August 19, 18S6. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
151 
become black or abortive. This is sometimes a consequence of 
immature development-not well-matured crown or heart buds, 
but it very often arises from bringing on the plants too rapidly, 
and in keeping too hot and moist when the flowers are developing. 
Syringing, or a close confined atmosphere, is fatal, the latter 
especially. We have known a light sprinkling of benefit in 
liberating the pollen, but it is best omitted. Ventilate early and 
freely, and avoid sudden fluctuations or depressions of tempera¬ 
ture. Cold currents of air and a moist conlined atmosphere 
should be avoided. Artificial impregnation may be had recourse 
to on a fine day when the pollen is ripe, using a camel's-hair 
brush, a feather, or better a bunch of feathers or a plume of 
Pampas Grass, brushing the flowers over lightly. Air in motion 
will do it just as well, and a sharp gentle rapping on the lower 
part of the trusses is good. A rather dry condition of the 
atmosphere is necessary, but moisture must be secured by damp¬ 
ing, only it must be kept from being deposited on the flowers. 
I have seen the corollas browned through a moist confined atmo¬ 
sphere, and then have been asked why the flowers do not set and 
those setting are deformed ? 
Thinning the Flowers and Fruit. —The trusses have 
all the best flowers, and consequently fruit at the lower part, 
and when the trusses have about half their flowers expanded the 
buds on the upper part may be removed. Either those left will 
set or those removed would not have given fruit worth retaining, 
so it is just as well to remove the weak flower buds and thereby 
strengthen those retained. We may safely remove half of the 
flowers when the first or lower half are fully expanded, as we 
can then see whether they are perfect and likely to set. Some 
are so afraid of not having a crop that they leave all, and even 
defer thinning the fruit until the first fruits are considerably 
advanced in swelling. The longer any surplus flowers or fruit 
remain the more is taken from the size of those ultimately 
retained for the crop. As to the quantity of fruit per plant to 
be retained, that entirely depends on the size the fruit is wanted 
and the kind. La Grouse Sucree does not give half so many 
flowers as Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, and to thin the former 
as much as the latter would be to cut all the fruit away. Half a 
dozen fruit on La Grosse Sucree correspond to about a dozen on 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, so that with a dozen on La 
Grosse Sucree as a crop we may take two dozen on Vicomtesse 
Hericart de Thury with a certainty that we get as much weight. 
Of course, if the blossom and fruit of Vicomtesse be reduced 
early to a dozen there will not perhaps be any difference in the 
size of the fruits or the weight of the two kinds. Quantity does 
not mean weight, and it certainly does not mean quality. The 
crown or king fruit always takes the lead, and if fine fruit for 
particular purposes is wanted these only should be retained, the 
others being cut away. As to the size of the fruit, 1 oz is a 
good weight for La Grosse Sucree and Vicomtesse Hericart de 
Thury; Sir Harry will weigh 1^ oz.; President, Sir Charles 
-Napier, Dr. Hogg, and British Queen may reach 2 ozs. in occa¬ 
sional instances; Marguerite will grow to a very much heavier 
weight.— G. Abbey. 
BRITISH ORCHIDS. 
Many of our native Orchids are much-neglected plants, perhaps 
because they are thought to be difficult to cultivate, and as regards some 
of (hem this is quite correct. Others, however, are not so difficult to 
manage, and might well be added to collections of hardy plants. One 
great favourite is Habenaria bifolia, which can be collected in a wild 
state and safely removed to a garden. We find the best way is to dig 
them up with a trowel when in bloom, running it down deep enough to 
take the plant up with a good ball of earth round the roots, and trans¬ 
plant them where wanted as soon as possible, watering daily through a 
fine rose until they are established and rain falls, after which they may 
be safely left to themselves. Any turf or weeds in which they are grow¬ 
ing when lifted should be cut off with a sharp knife instead of pulling 
them out, so as not to disturb the little ball of earth each one should 
possess ; also to plant a little deeper. We have found suitable places for 
them at or near the base of rockeries, as there is usually more moisture 
than when near the top ; they also do well transplanted in grass, but of 
course it must not be cut with a mowing machine or scythe till the foliage 
has died. We have a number of them in long grass near the lawn, in 
which hundreds of Bluebells, Narcissus, Snowdrops, Crocus, Squills, and 
other bulbs are planted, and are usually all mown down about haymaking 
time. An annual top-dressing of leaf soil suits it, as it does most other 
plants on the rockery. 
Other pretty British Orchids are Ophrys muscifera, Opbrys aranifera, 
Opbrysapifera, Orchis mascula, O. maculata, 0. latifolia, 0. Morio, 0. pyra- 
midalis, Gymnadtnia conopsea, and Aceras anthropophora. All the above 
were dug up and planted when in full bloom, and have not in the least 
degenerated ; but some, particularly Orchis mascula, 0. latifolia, 0. macu¬ 
lata, and the Aceras, are much finer than when planted two years ago. 
The Bee Orchis (0. apifera) is about the same, but the three bulbs that 
were planted together and had three spikes last year, this year has only 
two. We have had several clumps of Orchis maculata with twenty or 
more spikes in each, with several varieties as regards colour. A good 
quantity of decayed leaf soil was well mixed in when the rockery was 
made, and in it they seem to delight, many of the spikes being more than 
18 inches high, and with more than fifty flowers on each. This is one of 
the best species from a “ cut flower ” point of view, and anyone fortunate 
enough to find a wood with plenty of them growing in, and with permis¬ 
sion to dig them up, may safely do so when in full bloom, planting them 
in a good place in the kitchen garden, where they may be allowed to 
remain, and will be rewarded with plenty of flowers annually. The colour 
of this species varies from nearly white to crimson, thus showing that 
some hardy Orchids are as variable as some of the exotic kinds,"notably 
Odontoglossum Alexandras. 
The variety shown in the woodcut (fig. 22) is a fine selection named 
Fig. 22.—Orchis maculata superba. 
superba. and superior to most forms in the size and excellent form of the 
spike, also in the bright colours of the flowers.—B. 
MADRESFIELD COURT GRAPE CRACKING. 
Mr. Riddle’s allusion to the hydraulic curiosity, the Copper Weeping 
Willow of Chatswoitb, takes me back in thought to more than a’score 
years ago, when I was initiated into the mystery, as also the uses and 
abuses of this Willow. Reverting to the Grape question, I do not pretend 
to hydraulic control of the routs, but contend that under my plan cf root 
covering, while retaining all the water food necessary to mature the crop, 
it prevents moisture arising, and thus at once keeps the berries sound and 
maintains the roots in a growing condition. Having plenty of good 
foliage and laterals, all that I require for shade purposes, I pinch all sub¬ 
laterals and young growth, but do not use knife. Theoretically I may 
be wrong, but practically I am right, as we have a crop of sound fruit. I 
take it for granted your correspondents who favour root-watering now 
will admit I am in less danger of cracking berries by dew, moisture, or 
