June 26, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
507 
lished it will attain a height of from 12 to 20 inches, and sup¬ 
porting one to three of its handsome flowers. The predominant 
colour of the lip is clear yellow, while that of the sepals and 
petals is of a brownish purple. It prefers under cultivation an 
aspect similar to that under which it is usually found in a wild 
state—viz., an eastern one, and should be planted in deep rich 
loam of a fibrous nature in perfectly drained positions. If a 
rockery is available, choose a fissure somewhat shaded, and 
mingle in planting some nuggets of calcareous limestone. The 
plant is found abundantly throughout continental Europe, and 
may readily be obtained from hardy plant nurseries. It is, in 
short, one of those charming hardy garden gems which can be 
cheaply bought. Thus there is nothing to prevent its admission 
into all gardens. 
_ 0. spectabile (the Noble Lady’s Slipper).—This species may 
fairly claim precedence over all others. While not forgetting 
such choice kinds as 0. macranthum and others, 1 give the palm 
to 0. spectabile, since it lends itself so readily to forcing in 
pots for indoor decoration, and at the same time is so hardy. 
In its native home it inhabits meadows and peaty bogs, and is 
readily distinguished from all other members of this family by 
its bold slipper-like and much-inflated labellum, which varies in 
colour from delicate rose to rich rosy purple, the sepals and 
petals being white. When thoroughly established it attains a 
height of 20 inches, well furnished with broad handsome leaves, 
terminating with one or more of its lovely flowers. Two-flowered 
scapes of this plant are frequently occurring, which is in itself a 
guarantee of great strength, together with its cultural conditions 
favouring its well-being. The best soil in which to grow this is 
a deep bed of rich spongy peat kept continually moist, though 
well-drained, since all the species are most impatient of 
stagnation. A somewhat shaded position will suit it well, and 
a liberal dressing annually of decomposed vegetable matter will 
materially assist in strengthening the plants. This species has 
of late yeai’s been sent over from its North American habitat in 
gi’eat numbers, and no difficulty should be experienced m obtain¬ 
ing strong and fresh roots. This is of great importance, for if 
the roots are withered and dry, then the chances favour its 
complete failure; nay, more, its ultimate death. The three 
species above named are the most distinct of the genus, and 
the easiest to manage, all flowering during June and July, 
allowing, of course, a slight margin either way for our variable 
seasons.—J. H. E. 
HORN DUST. 
I do not recollect mention ever having been made in any of 
the horticultural papers of horn dust as a fertilising agent. 
Reference is frequently made to those preparations that we are 
accustomed to call artificial manures, and many of the special 
fertilisers now before the public are of undoubted value and 
benefit in growing plants and garden crops generally. Has horn 
dust fallen into disuse, or is its fertilising value only local ? 
From my earliest recollections of gardening operations it has 
been in use for almost all kinds of crops. In the neighbourhood 
of Sheffield it is regularly used by farmers, gardeners, and 
nurserymen, who no doubt benefit by its application, or they 
would not continue to use it. On a small scale I have used it for 
vegetables and flowering plants, and they are always improved 
by its judicious application. 
It is best dug into the ground in autumn and winter, or 
providing the sea,son is wet, in early spring; it is of too dry a 
nature to be applied during the hotter portions of the year. 
Strong loam for potting purposes is improved if it is sprinkled 
on the turves when stacking them up, time being allowed for its 
decay. It makes a good dressing for Gooseberry and Currant 
bushes, spread on the soil in autumn and forked in a few inches 
deep. 
I should like to know the experience and opinion' of both 
professional and amateur gardeners who have used it as a 
manure. If the Editor would kindly insert any report on this 
subject, the information thus obtained would be instnxctive to 
the readers of the Journal.—J. H. S. 
\ 
Rose A. K. Williams. —You are likely to have numerous communica¬ 
tions disproving the inference of “Y. B. A. Z ,” page 467, as to the 
supposed “ weak constitution ” and want of “stamina” in this glorious 
Rose, so I will only ask space for a few lines from the Emerald Isle, as a 
devout worshipper of this empress among so many Rose queens. Your 
correspondent gives us no hint as to the soil, situation, treatment, or even 
the locality from which he writes, all of which might be of importance 
in coming to a conclusion. In fact, there is nothing so variable as 
the success even neighbours have with the same Rose. I am quite 
prepared any day to lift my hat to Marie Baumann, but last year she did 
not give me the chance ; but I afterwards found it was not so much her 
fault, and this year ’tis different. What would your correspondent think 
of preparing richly a border by a southern wall for the above twin 
favourite ? I will guarantee, except very different from me, vigorous 
growth and plenty of blooms.— W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
THE CUCUMBER DISEASE. 
Allow me to point out that the details of washing, disinfecting, &c., 
described by Mr. Harding on page 481, may possibly have had nothing to 
do with getting rid of the Cucumber disease, because similar plans have 
been tried repeatedly and have invariably failed. The disease in his case, 
and all others where it has been conquered, has been stamped out by 
leaving nothing for it to exist on. Any of your readers troubled with 
this pest, who will banish all Cucurbits from their premises for four 
months, as he did, and start again with a healthy stock, will without doubt 
get rid of the disease, and that is decidedly the best and cheapest way of 
doing it. This applies only to the gumming disease, of the root disease I 
have had no experience—W m. Taylor. 
A NEW INSECTICIDE—LEMON OIL. 
“ Still they come ! ” may be the ejaculation of someone on reading 
thfc heading. Insecticides will soon be as prolific in novelties as garden 
lists are in new Peas. What do we want a new insecticide for ? “ Well, 
have we not Fir tree oil, an excellent preparation, and cannot we use 
paraffin mixed with an alkali like soap, and also fall back on hot water 
softened with soap as a cheap and generally efficient means of cleaning 
plants from dirt accumulation and insect pests ? ” Still I imagine we 
have room for another good preparation, and that I imagine will be 
found in one that was kindly sent to me to try two months ago by Mr. 
R. Campbell, Oakmore Hall, Northwich. Mr. Campbell has named his 
mixture “ Lemon oil,” and we must give him credit for an acquaintance 
with the constituent parts of his own insecticide ; but I should be inclined 
to believe that the “lemon” bears much the same relation to the killing 
ingredient therein contained that the too seductive jam does to the 
medicine, in which the latter is presented to youthful dyspeptics. Lemon 
oil certainly smells of Lemon, but there the likeness ends. 
I have been experimenting with it for two months, the last experi¬ 
ment being to put to rout a horde of ants which too hastily assumed 
that a crop of Peaches had been furnished for their own particular delecta¬ 
tion. I must confess to have been repeatedly beaten by these wise and 
indefatigable insects, who, no doubt, have increased in wisdom and the 
world’s ways since the days when King Solomon lifted them out of 
obscurity. I am certain, however, that none of them, not even their 
greatest living philosophers, know anything about Lemon oil. The main 
branches of the trees were merely rubbed with a solution of the oil, and 
the ants have one and all retired ; whether to debate on what this wonder¬ 
ful substance can be, and to form some means of overcoming their dis¬ 
like to it, or whether they have taking a “ scunner ” at Peaches, I cannot 
certainly say, but I think hardly for the latter reason. Before the episode 
with ants the complete efficacy of the Lemon oil as a destroyer of bug, 
scale, green fly, &c., and as a means of cleaning plants had been established, 
1 can only hope that Mr. Campbell will see his way to put such a desir¬ 
able insecticide in the hands of the public.—R. P. Brotherston. 
FANCY PANSIES. 
I herewith enclose a gathering of Fancy Pansies, and wish I could 
induce you to say a word or two in their favour. The blooms enclosed 
are a fair sample of the flowers obtained from a packet of seed procured 
last July from Messrs. Paul of Paisley, which was sown as soon as 
obtained, and the seedlings transplanted in the beds at the end of 
September. For the last three months or very nearly so the plants have 
been a mass of bloom. Many of the flowers were much larger and 
brighter in colour than those sent which, owing to the heat and drought 
we have had, are now past their best, and the plants must shortly make 
room for the summer bedders. I do not know of any flowers which for 
the same amount of cash and trouble will repay so well as these. If you 
think this note worth a place in our dear old Journal it may be the 
means of inducing others to grow these beautiful flowers, which is what 
I wish, for watching and comparing them has been a great pleasure to 
me.—W. Wallace, Yardley. 
[We can say a very good word in the favour of the flowers sent. We 
never saw finer from a packet of seed, and the plants have been admirably 
grown.] 
HALF-HARDY BULBS. 
It is strange that these beautiful plants are so much neglected in these 
days. It cannot be that their beauty is not appreciated, for when well 
grown they are invariably admired. Is it because their culture is not 
understood ? This seems to be the most probable reason, and even their 
would-be friends are not adopting the best means of rendering them more 
popular or their culture more satisfactory. Some time ago I read para¬ 
graphs in the gardening papers speaking in most laudatory terms of a bulb 
border that was to be established at Kew, and when on a visit to the 
Health Exhibition last Thursday I found time to run down chiefly with 
the object of seeing this border. ‘ My journey was, however, a disappointing 
one, for except a clump or two of Gladiolus byzantinus there was nothing 
