January 12, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
29 
two forms of M. cardinalis. I did not test the hardiness of M. 
Crimson King by leaving it out in the winter of 1880, but I find 
the other varieties of M. cardinalis quite hardy against cold, 
though not against drought, 
I find in plate 77 of Mrs, Loudon’s “ Hardy Perennials,” pub¬ 
lished about the year 1845, good coloured figures of M. Maclay- 
anus (said by Mrs. Loudon to have been raised in Ireland), M. 
roseus, and M. cardinalis. Mrs. Loudon says that M. roseus is 
much used for hybridising M. luteus, but for all that it does not 
seem to be a common plant.—C. W. Dod. 
A GOOD OLD MOUSETRAP. 
About fourteen years ago a correspondent described in the 
Journal a very effective mousetrap. I have had this trap in use 
for thirteen years, and found it a gardener’s friend, but I have 
never seen it employed in any garden I have visited. When I 
had charge of the gardens at Penllergare 1 had many of the traps 
in use; with one of them forty mice were caught during the 
winter months. The trap was set near beds where bulbs and 
herbaceous plants were planted. I have taken nine mice in one 
night with one trap. When sowing early Peas I always place the 
traps between the rows and dust the rows of Peas with soot, and 
in a short time the mice are all trapped. The trap is also very 
useful to nurserymen who sow large quantities of Holly berries, 
haws, and other hardy seeds which mice destroy. I will now 
describe the trap for the benefit of any of your numerous readers 
who may not have seen it. Take 
a 10-inch flower pot, inside measure, 
and puddle it with clay so as to 
make it watertight, then well grease 
the inside of the pot to prevent the 
mice climbing up the side. Plunge 
the pot into the ground up to the 
rim where you wish to set it, fill it 
nearly half full of water, then take 
two flat pieces of deal about 8 inches 
long and burn a hole near the top 
of each ; garden labels will do. 
Stick them into the earth, one at 
each side of the pot, then take a 
piece of deal long enough to go into 
each hole of the tallies, making both 
ends round, the centre being half an inch or more square. Burn 
two holes through the cross stick at the centre, one at the top and 
the other through the side, and put a thin deal stick through each, 
and at the end of each stick fasten a piece of raw bacon for a bait; 
the trap is then set. As soon as one mouse is caught the trap is 
ready set for another, for, as they try to reach the bait, the cross 
piece—the axle—revolves and the mice are toppled into the water. 
The accompanying figure will make the matter clear. The prin¬ 
cipal cross piece must work freely, the sticks containing the 
baits beiDg firmly fixed in position.— John Nunns, Wimbledon 
Common. 
ORCHIDS IN JANUARY. 
DURING this month the temperatures of the houses should be 
kept the same as last. Water should be only given sparingly to 
those Orchids which are starting in order to prevent shrivelling. 
Plants that are growing should be encouraged, any old material 
being removed and a little fresh compost added. 
Amongst those in bloom the following are the most prominent. 
Ada aurantiaca is in different stages, its deep yellow flowers 
remaining a long time in perfection. There appears to be two 
varieties of this plant, one of which opens its flowers more than 
the other, showing the black markings on the column, and is a 
fine addition to the cool house. Ansellia africana is producing its 
numerous large fragrant flowers, which are of a greenish yellow 
colour transversed with chocolate, and with a purple-rayed yellow 
lip. Brassavola glauca, a very curious Orchid seldom seen in 
flower, is at present producing its large flowers with a beautifully 
fringed lip. This plant does well in the Cattleya house suspended 
from the roof. 
Cattleya chocoensis with its large bell-shaped flowers is now 
flowering well. The sepals and petals are broad and of a rosy 
white colour, the lip being slightly blotched with purple. C. 
maxima is a grand species in bloom now, producing from three to 
five large flowers on a spike. The sepals and petals are of a rosy 
colour with a richly crimson-veined lip, some of the varieties 
being lighter in colour than others. This Cattleya has been ill 
treated by many, who grow it in too much heat. Being a Colum¬ 
bian species, it should be grown in the warm end of the cool 
house in a light position. C. Triame and its varieties, ranging 
from pure white to deep rosy purple, are making a fine display in 
the Cattleya house. Cattleya Warscewiczii aud C. W. delicata 
are also in bloom, and appear to be larger forms of C. Triana?, 
and are as free as that species. They last a long time in flower, 
and are therefore invaluable plants for the winter months. 
Coelogyne cristata is now advanced, and should be at once 
removed into warmer quarters before the buds issue from the 
scape, as they are liable to damp off if left in the cool house. 
This, being a most useful plant for cutting purposes and flowering 
in a small state, should be grown by everyone. 
Cypripedium concolor is a veiy pretty small-growing plant 
with its lovely variegated leaves, and is now producing its buff- 
coloured crimson-spotted flowers three to four on a spike. C. vil- 
losum appears to bloom at different periods of the year, and in 
many cases is in flower now, and will be in bloom also in May, 
The flowers are light brown in colour, the dorsal sepal being darker 
and edged with green, the whole shining as if varnished. 
Dendrobium moniliforme—this evergreen Orchid, resembling 
D. nobile, is bearing its rosy lilac white-lipped flowers. It is a 
very attractive plant, and is by no means plentiful. It requires 
the same treatment as nobile. Leptotes bicolor is a small-growing 
Orchid with Rush-like leaves and pretty white and purple flowers. 
This does not require much room, and thrives best on a block of 
Tree Fern in the intermediate house. Phajus maculatus, a very 
curious plant with its dark green leaves with yellow spots and a 
profusion of large yellow flowers, is now in fine condition, as also 
is Phajus grandiflora, producing its long thick spikes from the 
new growths, bearing many brown and white flowers, and is a 
very pretty variety for this time of the year. 
Pilumna fragrans is a deliciously fragrant Orchid and extremely 
useful for cutting purposes. It produces from three to four flowers 
on a spike. The sepals and petals are greenish white, the lip 
being pure white with a yellow throat. It succeeds in the cool 
house. Sophronites cernua, a very free-growing epiphyte, pro¬ 
duces short, slender, erect spikes bearing from two to three small 
vermilion flowers with a small yellow-marked lip. Sophronites 
grandiflora is making a brilliant display among the Odontoglos- 
sums with its bright scarlet flowers. S. violacea is also in great 
beauty. Vanda suavis, tricolor, and varieties are now displaying 
their beauty. We do not see many of these in the various col¬ 
lections or exhibitions, which is the more remarkable, as they 
are of easy culture and very free-flowering plants. Zygopetalum 
crinitum is somewhat similar to Z. Mackayii, differing in its not 
being so robust a giower and the colour of the lip being darker. 
—Orchidist. 
CHRISTO WELL.* 
It is not often that horticulturists have to tender their thanks 
to an eminent writer of fiction, yet I think this is most fairly 
due to Mr. R. D. Blackmore, the well-known author of “ Lorna 
Doone,” “May Anerley,” “Alice Lorraine,” and other choice 
novels. There is always such a thoroughly English tone about 
all his writings. His scenes are all laid in one little island ; his 
knowledge of rural life aud the men and women who move therein 
is so thorough, and there is such a healthy, manly, and high- 
principled character about them, that they deserve very high 
praise. There is none of that glorifying of crime to be found in 
his books of which some lady writers I am told are fond (but I 
have never read one of their books) ; there is, moreover, such 
quaintness of expression, and when needed such biting sarcasm, 
that they add greatly to the charm of his works. His last book, 
“ Christowell,” is a delightful tale of Dartmoor ; but it is not the 
tale so much I would draw attention to as the way in which 
gardening is treated. We know how it is ordinarily alluded to in 
works of fiction ; we get fine descriptions of impossible gardening ; 
of flowers like the Azalea and Hollyhock blooming together, of 
colours which are never seen, and fruits which no skill of a 
Thompson or an Ingram could get to fruit at the same time, but 
which, by a stroke of the pen more powerful than the electric 
light, they are made to do. But then Mr. Blackmore is a gardener. 
He is a thoroughly skilful fruit-grower ; and when he describes 
the tender care with which Captain Lachs handles his fruit trees, 
we can see that he is speaking of what he himself has often done 
in the delightful description he gives of his greenhouse, &c. Here 
is what he says of a flower so few know anything about, but 
which Mr. Blackmore evidently loves. After describing his green¬ 
house, &c., he adds, “ But best and dearest of all to him, and set 
in a separate nook as in a flagged bureau with lifting glass, that 
exquisite flower of exclusive worship, that gorgeous instance of 
* “ Christowell, a Dartmoor Tale.” By R. D. Blackmore. Three vols. Samp¬ 
son, Low, & Co. 
