JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
534 
[ December 15, 1881. 
We have heard of Leeks with blanched stems about a couple 
of feet in length, but have never seen such, except those we 
have wasted time oa. Among most strains “ whip-tails," as 
they are called, appear, the chief characteristics cf which are 
extraordinary length, and leanness of stems and leaves alike. 
To an ordinary observer these look as if going to run for seed, 
but really do not. Believing we could make something of 
these we seeded some, and by deep planting and earthing-up 
the stems which naturally shot up we have had blanched stems 
over 20 inches, but very thin and whip-handle-like. We pre¬ 
sume those we have heard of must have been similar, for we 
have never seen them exhibited. The best we ever grew or 
have ever seen were about a foot in the blanch or a little over. 
Stout solidity is to be preferred to dangling weakness, although 
it sounds well to say that Leeks with 2-feet-blanched stems have 
been produced. 
Do not plant the Leeks among the Celery, and do not plant 
them in trenches like Celery. Earthing them up is a mistake ; 
nobody ever produced good Leeks in that way. Again and 
again we have been shown Leeks grown on the Celery-trench 
principle, but they were not satisfactory. The secret lies in 
obtaining strong plants, put out deeply on well-prepared soil, 
at a time when ordinary growers are watching theirs coming up. 
For ordinary crops there is no better way of planting than the 
old-fashioned one of making holes with a dibble a few inches 
deep (that is down to the layer of manure under the upper 
spade of soil), and dropping the plants into them singly, but 
putting in no earth except that which falls in of itself. The 
hearts of the plants will be much below the surface ; but that 
is just what is wanted, for the hearts will come to the surface, 
and so the stems will be drawn out to the same length as the 
hole is deep. We need hardly add that the long blanched 
stem is most valued, but we warn beginners that the stems can 
only be lengthened by deep planting. When once the plants 
have grown strong earthing-up will not cause the stems to 
elongate. 
The plants in pots must be placed in holes dug with the 
spade. This digging loosens the soil, which would fall into 
the centres of the plants and spoil them, but this can be pre¬ 
vented by putting a stiff paper funnel round each plant. In a 
week or two the stems will be drawn so that the centres will 
be at the surface, when the funnel may be removed. 
Leeks raised in the ordinary way may be planted in rows 
14 inches apart, those on a hotbed 2 feet apart in the rows and 
one in the rows, pot plants 2 feet each way. A thick mulch¬ 
ing in hot summer weather is of great benefit, and when the 
soil is pretty w T ell filled with roots a thorough soaking of weak 
liquid manure will produce surprising growth. Nothing is 
better than diluted urine from stables or cowhouses, but sul¬ 
phate of ammonia is very good. 
The hardiest and most generally useful Leek is the Mussel¬ 
burgh, the largest is Ayton Castle. Most successful exhibitors 
at the larger Scotch shows, however, grow neither, but possess 
strains of their own, of which they are generally very jealous. 
The best way to secure a good strain is to pick the finest plants 
and save seed. Those who have never done so and will now 
begin will be considerably astonished at the results, for Leeks 
are about the worst-selected vegetables we have. In any 
ordinary half ounce of seed there are at least a score of dis¬ 
tinct varieties, and nine-tenths of these are inferior ; and yet 
the Leek comes wonderfully true. Carelessness alone is the 
cause of its apparent inconstanc} 7 . In selecting plants for seed 
only those of stout vigorous habit should be chosen, and if for 
exhibition “ Onion-headed ” varieties should be avoided, for 
although this Onion-head is really the best part of the Leek, it 
is objected to. 
In preparing the plants for exhibition they should be care¬ 
fully lifted with all the roots entire, one or two of the outer 
rinds being removed from the stem, for these are generally 
yellow, and dirt is almost always seen shining through. This 
spoils their appearance, and gives them an unsolid appearance 
besides. Closeness of texture, solidity, purity of white, straight¬ 
ness, uniform thickness, and length of blanched stem, are the 
points aimed at by those who engage in Leek-growing and 
exhibiting. 
Anyone who finds himself in spring with a number of Leeks 
running to seed need not conclude he is going to have a great 
loss. If the seed stems are pinched out the plants will form 
bulbs at the roots like Onions. These are by many preferred 
to either Leeks or Onions as a vegetable when stewed tender 
and served with roast meat.—A. II. H. 
ORCHIDS IN DECEMBER. 
The summer-like weather of last month makes us almost forget 
winter, but it must be remembered that in the course of this 
month we are usually subject to frosts which are often very severe 
and frequently of long duration, and that it is therefore necessary 
to be always on the alert. On no account must the firing be in¬ 
creased in the event of frost. The temperature should rather be 
kept low and the moisture mopped up, and the doors and all aper¬ 
tures be covered with mats, especially those with a northern 
aspect. The temperature should be the same as last month’s read¬ 
ings. It will be well now to inspect the surfaces of the pots, so 
as to remove moss from any new pseudo-bulbs or growths which 
may be too deeply imbedded. 
Of the winter-flowering Orchids the beautiful free-flowering 
Angrajcum eburneum is now in bloom. Its ivory-white flowers 
have a fragrance like that of the Poet's Narcissus, and remain in 
perfection for about five weeks. The flower spikes of this species 
are subject to the attack of yellow thrips, which soon disfigures 
the flowers. The best means of destroying it is to apply a weak 
solution of tobacco water along the stem, two applications being 
generally sufficient for the purpose. Angratcum pertusum is now 
in full beauty, producing its gracefully pendulous spikes, hearing 
numerous small white flowers. This plant should always be kept 
in the warm house with a moist atmosphere, and should never be 
allowed to be dry. Angra;cum sesquipedale is expanding its large 
ivory-white and long-spurred flowers, which have a Lily-like 
fragrance. It sometimes bears as many as four to seven blooms 
on one spike, and remains in perfection for several weeks. For¬ 
merly these plants were not supposed to flower until they had 
attained the height of from 3 to 4 feet, and being of slow growth 
they took some time before they reached these dimensions, con¬ 
sequently they were very expensive and beyond the reach of many 
Orchid lovers ; but, thanks to the many importations, we have 
now plants which produce from one to two spikes each when only 
10 to 12 inches high, and the prices have fallen considerably. 
Whether this is a different variety or not we cannot say, but 
the flowers are equally as good as those produced by the larger 
plants, and where space is a consideration these small plants are 
invaluable. 
Barkeria Skinneri, with beautiful dark rose-coloured flowers, 
twenty to thirty on long spikes, is in bloom ; also Barkeria Lind- 
leyana, with its long spike of rich purple flowers, with a white 
blotch in the centre of the lip. The Barkerias, the culture of which 
all have not quite mastered, seem generally to do well suspended 
on bare blocks near the glass in the cool house ; or another good 
way is to place the block in a pot, with charcoal and sandstone 
to steady it, where the plant delights to throw out its thick fleshy 
roots, requiring little or no peat or moss. They must have plenty 
of water when growing, and abundance of light and air. 
Ccelogyne barbata is not so well known as it should be. It pro¬ 
duces a strong irregular spike, bearing numerous flowers with 
white sepals and petals, and a dusky brown lip elegantly fringed. 
It requires to be grown in the cool house with plenty of water, 
but should now be removed to the intermediate house, and when 
it has flowered again returned to the cool house. Cymbidium 
Mastersi, with its almond-scented flowers, is in fine condition. 
This resembles C. eburneum, but the flowers are smaller and more 
numerous. It should always be grown in the Cattleya house. 
Cymbidium giganteum and C. Lowii are fine winter-blooming 
Orchids. Cymbidium eburneum is showing its spikes, which will 
soon bear from two to three flowers of ivory-like whiteness, and 
with a delicious odour. Careful attention should be paid to see 
that no water lodges in the axils of the leaves. Those not already 
showing or strong enough to flower should be kept in a somewhat 
dry state, just sufficient water being given to keep them plump, 
their growing season being from April to December. 
Dendrobium nobile—This floriferous species and its varieties 
have the buds starting, and should be gradually brought on. Den¬ 
drobium Wardianum (imported variety) will require the same 
treatment—that is, if showing its buds. Lfelia acuminata pedun- 
cularis is a beautiful epiphyte, producing from the top of the 
pseudo-bulbs a long spike bearing six to seven flowers of a rosy 
colour and with a dark purple centre to the lip. It should be 
grown on a block in the cool house, and requires the same treat¬ 
ment as L. alba and L. auturonalis, whietq with] L. anceps and 
