently require a great 

 amount of heat, moisture, and shade ; but any one that has got an Orchid- 

 house or stove may grow them with very little trouble. I have grown them 

 many years with success ; and as they are a tribe of plants I am rather partial 

 to, I have tried several different ways of growing them ; but the following 

 I have found to be the most successful : — The soil I use is one-half good fibrous 

 peat broken up in small lumps, with the fine sifted out ; sphagnum moss chopped- 

 up, one-quarter ; crocks and charcoal broken up fine, one-quarter, with a good 

 sprinkling of silver sand, all well mixed together. For specimens I use pans 

 12 inches diameter by 4 deep, perforated in the bottom. The pans are half 

 filled with broken pots to make sure of good drainage ; over this a layer of 

 sphagnum mess ; then fill up the pans with the above compost 2 inches above 

 the rim, pressing the soil with the hand into the shape of a mound ; then put 

 in the plants at equal distances. The number will depend on the size of the 

 plants. On the top of the soil under the leaves I place a few sprigs of Lycopo- 

 dium denticulatum, which makes a fine contrast with the beautiful foliage of 

 the Anoectochilus. I likewise find the Lycopodium very beneficial to the 

 growth of the Anoectochilus : as I always grow them under bell-glasses, the 

 Lycopodium is sure to grow rapidly in such.a situation, and absorbs much of the 

 condensed moisture under the glasses. I grow them always on the front shelf 

 of the Orchid-house near the glass. I never give any air to the glasses, but 

 shade with paper when the sun is on them during the summer months. 

 The bell-glasses must be kept perfectly clean ; if they are allowed to get dirty 

 the plants will soon become sickly. I invariably wash the glasses twice a-week 

 in the morning, and water the plants if they require it, leaving the glasses off 

 for an hour or so that the foliage may get quite dry before the glasses are 

 replaced. During the season of growth they require a good supply of water, 

 esjaecially during the summer months. They require but little rest : this I 

 generally give during December and January. During the time of rest I give 

 but little water — -just as much as keeps the soil a little moist on the top. I 

 pot them afresh once a-year, and some of them twice — that depends on the 

 propagation, which I shall mention afterwards. The time of potting depends 

 on the time of rest. I pot always when I start them into growth, which is 

 generally about the end of January. To grow the plants single, one plant in a 

 pot, they require exactly the same treatment, with the exception of the pans. 

 I use 60-size pots, large or small, according to the size of the plants, plunged 

 in a larger pot, so that the bell-glass will fit the outside pot to give room for 



