194 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ March 5 1885. 
as to what kind of liquid is the best. Anyone having the drainings from a 
cow-yard and stable at command will require nothing further. Fowl or 
pigeon manure is also good, but must be used with great caution. I have 
little faith in such nostrums as Standen’s, Beeson’s, or Clay’s manures ; they 
are no doubt good for some purposes, but what is wanted just now for the 
Chrysanthemum is a liquid that will act immediately on the plants. I will 
give you my receipt for a liquid that will work wonders. Take two 
bucketfuls of human excrement fresh from the vault, add two or three 
handfuls of soot, salt, and lime, tie the whole up in a bag, and put in a tub 
filled with water. Be sure and dilute it sufficiently when first using it. If 
it is objectionable or inconvenient to use such a manure, sulphate of ammonia 
will answer the purpose. Commence with quarter ounce per gallon, and 
gradually increase to nearly half ounce, in the same way decreasing it as 
you approach the flowering period. Every alternate watering with this 
liquid is quite sufficient. The above instructions as to feeding are applicable 
both to specimens and plants intended for fine flowers. 
The next work is disbudding, which is, without doubt, the most impor¬ 
tant item in the cultivation of the Chrysanthemum. The feeding, although 
it takes the lead, is actually of secondary importance, but both it and the 
disbudding are so closely connected that, where high cultivation is desired, we 
cannot get on with one without the other. First of all you feed to secure a 
strong plant that will produce a well-developed bud ; then the bud has to 
be supplied with the requisite nourishment to develope itself into a large, 
perfect flower. Chrysanthemums that are grown for the quality of their 
flowers are furnished with from one to three stems. About the end of June 
to the middle of July they will show what is termed the summer bud. 
This bud is useless. Several shoots are produced below it, from two to five 
of these being left, according to the strength of the plant and variety. These 
shoots being allowed to grow will each show another bud, which is commonly 
termed the crown bud; this is the bud to secure in our neighbourhood 
Further south it is too early for all early-flowering varieties, hence a further 
growth has to be made, and the next or terminal bud taken. These flowers 
are more compact than those taken from the crown buds, but seldom so 
large. This crown bud is very small when first observed; it has three 
vigorous shoots round it, and two of these should be removed with a pen¬ 
knife as soon as they can be got at, leaving the other to grow for awhile 
alongside the bud. If the bud developes itself satisfactorily, and requires 
the whole flow of sap into it, this shoot should also be taken away, likewise 
all laterals that form along the stem. All suckers should be removed as 
soon as they appear, otherwise they will throw the plants into an unhealthy 
condition, and appropriate the nourishment intended for the plants. The 
difficulty is to get the plants to show this bud at the proper time. Take 
three plants of any one variety, one will show the bud at the beginning of 
August, the second one at the latter end, and the third not perhaps until the 
latter end of September. We are completely at the mercy of the plants, but 
with a thorough knowledge of the varieties something may be done by 
early pinching to secure the bud at the proper time. Take, for instance, a 
plant that will not show its summer bud by the beginning of July. I would 
remove the centre, train up as many growths as desired, and they will then 
show the crown bud at the proper time, which for this neighbourhood— 
though a great deal depends upon the season—is about the latter end of 
August or the first week in September. Once you have the bud safe and in 
at the right time you may rub your hands and look forward to the contest 
with equanimity. Such late-flowering varieties as G-randiflorum, Meg Mer- 
rilees, Boule d’Or, and others, will require the buds taken not later than the 
latter end of August. If, however, a bud of these varieties shows itself by 
the middle of the month, and it is seemingly perfect in all its parts, then 
it is a good plan to keep this bud. 
We have now only to take care that no insects damage the buds. Ear¬ 
wigs especially must be constantly looked after and destroyed, or else they 
will soon destroy the plants. Green fly also becomes troublesome, especially 
in the early stages. Dust some tobacco powder on the points of the plants 
at night, and syringe off next morning before the sun has much power. 
The plants should also be syringed overhead every evening during dry 
weather. If mildew should make its appearance dust well with black 
sulphur on the other side of the leaves. If these directions are followed, 
and the plants have been properly treated from the time they left the 
cutting pot until now, they will reward us with fine masses of bloom at a 
time when everything else looks cheerless and dull. 
AMONGST THE ORCHIDS. 
THE ORCHID CONFERENCE. 
Thebe is every reason to suppose that during the present year Orchids 
will reach the zenith of their popularity, for the promised Conference at 
South Kensington will undoubtedly attract most of the principal amateur 
and trade growers in Britain, whose choicest products will be staged to 
prove the claims of the family to popular attention. A unanimous feel¬ 
ing prevails that the scheme is highly commendable, and the only desire 
is apparently to assist in rendering it as successful as possible. This 
should produce results of a most satisfactory character to the projectors 
and all concerned. Already cultivators are selecting and preparing speci¬ 
mens for the great Orchid Show of the year, and desires are freely ex¬ 
pressed that the northern growers will also give their aid in rendering it 
as representative as possible. At present it is, however, not definitely 
known what form the Conference will take, but it is presumed that 
orchidists will be invited to send all specimens of a remarkable nature, 
whether for beauty, rarity, or size. No prizes are announced, but pro¬ 
bably cultural and other certificates will be awarded, and medals might 
well be added for plants of exceptional merit. It has been suggested by 
some that the expense of carriage will deter many from exhibiting, and 
that the Council would exercise a wise liberality in defraying expenses of 
this nature. Such a course would unquestionably induce many more to 
exhibit, and might be regulated so that it would not commit the Society 
to an undue expenditure, while if it ensured the success so much desired 
the outlay would be amply repaid. No doubt all these matters will be 
carefully considered in drawing up the programme, which should be issued 
in good time to enable intending exhibitors to make the necessiry arrange 
ments. 
It will also be interesting to know what course will be taken to render 
the gathering a scientific and educational as well as a mere spectacular 
success. This is a point of much importance, and suggests a means of 
collecting considerable useful information upon several subjects. For in¬ 
stance, if the exhibitors could be induced to briefly state the treatment 
adopted with rare or difficult plants, or any peculiarities either in culture 
or structure which they had observed, innumerable facts of great value 
might be collected, and would constitute a subsequent report of unequalled 
interest. In regard to hybrid Orchids much could also be done in tabulat¬ 
ing the crosses effected, and where possible the parents and the offspring 
might be advantageou-ly shown together. The nomenclature would form 
a difficult subject, but would certainly demand attention, and much-desired 
improvements might be arranged, especially if some check could be 
placed upon the undue multiplication of specific and varietal names, which 
is a giowing evil that many deplore at the present time. In several other 
ways the members of the Conference could exercise the official power 
they will possess, rendering their labours of inestimable value to Orchid 
growers and lovers throughout Great Britain, and some useful work of 
this kind may be confidently expected. 
ORCHIDS NEAR TOWNS. 
Now that the population of the country is so densely massed in 
great centres it becomes a matter of importance to secure plants that 
will thrive in the neighbourhood of the smoke-producing cities, and 
probably the adaptability of many Orchids for culture in such positions 
has tended largely to increase their popularity. In the suburb# of most 
of our largest cities—Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, 
and the metropolis—collections of Orchids have been formed by wealthy 
merchants and others, in many cases of remarkable extent and value. 
Beyond these, smaller collections of cool house Orchids are very rapidly 
increasing in number, and the Odontoglossum house is becoming almost 
indispensable in many gardens. The dweller in towns certainly has 
more difficulties to contend with in the culture of Orchids than those 
who are favoured with a pure atmosphere free from the noxious smoke 
and fogs that prove so injurious to most plants. It is strange that the 
London nurseries, where Orchids receive special attention, are all within 
the smoke radius, yet visitors to those establishments are well aware of 
the cultural successes achieved in them. Some of the best grown Orchids 
that can be produced are there found, and amateurs have learned from 
this that in the suburbs, a few miles from the smokiest portions of the 
metropolis, they can readily satisfy themselves with a hou=e of Orchids, 
and obtain their beautiful flowers with comparative ease. Many of these 
amateur growers frequent the sale rooms, purchasing both imported and 
established plants until their houses are filled or their purses exhausted ; 
then some are sold, and occasionally the whole collection is disposed of, 
finding a home with other rising orchidists. There is thus a constant 
change, but there is no question that the total number of Orchid collec¬ 
tions has increased very greatly in recent years, and this is seen in a 
marked degree around the metropolis. In almost every direction, but 
especially to the south and west, are gardens containing Orchids in 
varying numbers and interest, but all including specimens possessing 
some attractions, and where specialities are made of particular genera 
displays of surpassing beauty are frequently seen. Many who have not 
the opportuninty of visiting these establishments will doubtless be] glad 
to learn something respecting them, and with this object in view the 
following notes have been prepared, which will briefly describe a tour 
amongst the principal Orchid collections near London, 
OLDFIELD, BICKLEY. 
For many years F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Q..C., has been an enthusiastic 
orchidist, and during this long experience he has by close observa- 
