ON THE TREATMENT OF THE RENANTHEEA COCCINEA. 
135 
“is simply employed in overcoming electric powers in the body subjected to its action ; ” 
yet — as the current from the galvanic trough decomposes water, separates its elements, and 
causes the ultimate particles of the hydrogen to be so repelled and minutely divided, as to 
render it the lightest of all aerial fluids that have weight ; while, on the other hand, it pro- 
duces the development of the oxygen at the opposite pole or electrode, and in a state of 
atomic repulsion, which permits its particles to be eight times heavier than those of its 
fellow element — I must theoretically infer that the two elements are bodies specifically 
charged, each with a certain definite quantity or volume of electric or elementary matter, 
mutually attractive and prone to unite, explosively, and with the extrication of a flash of 
light if suddenly excited, or more silently, under opposite circumstances. 
The theory of electric agency throughout every phenomenon of attraction and repulsion, 
must be referred to future articles, wherein it will be appropriately appealed to. 
ON THE TREATMENT OF THE RENANTHERA COCCINEA TO OBTAIN 
FLOWERS. 
By Mr. Scott, Superintendent of the Plant Department of the Large Conservatory at Chatsworth. 
This species of Orchid seems to have been introduced sometime previous to 1817. Up 
to that period, all that was known of the Chinese Renanthera, by Europeans, was gathered 
from the work of the missionary Loureiro, — the accounts of travellers in China, — together 
with a figure possessed by the Horticultural Society of London. 
After the species became generally introduced and cultivated in English collections, it 
does not seem to have been flowered with success. And even at the present time, it is 
seldom seen in bloom, even in places where the culture of other Orchids is well understood 
and successfully practised. 
Impressed with the opinion, that “ the cause of the previous want of success in inducing 
it to flower has resided in its having been cultivated in too dry an atmosphere,” Mr. Fairbairn, 
at Claremont, applied moss to the stems of his plant,— kept the moss constantly damp, 
and exposed the plant “ as much as possible to the influence of the sun.” In October, 
1827, a splendid panicle was produced on the Claremont plant, which was figured in the 
“Botanical Register,” vol. xiv. 
At Chatsworth it was flowered under rather different circumstances. “ About April, 
1836, we had a plant put into a small house appropriated to the growth of a few store 
plants, in which the heat varied from 65° to 70° ; it was kept free from moisture, except 
what arose from watering and occasional syringing,” and “ exposed to the direct rays of the 
sun.” In three months two panicles appeared, one of which was perfected and figured in 
the “ Magazine of Botany,” vol. iv. 
The late Mr. Cooper, of Wentworth, flowered it “ several successive years,” but “ never 
washed his plants over head, nor kept amongst them a heavy moist heat.” 
Mr. Falconer, of Cheam, has obtained several first prizes at the Horticultural Society’s 
shows, for his superior cultivation of this plant. Mr. Falconer grows his plant on a log of 
wood ; the roots are covered with moss, and the plant is suspended from the back wall of 
the house, as near to the glass as possible, where it has the advantage of “a high tem- 
perature from sun heat, full exposure to light, which, with plenty of moisture to the roots, 
are the essential requisites which the Renanthera requires to make its flowering certain.” 
Mr. Bassett, of Westonbirt, has also flowered it well ; but I am not aware under what 
circumstances. 
All the specimens of this Orchid, at Chatsworth, are now in the large conservatory, 
growing on logs of wood, which in some cases are suspended ; — in others, one end of the 
log is fixed in the ground. The plants are from 3 to 12 feet high ; and are fully exposed 
to the sun. 
