April 7, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
273 
fact, if selected from the base of the plants many of them will 
have roots when taken. Most of our cuttings are inserted at the 
beginning of September ; they are dibbled into prepared beds in 
brick frames.— R. P. Brotherston. 
LYCASTE SKINNERI. 
This very beautiful and useful Orchid is now well known and 
valued in most gardens where such plants are grown in moderate 
numbers. The size, substance, and delicate colouring of the 
flowers render them very attractive, and a few good specimens 
are of considerable utility in any collection. An excellent ex¬ 
ample of what careful culture will effect with this Orchid is 
shown in the specimen represented in the engraving (fig. G3). 
This plant was grown by Mr. J. R. Stirling, gardener to H. H. 
Vivian, Esq., Park Wern, Swansea, and has had a dozen flowers 
open at one time, all from the single fine pseudo-bulb shown in 
the cut. Some of the flowers were 7^ inches in diameter, and 
Fig. 63.—LTCASTE SKINNERI. 
the pseudo-bulb itself was 5 inches long and 6J inches in circum¬ 
ference. As such satisfactory results are not often obtained it 
may interest our readers to learn Mr. Stirling’s mode of treatment, 
which he thus briefly describes. 
“ I find that Lycaste Skinneri succeeds well in a compost of 
good fibrous peat, chopped sphagnum, and charcoal or potsherds 
broken small, with a little silver sand added, never allowing the 
compost to become very dry during winter, and giving the plant 
very liberal supplies of water during the growing season, which 
is now commencing. We grow our plants in the coldest end 
of a succession Pine pit, a situation which seems to suit them 
admirably. I think too much cannot be said in favour of this 
lovely Orchid on account of its rich colouring, comparatively 
easy culture, and adaptability for decorative purposes. The 
plant in question has been flowering for the last month, and is 
now placed in the house, where it will probably remain in bloom 
for a considerable time.” 
MARECHAL NIEL ROSE. 
As you invite particulars respecting Marechal Niel Rose it may 
interest you to know that I planted one in the greenhouse here 
between ten and eleven years ago. and under singularly unfavour¬ 
able circumstances. The root is inside the house under a plant 
bench between a pipe and a brick wall, and so near to the former 
that I have put a slate packed with moss between to prevent the 
stem being scorched. No preparation was made, the soil being 
a clayey loam. The Rose is budded on a 2 feet 6 inches Briar 
stock. The longest growth is 30 feet. It is trained like a Vine up 
one rafter, and then spreads right and left at the top. It is in 
