March 29, 1883.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
249 
29th 
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Low Sunday. 
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Society of Arts at 8 p.M. 
DENDROBIUM WARDIANUM. 
)NLY a few years ago this magnificent 
Dendrobe caused quite a sensation, and 
for a time, in consequence of its high 
price, did not find its way into gardens 
generally. Plants can now he obtained 
for as many pence as they cost shillings 
four years ago. Within the last two years 
tens of thousands have been imported from 
eR Burmah, and within twelve months some nine 
or ten thousand have been landed in Liverpool. 
Less than two months ago over five thousand 
were received at Garston with pseudo-bulbs fully 3 feet 
long. To show the great popularity of this Orchid it 
may he mentioned that the whole of these plants were 
disposed of in a remarkably short time without having 
recourse to a sale by auction. 
There are several varieties of this handsome Den¬ 
drobe, some being much finer than others, yet in many 
the variation is slight, and all are well worth growing. 
The superiority of some is marked by the large size of 
their flowers and the deep orange yellow on the lower 
part of the lip, while in others the lip has a greenish 
yellow appearance. The tip of magenta on the sepals 
and petals of some flowers is heavier and more vivid 
than upon others, while the lip varies in shape, being 
in some cases well open and almost round, while in 
others rather long and inclined to he pointed. Some 
flowers open here at the present time are over 4J inches 
across. 
Without doubt this is one of the most lovely and 
useful of spring-flowering Orchids. It is the more 
serviceable because it can he grown in the best con¬ 
dition suspended from the roofs of houses either in 
baskets or on blocks ; in fact it is quite at home in this 
position, and yields abundance of the choicest flowers 
without taking up the stage room which is so valuable 
where the space at disposal is limited. A number of 
plants thus grown and well bloomed have a charming 
appearance ; or when the plants are arranged to rise 
out of a groundwork of Adiancum cuneatum associated 
with dwarf well-coloured Dracfenas they are dis¬ 
played to great advantage, and it would be difficult to 
imagine any arrangement more beautiful and effective. 
For a long time we regarded the old D. nobile as one 
of the most beautiful of the whole family. It is cer¬ 
tainly one of the most useful; but we have a number 
of this species arranged with D. Wardianum on one 
side of a small span-roofed house intermixed with other 
Orchids and Dracfenas, and the palm must decidedly 
be given to the latter. 
The species under notice is by no means so difficult 
to manage as many others, and none need fail in its 
cultivation even if he commences with imported plants, 
provided they are in good condition when they arrive. 
The best time to obtain imported plants is in early 
spring, as they can then be started into growth almost 
immediately. If they arrive during winter and growth 
has already commenced they require very careful treat¬ 
ment in the supply of moisture, or they may damp off 
altogether. If at rest they should not be excited into 
growth by the application of strong heat or more mois¬ 
ture than is required to maintain their pseudo-bulbs 
fresh and plump ; in fact they should be treated until 
the days lengthen very similar to established plants. 
Whenever they arrive remove any portion that may 
have been bruised in transit, or decay may ensue when 
moisture is applied. 
After they arrive place them in a temperature of 50°, 
but care must be taken that water does not lodge about 
them from syringing or otherwise. A vinery that has 
been started is a capital place for them, especially if they 
are suspended from the wires, and the moisture of the 
house will prove sufficient to keep them fresh. After 
the first fortnight, when syringing the Vines or other 
occupants in the house the Dendrobes may be gently 
sprinkled at the same time on fine days ; once daily 
will be ample until they are placed in baskets or upon 
blocks. They do well on blocks of white or red pine, 
to which their roots cling tenaciously, but require more 
care and attention than when placed in baskets. When 
secured upon blocks with the intention of eventually 
placing them in baskets the wood used should only be 
small and well charred. The method of placing them 
upon blocks is simple. A few smaU nails should be 
driven into the sides, and the plants secured by means 
of copper wire after placing a little sphagnum moss 
over their roots. In an atmosphere moderately charged 
with moisture and in the temperature named the most 
prominent buds will soon show signs of moving, then 
the plants should at once be placed on permanent 
blocks or in baskets. The size of the baskets to be 
used entirely depends upon the size of the plants. 
In placing them in baskets a layer of crocks should 
be placed at the base and covered with sphagnum moss, 
then filled almost level with two parts of fibry peat from 
which the small particles have been shaken to one part 
of living sphagnum and small lumps of charcoal. Upon 
this the plants should be placed and their growths 
carefully secured in an upright position. The roots 
must also be made firm, but the base of the pseudo¬ 
bulbs must not be buried, or the breaks are liable to 
damp, especially if moisture is given in excess. A 
thorough soaking will not be needed until the plants 
are fairly started into growth if care is taken in dewing 
them with the syringe once or twice daily according to 
the weather. When fairly started they should have 
more moisture, and the night temperature kept at 
about 60°, with a rise of 10° or more from sun heat 
by day. The breaks when 3 or 4 inches in length will 
commence forming roots. If the plants show flower, 
which they often will when received during winter and 
spring—the flowers, if allowed to open, must not remain 
upon the plants for any length of time, or the new 
growths will suffer. After the roots have commenced 
working amongst the material in the baskets all danger 
of failure with the plants is past. From this time 
until their growths are thoroughly completed the plants 
should never suffer by want of water at the roots or 
No. 144 .—Vol. VI., Third Series. 
No. 1800.—Vol. LXIX., Old Series. 
