4 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 1, 18f5. 
and have no intention of doing so in future. Provided good soil is used 
for potting, it is, I think, absolutely unnecessary. It seems like 
undue stimulation, which having spent itself leaves the plant in worse 
condition than it was before the application. Certain is it that the 
flowering is not much affected either way, and we rely for the 
following season’s bud as the result of healthy growth after potting. 
Recently I have noticed Mr. Douglas and others inclining to this 
view, and it is to be regretted that the former successful grower 
should have advocated it in his excellent work of “ Hardy Florists’ 
Flowers.” The plan I adopt when the plants resume activity in 
February is to clean the surface of the soil, slightly loosen it, and 
if necessary replenish with a little ordinary soil, using nothing of a 
stimulating character.—T. 
MUSCAT HAMBURGH GRAPE. 
Having a very high estimation of the above Grape I beg to make 
a few remarks as to the best road to success. It is unquestionably 
the best-flavoured black Grape we have, and well deserves to be more 
extensively grown. When looking through any vineries I generally 
ask the question, “ Do you grow Muscat Hamburgh ?” The answer 
invariably is, “ No, it’s such a bad doer.” I am of precisely the 
same opinion when it is grown in the usual way—namely, planted on 
its own roots. The Muscat Hamburgh on its own roots, in the first 
pdace, is not a strong grower ; secondly, it is a very shy setter ; and 
lastly, it is one of the worst of all black Grapes to finish. From the 
above we find three things are required—very important matters— 
that is, strength, fertility, and colour, all of which we have in the 
Black Hamburgh. 
Your correspondent “F. A. B.” is right when he speaks of graft¬ 
ing Muscat Hamburgh on the Black Hamburgh, but 1 cannot admit 
that there is much advantage in allowing the stock to produce 
leaves and fruit for a few feet at its base. In my opinion at least 
one rod of the stock should be taken up, and so let the scion and 
stock bear fruit side by side. When living with Mr. Bloxham at 
Brickhill Manor some few years ago Muscat Hamburgh was there 
ffiown by him in the finest condition that it has been my pleasure to 
witness, and it was done in exactly the same manner as above described. 
All being well, I intend carrying out the same principle here. Some 
new vineries having been lately erected, and my employer preferring 
Muscat-flavoured Grapes, induces me to prepare for that purpose. The 
borders are inside and out with concrete bottoms and well drained— 
a most important matter. 
I think under the best conditions it requires more than ordinary 
skill to produce fine examples of this most excellent Grape ; but when 
bunches are brought out like Mr. Bloxham used to do them, and 
probably does now, it fully repays all the labour bestowed. 
I have been told by experienced growers that Venn’s Black Muscat 
and Muscat Hamburgh are the same. This I am {repared to contra¬ 
dict, having seen both varieties grown in several gardens. The best 
A enn’s Black Muscat I have seen was at Bodorgan, grown by Mr. 
kllam the then gardener. Since that time I have felt quite satisfied 
about their being distinct varieties.— Arthur Ocock, Holborougli 
Court. 
ORCHIDS. 
[A piper rea l by Mr. 73. B'rt before the Caterbam Horticultural Society, 
December 12th.] 
C Continued from page 567.) 
It is not solely the beauty of the flower which gives an 
Orchid a high market value, the mere rarity of the plant some¬ 
times does so. For instance, there is a common Cypripedium 
known as 0. Stonei. The flower is interesting, but not specially 
so, and a good plant may be bought for a trifle, but on the occa¬ 
sion of an important private collection of Orchids coming to the 
hammer there was offered a plant not then in flower called 
G. Stonei platytamium. I was told the flower of it was very 
similar to the common type, but had slightly different markings. 
It was announced by the auctioneer and was, I understood, an 
accepted fact amongst orcliidists that only two other plants of 
this type were known to exist. This fact led to a very keen com¬ 
petition, in which of course only the Orchid giants took part. In 
the end the plant which, I think, occupied a b-inch pot was sold 
at £140 odd. So that the possessor of this plant pays, say £7 
per annum (that being the interest on his outlay), for the privilege 
of looking at the one or two annual b'oorns which it produces. & 
Let us suppose that at one of the sales of imported plants we 
buy a piece of dry Cattleva. We will hope for our chances of 
success that it is in spring time with the summer before us for 
growth. What, shall we do with it when we get it home ? We 
will first wash it free from dirt of every kind, clearing out all 
interstices in which foreign insects may have lodged. We will 
then select for it a shady and rather moist place in a tempera¬ 
ture below that which it will need when growing. Whether we 
hang it by the heels or lay it on the stage or pot it ready for 
growing makes litt'e difference. Its condition is very much that 
of a man recovering from a long starvation. We must administer 
to its wants sparingly—not much light, not much moisture, not 
much heat at present. If we give it these too liberally the result 
will be the same as if we give the half-starved man a good dinner 
of roast beef and plum pudding. He will find it too much for 
him and succumb to the kind intentions of his would-be restorer. 
No, we must only very gently stimulate our recovering plant, 
and in a few weeks it will make signs of growth. It will begin 
to swell at the bottom of the leading pseudo-bulb, and possibly 
show signs of rooting. Then we must at once pot it if we have 
not yet done so, for its tender roots will need something to cling 
to. So we fill an ordinary red flower pot with broken crocks to 
within 14 inch of the rim, upon this we place a little fibrous peat 
with a few lumps of broken charcoal amongst it. Upon this we 
place our patient, supporting him with friendly sticks and tyings 
of bast till such time as he shall recover his strength, and having 
thrust down some of his roots amongst the peat and crocks can 
stand alone. 
I alluded just now to the popular notion that Orchids require 
great heat for their culture. This is, I suppose, a survival of the 
former authoritative opinion that high temperature was essential. 
The earlier cultivators of Orchids killed them right and left under 
this treatment. It has been found that moderate temperature 
and in the case of many varieties low temperature, is necessary 
for success. The great cultivators of Orchids like Sir Ti*evor 
Lawrence and Mr. Lee of Leatherhead, and the large nursery¬ 
men, have many separate houses in vhich the exact wants as to 
temperature, air-moisture, shading, &c., of the various classes 
are supplied to the utmost nicety. Humbler growers cannot of 
course pretend to this elaboration of treatment. Still the man 
who has one ordinary greenhouse may grow with success many 
delightful varieties; but if his glass house can be divided into 
two compartments, or better still, into three so as to create as 
many different climates for his plants, a very large proportion of 
the most interesting sorts may be cu tivated with success. A 
cool c mpartmcnt is wanted for the Odontoglossums, end with 
them may be grown Oncidiums, Masdevallias, and other kinds. 
These plants will not do much to swell the coke bill, for during 
seven or eight months in the year they want no fire heat, and 
indeed dislike it, and during the winter they only modestly ask 
that you will not let the frost in to them. If you care to be 
generous and do not let the thermometer go below 45° they will 
respond to your kindness. In spring, summer, and early autumn 
they enjoy all the air-moisture you can give them, and plenty of 
water overhead on fine days. Add to this full ventilation top 
and bottom, and shading from the hot sun, and they will give 
you an annual crop of beautiful flowers at less trouble to the 
cultivator than many of the common greenhouse plants that 
require, besides many of the attentions I have referred to, fre¬ 
quent repottings and tying and training that cool Orchids do 
not need. 
Then you want another compartment of your house in which 
to grow Cattleyas, Lselias, Yandas, &c. In this also the fire heat 
at night (for by day you do not want it at all except on cold and 
dull days in winter) must be kept at a minimum consistent with 
some approximation to the climate natural to the plants. And 
here let me say a word about artificial heat. There is no doubt 
that fire heat, modify it as you will by moisture, is inimical to plant 
life. Sun heat is quite different in its nature. Its life and force¬ 
giving properties seem absent altogether from fire heat, which 
seems rather to have in it elements of death. Jt appears to me 
one chief problem for cultivators under glass to find that lowest 
fire temperature for the different kinds of plants whi h will save 
them from injury by cold. Any excess of heat over this is not 
merely wasted but does positive injury. In other words artificial 
heat should be regarded not as a good thing in itself to be 
supplied with liberality, but rather as the less of #w r o evils, though 
one which by excess quickly becomes the greater of the two. 
The occupants of the Cattleya or intermediate house (as it is 
sometimes called) like plenty of ventilation, and on fine bright 
days considerable air moisture, though less than the Odonto¬ 
glossums. At night or during the day ail the year through it is 
well to leave the bottom ventilator open except in frosty weather 
or when it is very windy, when the warmth is apt to be blown 
out of the houses. 
The third compartment or house, cal’ed by orchidists the East 
India house, is practically an ordinary stove. In it the Dendro- 
biums, the Saccolabiums, and the warmer-growing Cvpripediums 
will grow with other plants which delight during the growing 
season in a more close, wai’m, and humid atmosphere. 
