376 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 7, 1885. 
nomenclature will be lost. On the other hand, however, many are per¬ 
fectly satisfied that the majority of cultivators of these plants are deficient 
in a knowledge of their pseudo-names, nor can they obtain it without pos¬ 
session of Reichenbach’s “Flore Germanica,” where descriptions and figures 
are given. This expensive book is out of the reach of most gardeners, and 
even were it not so, would in a large proportion of cases be useless owing 
to the technical descriptions. 
Nurserymen have in their possession at the present time dozens of 
Primulas so distinct that botanists have a difficulty in giving their affinity, 
while others are so nearly allied that other than florists have a difficulty 
in believing they are not one and the same plant. So much indeed has 
been done with cross-breeding and selection, without retaining any record 
of which were the parents or which were the seed-bearing plants, that the 
wonder is how the confusion is so small. What is the plant sent out as 
P. latifolia, as P. pedemontana, as P. calycina, and as P. glaucescens ? 
Three Primulas only lately introduced from the Himalayas have already 
gone through a second edition of synonyms, and when we hear of common 
P. involucrata or P. Munroi being cultivated as P. obtusifolia, and P. rosea 
for elliptica, it is time something was being done to make us generally 
more acquainted with the species of Primulas. 
What is really wanted is that the Royal Horticultural Society will do 
in 1886 for Primulas what they did in 1884 for Daffodils, with one excep¬ 
tion, and that is, to either keep down the number of varieties or make a 
selection of the best, print the list, and distribute it freely. The work has 
to be done, and, judging from the success of the Daffodil Congress, and 
the anticipated success of the Orchid Conference, no society is more 
fitted to carry through the work than the Royal Horticultural; and 
even if correct and simple nomenclature does not confer the benefit 
claimed for it, the Society will have done great work if it makes these 
deserving hardy plants as popular as they ought to be.—M. 
ONCIDIUMS. 
Oncidium Kramerianum. —This very fine Orchid, with its butterfly- 
like flowers, is not generally seen in the most healthy condition. The 
cause of weakly specimens is often crowding too much rootiog material, 
such as peat and moss, about its roots. Probably another cause of failure 
is growing the plant in a pot or pan on the stage some distance from the 
glass and subjecting it to the same general treatment as many species and 
varieties of Orchids. It can be grown successfully in a pot or pan, the 
latter being preferable, but these should be of such a nature that they can 
be suspended some little distance only below the glass. This Orchid flourishes 
amazingly on a block if a little moss only is used for the purpose of 
retaining moisture about it during the growing season. It is also at home 
in a basket nearly filled with lumps of charcoal, with a little peat fibre 
and moss on and near the surface. If grown in pans it can be taken 
down while in flower and arranged amongst other plants if desired, and 
again suspended as soon as the blooms fade. The pans must be nearly 
filled with drainage composed of crocks and charcoal in lumps, using the 
latter freely, for this plant delights in having something to which its roots 
can cling. The plant must be well elevated in the pan, and charcoal 
should he freely used for this purpose mixed with a small per-centage of 
peat fibre from which all the small particles have been removed. A little 
living sphagnum moss may be used on the surface, but this must be kept 
in a perfectly healthy condition, being removed annually and replaced 
just as the plant commences growth. 
Probably the most important item connected with its successful culti¬ 
vation is the position in the house. It requires exposure to considerably 
more light than the majority of Orchids at all seasons of the year, there¬ 
fore the lightest position the house affords should be selected for it. Shade 
from the burning rays of the sun is essential, but every ray of light pos¬ 
sible must be allowed to reach the plant. 
While growing a fair supply of water may be given, but not nearly as 
much as is required by many Orchids. During the season of inactivity 
very little water will be needed ; no more should be given than is sufficient 
to keep the foliage and pseudo-bulbs plump. It will also do in a drier 
atmosphere than many Orchids, even during the season of growth, but 
special provision in this respect is not really needed. The drier, however, 
the atmosphere during the season of rest the better the plant will grow 
the following season. It will do well under ordinary stove treat¬ 
ment if the requirements pointed out are given. A temperature of 55° to 
60° will be ample during the season of rest. Unhealthy plants will be 
found to recruit themselves rapidly if placed in shallow pans or upon 
blocks with very little moisture-holding material about their roots, and 
suspended close beneath the glass. 
The flower stems must not be cut off after the flowers fade, for they 
yield flowers successionally from the same stem for many years. Plants 
in a weak condition should not he allowed to flower, for the production of 
flowers prevents the plant establishing itself and attaining health and 
vigour. The flower stems from plants in this condition should be removed 
directly they appear, for if allowed to flower, which they do freely, they 
will grow more weakly, and eventually die. 
Oncidium papilio majus. —Two or three plants of this Oncidium 
should be grown in every garden where an attempt is made to grow a few 
Orchids; not because the plants are useful for cutting, hut because few 
Orchids are more curious or attractive. The flowers resemble the butterfly 
in a much more marked degree than the preceding species. This plant 
will grow freely under the conditions advised, but does not appear so par¬ 
ticular about light, for it grows strongly and flowers freely with us 
standing on the stage amongst a mixed collection of Orchids. 
This Orchid also flowers from the same stems for years, and as every 
strong growth produces a flower stem a good-sized plant is of ien very 
effective and rarely without one or more flowers expanded. The flowers 
are produced for a series of years from the end of the stem in succession, 
and when the end fails to produce aDy more flowers the stems are gene¬ 
rally cut, as being of no farther use. This is a great mistake, for after 
the end fails, if the stems are retained, they generally branch from the 
next joint below on the stem, which again flowers for several years ; and 
even when this ceases the capability of the old stem, for flowering is by no 
means exhausted, for it will branch again after producing two branches 
instead of one, as before, and flower again in the usual way. How long 
the stems will continue flowering I do not know, but I have only removed 
one exhausted flower stem from my plant in the space of seven years. 
Oncidium ornithorhynchum. —The flowers of this Orchid are 
small, and therefore do not find acceptance in all gardening establish¬ 
ments where Orchids are growD. They are, however, numerous, and very 
freely produced on a branched arching stem, which renders this plant 
very effective when in flower, and the spikes are also very useful for 
cutting. It is the more useful because it flowers during the winter months, 
and the blooms are most fragrant; it is on this account a general favourite 
with ladies. Strong pseudo-bulbs not unfrequently produce as many as 
three flower spikes each, and very rarely less than two. It grows 
luxuriantly in a mixture of peat fibre and charcoal broken ioto moderately 
small lumps, with a good layer of sphagnum moss on the surface, which 
will become in the space of a season thoroughly matted with roots if the 
plant is strong and healthy. It does well in a pot nearly three parts full 
of drainage. It is very useful when grown in pots for purposes of deco¬ 
ration ; in fact, it may with safety be. employed in rooms for a short time 
while in flower. If space is limited it may be grown in a pan suspended 
from the roof or in a basket, which probably is the best if allowed to 
remain in the house in which it is grown while in flower. Its drooping 
spikes of bloom are displayed to greater advantage when the plant is 
suspended than is the case when grown in a pot and staked upright. 
Many grow this plant under comparatively cool conditions, and I have 
frequently noticed that the foliage assumes a yellow hue instead of a deep 
green. The same condition is the result of growing the plant in stove 
heat the whole year round. It appears to thrive fairly well under both 
conditions, but does not increase in size so rapidly under cool treatment 
as is the case when grown in heat. We have found it increase in size 
rapidly and retain a healthy appearance when given a night temperature 
of 60° to 65°, with a rise of 10° or 15° from sun heat while making its 
growth ; in fact, the temperature of an ordinary plant stove suits it ad¬ 
mirably while making its growth, liberal supplies of water at the root 
being needed. After the completion of growth it should be gradually 
hardened to cooler treatment and a drier atmosphere. A good season of 
rest must be given, which the plants will enjoy in any structure where the 
night temperature rapges from 50° to 55°. Avoid cold draughts, and give 
no more water than is sufficient to prevent the pseudo-bulbs shrivelling. 
Oncidium flexuosum. —This grand old free-flowering Orchid should 
be grown in every garden where a stove exists and choice cut flowers are 
in demand. With a few good basketfuls of strong healthy plants they will 
scarcely ever fail to produce one or more of their loDg spikes of small 
yellow flowers. Under stove treatment during the whole of the growing 
season the flower spikes are pushed up successionally, which is an ad¬ 
vantage over having the whole at one or nearly the same time. The 
treatment recommended for 0. ornithorhynchum will suit this plant well 
except the material about its roots, which should consist of charcoal and 
sphagnum moss in a living state. The former may be used freely and in 
lumps, and the latter upon and near the surface for the purpose of retain¬ 
ing a good supply of moisture about the plants during the growing season. 
This plant delights in having its roots in the aumosphere, and will throw 
them out very freely when grown in baskets and surrounded by the 
material advised. Plants that throw their roots into the atmosphere freely 
require very little material about them ; in fact, a large quantity does 
more harm than good.—W. B. N. G. 
SCILLA SIBERICA. 
This is a gem, and when numbers of bulbs are planted together it 
probably produces the most charming effect of any of our spring-flowering 
bulbs. All who have not planted it where it can remain undisturbed, 
merely keeping the ground free from weeds, should do so next autumn. 
The bulbs at first need not be thickly planted, for if they are left to 
themselves they will seed freely, and in a very short time the whole 
of the ground will be covered. Those who have thick beds should 
allow them to seed, and when the seed is iipe gather and sow it 
on ground that can be left undisturbed. In due time the seedlings 
will appear in quantity, for the seed germinates very readily. This 
bulbous plant flowers equally freely whether grown in a sunny or shady 
position, but seedlings do not spring up so quickly in the latter as in 
the former.—N. G. 
ANDROMEDA JAPONICA. 
At several meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society during the 
present year some remarkably fine specimens of this handsome shrub have 
been exhibited by Mr. Anthony Waterer of Knap Hill, and Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, and though the plant is an old inhabitant of 
English gardens its true ornamental value has not yet been fully appre¬ 
ciated. Grown in pots and treated as a greenhouse plant, it succeeds 
