June 4, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
457 
unique position, surpassing Zonal Pelargoniums in this respect. 
Happily, too, the Begonia will always make a most natural bed, 
inasmuch as it cannot be pinched and trimmed into formality. 
They may also with pleasing x*esults be planted in sub-tropical 
arrangements, or they may be introduced into the mixed border 
amongst hardy plants, while those of a drooping nature could 
not be considered out of place on the rockery with their pleasing 
blossoms overhanging some ledge, thus forming an attractive 
feature. When they occupy beds alone, a top-dressing of short 
manure, spent hops, or cocoa-nut fibre will be found beneficial. 
—- J. 
VANDA CATHCARTI. 
In fig. 113 is represented an excellent variety of this fine Vanda, of 
which flowers were sent us by Dr. Paterson, Bridge of Allan. It has 
beautifully formed flowers, the transverse bars being finer and richer in 
colour than the ordinary form, and it is consequently greatly prized 
Fig. 113.—Yam!a Cathcarti. 
amongst the treasures in the choice Stirlingshire collection. Writing 
some years ago Mr. B. S. Williams thus described the type : — 
“ This distinct species somewhat resembles Renanthera coccinea in 
general appearance. The leaves are short, broad, and bluntly bilobed, 
arranged in a distichous manner, and pale green in colour. The spike is 
drooping, bearing four or five large fleshy flowers; sepals and petals 
chocolate brown, striped with numerous transverse bands of yellow on 
the inside ; lip large, the centre lobe cordate, having a soft yellow 
thickened margin. This species has now become established in our 
collections. Native of Northern India.” 
APPLE CULTURE. 
Each spring reminds me that Apple growers are in want of farther in" 
formation on some points in their trade. It is clear that those who think 
with me that it is a risk “ to put all their eggs into one basket ” would 
find a list of the trustworthy Apples, with the comparative dates about 
which they come into blossom, a most useful addition to their note-book 
for the year. 
An orchard planted half-and-half with early and late blossomers 
would be more likely than a haphazard collection of varieties to ensure to 
its owner a good annual half-crop (and this is as much as we want), owing 
to the certainty in favour of its escaping in part the season of cold spring 
wind and the trying effect of morning frosts on wet bloom at setting 
time. a 
With this view I have secured the help of a friend in Kent, and if any 
of your readers will forward to me any notes made during this season I 
shall have great pleasure in making known, with your co-operation, the 
results of our inquiry. I am also anxious to know whether the kind of 
stock used, Crab or otherwise, has any effect on the period of blossom. 
There is not time now to dwell upon such other points as the great 
absence of practical instruction in the art of pruning, and the absolute 
necessity of wholesale destruction of the insects which are injurious to 
fruit; but if all growers would at once take example from neighbours who 
have set their orchards in order, and comply with the recommendations of 
Miss Ormerod, the energetic entomologist, who i3 now attached to the 
Royal Agricultural Society, depend upon it one year would show a marked 
advance in the history of the Apple in Herefordshire. These objects 
might be worthily taken up by our county Agricultural Society.— John 
H. Arkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster. 
THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS. 
I have been wondering of late what that critical individual the 
“ intelligent foreigner ” must think of us, and am half inclined to fancy 
he must be disposed to modify his opinions on the proverbially cold and 
impassive nature of the British mind, and that after all we can be roused 
into something like enthusiasm by—Orchids. There have been public 
shows and private shows of them, a conference, and a dmner over them, 
with page after page crowded and paper after paper filled with them, 
until those usually stoical individuals, editors, have been impelled to very 
nearly apologise for devoting so much space to the now fashionable 
flowers. When it comes to that it may be taken for granted that almost 
enough fuss has been made at once, and that a change would not be 
amiss ; while it is certain that some of the good old-fashioned Cabbage 
growers are of the same opinion. 
Orchids appear to have been discussed lately from almost every point 
of view but one, and on this point I am thinking (Editor permitting) of 
having a “ cut in.” There is a great deal that is fascinating about these 
wonderful flowers, and it is easy enough for persons who have the means 
of producmg them, and who do produce them splendidly, to say in effect 
they can be “ grown anyhow”—only buy a few lots of imported “ stuff ” 
cheap, and a gorgeous display will be certain, and some priceless gem 
possible. When this teaching is applied generally, and beyond the 
“ school ” of orchidists, I am very far from thinking it safe, sound, and 
practical. 
I know, from no small experience, that this imported “ stuff ” is not 
a mine of wealth to numbers of persons who are induced to speculate in 
it, and that the half-dead “ pieces ” cannot be established by anybody, 
anyhow, and anywhere. They can only be reared by persons who under¬ 
stand them, and who have proper structures for their accommodation ; 
and I wish to make it known in the interests of those purchasers of plants 
who desire to have a satisfactory return for their outlay, and those 
gardeners who have to produce this return as soon as possible in the 
form of an imposing display of flowers, that the most certain, and in the 
end the most economical, method is to purchase a dozen or two thrifty 
established plants from a nurseryman instead of expending the sum they 
cost in as many hundred out of a “ consignment ” at an auction 
sale. 
A tear ago a gentleman was smitten with Orchids, and was induced 
to spend £100 in a few “lots.” He had no special structures for them, 
but as good a gardener, taking him all round, as is to be met with in a 
long journey; but he could not raise those plants, because it was not 
possible to do so at that time and place, and, as may be expected, 
neither master nor man is satisfied. The purchase, under the circum¬ 
stances, was a mistake and a costly one. Had the same amount been 
invested in suitable plants in a good growing state from a nursery, they 
might have been grown in the vineries, and there would have been no 
lack of the coveted flowers now, instead of none, while the residue of 
the consignment is not worth a quarter the sum that was paid for the 
plants, saying nothing about the time that has been spent in trying to 
save them, and the anxiety endured in watching them die. This is all 
I will say at present on this subject, and if anyone is desirous of oppos¬ 
ing my views on this particular aspect of Orchid culture, he is ait 
liberty to do so, and hi3 remarks shall have my respectful consideration. 
I have now to turn to a paragraph in which Mr. Budaey asks me to 
rethink the matter over about hot-water pipes failing—that is, bursting 
when they are not used. If your correspondent will be good enough to 
read “valves” failing instead of pipes, there will not, I think, be so 
much difference between us. I either said, or intended to say, that valves 
fail because they are left so long unworked. I have had the best proof of 
this, and I am convinced there are hundreds of valves in h >t-water pipes 
at this moment that are inoperative, if put to the test, from no other 
reason that as they have not been wanted they have been forgotten ; but 
the time may come when they would serve an important purpose, if in 
order ; and to keep them in order, they should, like everything else, be 
worked occasionally. If Messrs. Foster & Pearson have done no more 
than direct attention to that simple matter they have done good. 
Mr. Bardney points out that pipes left full of water in winter and 
not worked may be burst by frost. This is true, an i a few years ago I 
saw a never-to-be-forgotten example of it, and it was a little curious that 
the gardener, who is a great man in his way, asserted the injury was done 
by the expansion of the water when the ice melted, as heat expanded, 
while cold contracted everything. In this, however, there was a slight 
flaw in his philosophy. Unused water pipes should be emptied in winter 
where they are in positions to which severe frost has access, but unused 
boilers and pipes are best left full of water in summer to prevent the 
oxidation of their surfaces; at least that is what I think about the matter, 
but am open to correction as usual. 
