260 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 25, 1884. 
and that finished in a high one is decided as regards flavour, in the latter 
case the flavour being much better. 
Garden Potatoes .—What advantage is there in growing so many 
varieties of these in gardens ? I know of none. I do not think that 
any Potato is so generally suitable for gardens as Myatt’s Kidney. It is 
a good cropper, of excellent flavour, and with proper treatment it is 
perhaps as early as any. It is, moreover, a variety that can be eaten till 
field crops are ready, and later if desired, and if a few are wanted to 
show it can be turned cut in pretty good form fir that purpose. Has 
not the time arrived for judges to recognise the table qualities of 
Potatoes? We have gained absolutely nothing in respect of flavour 
with all the new sorts which have been so freely thrown into the market 
during the past few years. 
Changing Seed .—I am not convinced that “ Thinker” is correct with 
regard to a change of seed being of no advantage. I can tell by the 
growth which is bought seed and which is our own. The former is 
always stronger and healthier, and the crop better. I fully recognise 
the necessity of having every set strongly started before planting, and to 
defer planting until the season is so far advanced as to justify the ex¬ 
pectation of genial weather. Potatoes to do well should be grown from 
first to last w'ilhout a check. 
A.s.sisting Vegetahles .—Just at this time it is possible, by a little 
judicious help, to make a difference on the right side on vegetable- 
growing for winter and early spring use. Weak plants neither winter 
so well nor are of so much use as robust plants. There are two ways of 
rendering help. The one is to spread a thin coating of fresh horse 
dropping amongst any backward crops—a barrowload will go a long way 
if judiciously applied. The other way is to give a very slight dressing 
of sul[ihate of ammonia, three-quarters of a cwt. to the acre is amply 
sufficient now. Neither of these dressings, if applied as directed, will 
cause a growth w'hich cold weather will hurt, while they will quicken 
growth at a very critical period. Leeks, Onions, Spinach, Lettuces, late 
Turnips, and Greens for spring are the crops likely to receive benefit. 
I have even found Broccoli vety much helped when in a backward state 
at this date.—B. 
IMPOETED EENDEOBIUMS. 
Perhaps of all the Orchids in cultivation few are imported 
and established more successfully than the above; and taking 
the Dendrobiums collectively I ques ion if any others will so 
readily adapt themselves to the various conditions under which 
they are placed on their an ival in ihis country, or more liberally 
repay by their profuse and gorgeous inflorescence any extra 
attention to their cultural requirements. Although there are 
about 300 known species and varieties of Dendrobiums, yet there 
are but a little over a hundred in cultivation in this country, and 
about one-half of these may be said to be of botanical interest 
only, thus leaving some fifty or sixty species and varieties worthy 
of general cultivation on account of their showy flowers only. 
It has been my duty at tw'o different periods of my career to 
deal with the establishment of large importations of Orchids 
from different parts of the globe, and I have frequently had the 
privilege of inspecting the private department of the most noted 
metropolitan nursery; but I have never had nor seen more 
complete success in the establishment of imported Orchids— 
Dendrobiums in particular—than is attained by Mr. Walker, 
gardener to B. P. Eroomhead, Esq., Broomhall Park, Sheffield. 
Whether they be Vandas, Aerides, Saccolabiums, Cattleyas, 
Ladias, Thunias, Oncidiuins, Odontoglossums, Ooelogynes, Pa- 
phinias, Scuticarias, Chysis, or Dendrobiums, everything appears 
to grow as if by magic. Pay Mr. Walker a visit in the month 
of April, and you find a large batch of Dendrobium Wardianum 
and various species of Vanda and Saccolabiums just received 
from Rangoon all dried and shrivelled; the Dendrobes just 
started into growth, perhaps, and the young growths quite 
bleached by the darkness of the box, and the strongest pseudo¬ 
bulbs not more than 12 to 15 inches in length and IJ in circum¬ 
ference. Visit him again at the end of August or beginning of 
September, and you find stout aerial roots of Saccolabiums, 
Vandas, and Aerides wandering in all directions; those that are 
nearest to the front wall clinging to the same and extending 
more than a foot in length, as though they thoroughly enjoy the 
brickwork. In another and cooler house is seen about a hundred 
plants of Dendrobium Wardianum on the front shelf in 48-size 
pots, and so robust in appearance as to render it almost incredible 
that they can be ihe same plants seen in April. Fi-om the com¬ 
paratively weak imported pseudo-bulbs have sprung, under Mr. 
Walker’s fostering care, stout pseudo-bulbs from 2 to 3 feet in 
length and of proportionate strength, with foliage broad and 
leathery. Adjoining the D. Wardianums are some extra strong 
plants of D. primulinum with growths 2 feet long and nearly as 
thick as an ordinary ruler. Close to these are sevei'al plants of 
D. heterocarpum var. philippinense equally as vigorous. On the 
back stage are several beautiful specimens of D. thyrsitlorum 
and D. densiflorum without a blemish, and, if my memory fails 
me not, gi-own during the past three seasons from imported 
pieces. At the back is a magnificent example of D. Dalhousi- 
anum with pseudo-bulbs 6 feet long. This year they have broke 
double, and promise to finish fine growdhs. Next to this is a 
good plant of the brilliantly coloured D. Paxtoni. This species 
in my opinion is not surpassed in the richness of its colour by 
any other Dendrobium in cultivation, and when laden with from 
twenty to thirty panicles of its semi-transparent rich yellow 
and crimson-lipped f owers it is a sight to win the admiration 
of everyone. Dendrobium Devonianum is a highly creditable 
example of cultural skill, with pseudo-bulbs 3 feet 6 inches long 
and 1 ^ inch in circumference. This lovely Dendrobe should be 
in every collection of Orchids however small. Close by is a 
capital piece of D. Wardianum with growths nearly 5 feet in 
length and strong in proportion. It is questionable if there are 
any finer growths than these in the kingdom. 
In other houses are as creditable examples of D. dixanthum, 
D. B ensonia?, D. chrysanthum, D. pulchellum, D. Dearei, D. Fal¬ 
coner!, D. Parish!, &c., all established from imported pieces, 
and giving unmistakeable evidence of the success that may be 
achieved even by those who are comparatively inexperienced in 
the cultivation of these choice exotics provided they are treated 
in a common-sense way. Nor are elaboi’ately and expensively 
constructed houses a necessity; indeed I know several instances 
where such structures proved Orchid-killing instead of Orchid¬ 
growing. Therefore I say to amateurs (for whose benefit these 
notes are wu-itten), Do not be afraid to attempt to grow Den¬ 
drobiums, or any other Orchids, if you possess two structures 
in W’hich you can stand upright, and command in one a mean 
annual temperature of 55"" and in the other an annual mean of 
45°, with facilities of maintaining a fairly moist and buoyant 
atmosphere and of giving shade at will. Given the possession 
of those few simple elements of cultivation, combined with a love 
for the subject and steady application, STiccess will be certain. 
As soon as the imported plants are received they should be 
carefully sorted and each kind placed by itself, decaying and 
decayed pseudo-bulbs and roots being cut off with a sharp knife, 
all sound portions of both pseudo-bulbs and roots being retained. 
They should then be carefully washed all over, removing all 
decayed vegetable matter from amongst the roots, and keeping 
a shaiqr look-out for and removing all insects that may be upon 
them. As I am writing of Dendrobes in particular, most of the 
pieces may then be placed in as small pots as possible, using 
clean pots and crocks; the former should be about three parts 
filled with the latter, using a layer of sphagnum over all. The 
most important pioint is to keep the base of the pseudo-bulbs 
w’ell elevated above the rim of the p)ot from three-quarters of an 
inch to 3 or 4 inches according to the size of plants and pots 
used. The interstices between the roots and side of pot may 
advantageously be filled compactly with sphagnum and fibry 
peat, sticks should be placed firmly in the crocks to which the 
plants can be tied securely. The operation of potting being com¬ 
pleted, the Dendrobes should be placed in a position where they 
can have a genial temperature of from G0° to 70° (a higher tem¬ 
perature before new roots are formed is to be avoided). A mat 
or some other material may be ke t ov'er them for a few days 
whilst the plants become inured to the light, but as the pseudo¬ 
bulbs “ plump up ” and the young growths lose their bleached 
appearance the shading should be gradually dispensed with until 
it is only used to prevent scorching. 
A few of the dwarfest species would be better fixed on to 
blocks w’ith copper wire, and a little moss placed about their 
roots, but most of the other species I find to do the best when 
treated as described.—J. U. S. 
THE PAST EOSE SEASON. 
“A. F. M.” gave us some very pleasant thoughts on the past 
season, and as he asks opinions from others I will see how we agree. 
It has been often pointed out in your columns that it is as unfair to 
oneself as to the Rose to judge of its value from its behaviour in one 
season, or from its appearance in a stand. Roses have their years of 
super-excellent character, and many of them have also years when 
they appear almost worthless. Even we, the ladies and lords of 
creation, would not care to be judged on an occasion when, for 
instance, matters had not gone quite smoothly, and when we may 
have been greatly tried, and possibly been ] ut somewhat awry. So 
it is with the Roses, for as “ A. F. M.” remarks, even that queen, 
Marie Baumann, has not with him been “ always good alike.” 
Circumstances have utterly precluded my visiting any Rose 
exhibition this year, and therefore my remarks are penned wholly 
from watching my own plants. With me Marie Baumann has not 
been the conspicuous failure of which he writes ; she has held her 
own, although possibly not quite equal to some years, yet, take her 
for all in all, no other H.P. has equalled her. My greatest successes 
