March 22,1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
241 
vars 
giving a list of some of the plants in the collection after the sale, 
an enumeration of those flowering in February will better show 
what can be done and is accomplished in three small houses by 
an accomplished amateur. The list now published has been 
obligingly sent by “A Northern Amateur” who has recently 
visited Dr. Paterson, and was most agreeably entertained at 
Fernfield, as all visitors are of kindred tastes with the genial 
owner. 
Oncnins m Bloom at Fernfield, Bridce of Allan, in February, 1883. 
Aerides Fielding! 
„ Leeanum 
,, roseum 
„ vandarum 
Angraecum citratum 
„ Ellisii 
„ sesquipedale 
Calanthe Veitchii 
Gattleya bulbosa 
„ Gaskelliana (showing fine 
spathe) 
„ Trianae (grand var. and fine 
plant) 
Chysis bractescens 
Ccelia macrostachya 
Coelogyne cristata 
,» ocellata 
flacoida 
Cj T mbidium Lowianum (splendid var.) 
„ sinense 
„ ebumeum 
Cypripedium Dayanum 
„ Harrisianum 
„ insigne 
n longifolium 
„ Man lei 
„ pardinum 
„ Roezlii 
u Schlimii 
„ Sedeni 
,, venustum 
„ villosum 
Dendrobinm bigibbum 
„ Farmeri 
„ Findleyanum 
„ infundibulum 
„ Jamesianum 
„ nobile coerulescens 
„ Pierardi 
„ Wardianum 
„ cambridgeannm 
„ Freemanii 
Epidendrum ciliare 
„ erectum 
„ latifolium 
„ rhizophorum 
Godyera discolor 
Leptotes bicolor 
Lrelia acuminata 
„ albida var. pulcliella 
,, anceps Barkeriana 
„ harpophylla 
„ superbiens 
Lycaste Skinneri (several 
flower, one grand) 
„ macrophylla 
Masdevallia ignea 
„ ochtodes 
„ S’nuttleworthii 
„ Tovarensis 
Neottia maculata 
Odontoglossum Alexandra; (one var. 
yellow, fine and 
rare) 
„ bictonense 
„ Bluntii 
„ constrictum 
„ cordatum 
„ gloriosum 
„ Pescatorei 
„ pulchellum 
„ roseum 
Oncidium aurosum 
„ incurvum 
„ serratum 
„ tigrinum 
„ Weltoni 
Phalsenopsis Schilleriana(large branch¬ 
ing spike) 
„ Luddemanniana 
Pilumna fragrans 
„ ossolata maxima 
Saccolabium giganteum 
Fophronitis grandiflora 
Uropedinm Lindenii (showing three 
fine spikes) 
Vanda Cathcarti 
„ furva 
„ lamellata Boxalli 
Zygopetalum Maekayii 
„ Hookeri 
While the above list indicates the character of the Ferndale 
collection, it is only in a degree, many rare and valuable plants 
in the best of condition not being in flower. These it is impossible 
to enumerate, and it can only be added that if anyone wants to see 
Orchid-growing made easy, and the most made of small means, let 
him pay a visit to Dr. Paterson at the Bridge of Allan, and he will 
be a very wise man indeed if he does not gain a hint that will he 
useful from the veteran orchidist who has proved his competency 
by such results that have seldom, if ever, been surpassed in such 
circumscribed limits as three miniature structures in a villa garden 
of the total extent of perhaps half an acre. 
In the “ grounds” of such a place not much can be expected that 
is noteworthy, yet there was a little in September. For instance, 
Masdevallia melanopses had been growing in the rockery for four 
months ; Podophyllum peltatum was growing as if wild in a Rhodo¬ 
dendron bed; Retinosporas were, and are, as fine as could he ex¬ 
pected, if not finer, for R. plumosa is about 10 feet high, R. squarrosa 
12 feet, R. pisifera still higher, all being proportionally broad and 
well furnished, while Abies grandis is grand indeed. Yet just one 
other plant.must be mentioned, an altogether out-of-the-way plant— 
in fact such a specimen as was, perhaps, never before seen—a Wall¬ 
flower. And what about it ? Well it was 9 feet high ! one straight 
spike ripening seed. Besides the most modern of Orchids in the 
greenhouse, ancient historic relics may be seen in the study, for the 
Doctor is an archaeologist as well as an orchidist ; yet amongst all 
his treasures nothing is more prized than his mementos of Queen 
Victoria, received on the occasion of presenting Her Majesty with a 
beautiful bouquet of Orchids at Perth.—J. Wright. 
New Fuchsia, Mrs. Bundle. —I saw this advertised, or referred 
to by some passing visitor to Swanley last year in the Journal, and 
soon after was fortunate in obtaining a cutting. It has proved a 
vigorous grower, and, so far as I can form an opinion, is a distinct 
improvement on Arabella Improved. That, to my mind, in most 
respects it resembles, more than it does Lord Beaconsfield. Mr. 
Cannell deserves great credit as the raiser of this fine variety, for 
which, I see by your last issue, a first-class certificate was awarded 
at the last meeting of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society. I shall try a small plant plunged in the border later 
on for flowering in winter.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
AURICULAS. 
Your correspondents “ D., Deal ,” and Mr. J. Luck seem to 
have a strange notion about strains of this favourite spring florist’s 
flower. 
“ D., Deal's," friend is said to have a fine strain of Colonel 
Taylor. The plants which he has must be either Colonel Taylor 
or they are not. If they are Colonel Taylor then they must be the 
same as the Colonel Taylor of any other grower ; but if the plants 
he has give better flowers than Colonel Taylor they cannot he the 
Colonel, and he should give them another name, and say who 
raised them. The same remark applies to every other variety. 
11 D., Deal," asks where the green-edged variety of Oliver’s 
Lovely Ann originated, as it was sent out as a grey edge. I 
understand it was sent out as a green edge, but, like a number of 
greens, is somewhat inconstant. If the truss is from the heart of 
the plant it is almost certain to be grey ; but if the truss comes 
from the side it is almost as certain to be green. “ Wbat is the 
cause of this ? ” I think I hear him ask. Well, my theory is this. 
A number of varieties have the outer leaves quite green—entirely 
destitute of farina—but have the centre a little mealed. Lovely 
Ann is one of these. The truss coming from the side has no meal 
on it, whereas that from the centre partakes of the meally nature 
of the centre, converting the green into a grey. This is of course 
open to question, as some of our finest seifs have very white 
foliage. 
Both your correspondents seem to have misfortunes with their 
plants as other growers have. I think it is likely that the plants 
they complain of are the offspring of starved plants, and I believe 
the mode they have adopted to restore them is the best—namely, 
a change of soil whether it be in pot or frame. See that the 
carrot is sound, keep them from blooming, and they will soon 
regain vigour.—W. S. B. 
HEPATICA TRILOBA. 
One of the most attractive hardy plants that commences to 
flower in February is the subject of this note. This season they 
have been particularly showy on account of the mildness of the 
winter. They last several weeks in perfection, and for spring 
bedding they are admirably adapted, also for planting at intervals 
in the mixed border—in fact planted anywhere, they could not 
fail to be appreciated when in flower. Where spring bedding is 
carried out the Hepaticas make a splendid edging. The colours 
of the flowers are much in their favour. Red, or more strictly 
speaking pink, white, and blue, are colours that are very suitable 
and easily matched. I find they are by no means fastidious as to 
soil, doing equally well on stiff clay as on a lighter soil, but with 
us they grow stronger if slightly shaded with trees. They are 
readily propagated either by seed or division. If it is intended to 
propagate by seeds the seed should be gathered before it is 
thoroughly ripe, and dried in paper to prevent its shedding. As 
soon as sufficiently ripe, which in good seasons will be about May, 
it should be at once sown in pans and placed in a cold frame. 
If the seed is good it will germinate through the autumn. The 
seedlings should be potted as soon as sufficiently large, and allowed 
to remain in the pots till they have flowered, by which means the 
colours can be tested, so as to prevent confusion in planting. I 
find this a very variable plant from seed. Division of the root 
no doubt is the quickest and most certain method. Hepatica 
triloba when not in flower is attractive on account of its shining 
trilobed foliage. There are several distinct varieties of this 
species : single rose, blue, and white, also double rose and double 
blue. They are, however, all worth growing either separately or 
in mixture.—G .W. 
SEASONABLE NOTES ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Auriculas. —The cold wave, or whatever we may please to 
call it, which visited us on the 5th of March and continues up to 
the present date (ICth), has considerably altered the prospects 
and hopes of Auricula growers as far as early flowering is con¬ 
cerned, and will, I fear, in other respects be damaging ; and it is 
here that those who possess heated structures, if they use them 
judiciously, have an advantage over those who do not possess 
them. When the earth is frost-bound, and when—as there has 
been with me—nearly 8 inches of snow, and the frames are 
covered with it, it is not only impossible to apply water, but plants 
