JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
10 
[ January 6, 1881. 
present day with the standard of excellence of twenty years ago, 
and note the rapid stride made in form, symmetry, size, and rich¬ 
ness of colouring. Nor can it be said that we have attained the 
limit of improvement, for every year new and improved varieties 
are introduced by enthusiasts, showing how great is the field in 
which florists labour. 
Auriculas. —These are not attractive now, except so far as 
regards prominent hearts and stout clean foliage, which the florist 
always admires. To keep the plants in the best condition remove 
the lights from the frames on ail mild and favourable occasions ; 
but if frost sets in with any severity cover the glass every evening 
with mats or other suitable covering. A frequent examination is 
necessary, removing all dead or decaying leaves, and care must 
be taken that the plants do not suffer from a superabundance of 
moisture. If the soil in the pots is very dry select a mild day for 
supplying water, which must be done carefully without wetting 
the foliage. If the soil in the pots is not wet, and at the same 
time the foliage of the plants is dry, a smart frost will not injure 
Auriculas. Employ protection, therefore, intelligently, and do 
not let it degenerate into “ coddling.” 
Carnations and Picotees. —The chief attractiveness cf the 
plants now consists in their cleanliness and health. The true florist 
sees beauty in his plants at all seasons when they are in satis¬ 
factory condition. He knows that to have beautiful flowers in 
July the plants must not be neglected in January. Slugs, worms, 
undisturbed decaying foliage, with a close and damp atmosphere, 
are their natural enemies, and must be guarded against assidu¬ 
ously. The same care in watering and ventilating is requisite as 
in the case of Auriculas in frames, and if the soil in the pots 
becomes close and there is the slightest signs of moss or weeds, 
an occasional stirring with a pointed stick, cleaning the plants at 
the same time, will be of great benefit. Plants in beds must also 
have attention ; mulching the surface of the soil with cocoa-nut 
fibre refuse prevents injury both by frost and slugs. For rich 
and poor, town and country, few flowers are more suitable than 
those under notice, and none better repay for the attentive care of 
the cultivator. 
Chrysanthemums. —Cuttings of these may during this month 
be inserted in numbers proportionate to the demand, or as the 
old stools may produce them. Some varieties start much more 
readily than others ; in fact, some of the Japanese varieties are 
very shy indeed in producing cuttings. The best means of in¬ 
creasing them is undoubtedly by the suckers that arise from the 
base of the plants. These may be taken off, and inserted either 
singly in small pots, or by placing several in the same pot and 
potting them off singly when rooted. If inserted now and placed 
in any structure where frost can be excluded they will strike 
readily. Those that are intended for specimen plants may be 
encouraged by a little warmth, so that the foundation of a plant 
may be laid as quickly as possible. 
Hyacinths and Tulips.— Either of these intended for exhi¬ 
bition about the middle or end of March next will require to be 
taken from under the covering of cocoa-nut fibre and coal ashes, 
where they have been placed during the past two months. Gra¬ 
dually inure them to the light. A good plan is to place a small 
pot over each crown for a few days, when they may be removed, 
the hole in the pot admitting light enough to gradually harden 
them. If the soil is dry w r ater may be given on removal. Place 
the plants in a position near the glass in a cool greenhouse, and 
they will be found to advance very steadily. If some of the 
varieties are required to bloom earlier they can be placed in a 
warmer house ; and if they are required late in the season—about 
April, they should at once be arranged in a cold north house or 
frame and retarded in their present stage, which will be found 
much easier than when the days are longer and the mean tem¬ 
perature higher. To keep them under covering in the dark after 
the second week in January would prove injurious. 
Roses. — Those in beds that have not been surfaced with 
manure should have that attention without further delay, as the 
manure not only protects the base of the plant from injury by 
frost but greatly benefits the roots. All vacancies should be filled 
as rapidly as possible, and all Decessary staking and relabelling 
be completed at once. Climbers on walls must be nailed in and 
regulated, and the soil renovated around their roots. 
Roses in Pots .—The first batch will be starting freely. Syringe 
them on all fine days to keep green fly in check. Prepare other 
plants by pruning and training to give a succession. Before 
pruning allow the plants to become moderately dry, then cut 
away all slender growths, and turn the points of the shoots towards 
the rim of the pots, and secure them in this position by means of 
string. This will check the rise of sap and make a dense dwarf- 
habited plant, instead of allowing two or three breaks to develope 
from the top to the detriment of the lower part of the plants. 
Introduce them gradually to about G0° of heat. Plants of Mare- 
chal Niel in cold houses are commencing growing, and may be 
regulated and the ravages of green fly guarded against.—A 
Florist. 
HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 
In taking a retrospective view of the flower shows in the past 
season it must be generally acknowledged that the gardeners of 
this country deserve great praise and encouragement for the skill 
and energy displayed in the high quality of their productions in 
fruit, flowers, and decorative plants. These have called forth the 
admiration of large numbers of visitors, and those who have not 
seen them have read with pleasure the published reports. I have 
no doubt many persons visiting those shows and hearing that 
prizes are offered in various classes believe those prizes to be 
of great value, highly compensating the exhibitors, and that 
growing plants for the shows is very remunerative. Now, if 
those who derive so much pleasure from a visit to such exhibitions 
were properly informed on the subject their generosity would, I 
think, be awakened, and they would unite in subscribing to give 
prizes that would fairly compensate the competitors, and would 
render the already beautiful displays still more admirable ; in¬ 
deed this is a subject of such national importance that it has a 
claim upon the public purse, for no money can be better expended 
than in encouraging a love for flowers. Many of the general 
public will, however, be surprised to hear, that though so much 
trouble and expense are necessitated in producing these excellent 
examples of cultivation, even growers who are fortunate in 
obtaining a prize often receive less money value than the expense 
of the carriage of the plants to the exhibition, and those who do 
not secure a prize are great losers. No well-thinking person can 
desire such a state of things as this, therefore all who have a love 
for the beautiful should subscribe freely to encourage local as well 
as metropolitan flower shows. 
Enormous sums are subscribed for competitions, which have a 
baneful effect upon the community, and yet that which is most 
beneficial receives comparatively meagre support. It would at 
least be only just that all persons who bring plants and are not 
fortunate in obtaining a prize should be reimbursed their expenses. 
This would encourage many more to compete and add to the 
attractions of the show, and it will be generally found that the 
visitors will average in proportion to the attraction.—R. C. 
LiELIAS IN WINTER. 
The genus Laslia comprises numerous species and varieties, 
all possessing considerable attractions and usually occupying an 
important position where either large or small collections of 
Orchids are grown. The delicacy or intense richness of the 
colours that distinguish the flowers, their elegant forms, and the 
very slight difficulty attending the culture of the majority of the 
species, render Laelias general favourites. Further valuable 
characters and recommendations are derived from the diverse 
seasons at which they bloom, for with the exception of a few 
months a supply of bright flowers is maintained throughout the 
year. Summer, autumn, and winter have each their character¬ 
istic species, all handsome and well meriting attention, but, as was 
remarked of the Zygopetalums last week, those that flower at the 
present time seem especially attractive, and a few observations 
concerning their respective qualities will be seasonable. 
Laelias are epiphytal Orchids confined to the American con¬ 
tinent, and chiefly abounding in Brazil and Mexico. They are 
very nearly allied to Cattleyas, and to casual observation they are 
not distinguishable, however botanists have deemed the possession 
of eight pollen masses sufficient to separate them as a genus from 
Cattleyas, which have only four. In habit, form of the flowers, 
colours, and beauty the two genera approach each other closely. 
Although the subjects of these remarks are all epiphytal in habit, 
yet several are cultivated in pots, the species of strongest growth 
being best suited for that mode of culture, the others requiring 
blocks. As regards temperature the majority need similar treat¬ 
ment to Cattleyas, but several, especially the Mexican forms, 
thrive best in a cooler house. For those grown in pots the usual 
compost of peat, sphagnum, and charcoal is suited, the drainage 
being abundant, and the supply of water liberal during the growth 
of the plants. These remarks are applicable to the whole genus, 
but especially to the winter-flowering Laelias, of which the most 
remarkable are briefly described in the following notes. 
Lcelia anceps .—A Mexican species of great beauty, that flowers 
during the dull season, and remains in good condition for a con¬ 
siderable time. It is extremely variable in colours and form of 
the flowers, but in the type these have broader petals than sepals, 
