18 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January It, 1802. 
country. We had, when the necessity came of getting home this 
Cattleya in quantity, three of our best collectors in the districts 
of the old labiata—Mr. Ericsson, one of our oldest and most tried 
collectors, who has sent home during the last ten years many fine 
novelties to us, among the Cypripediums, Rothschildianum and 
Sanderianum ; Mr. Oversluys, also one of our oldest and best men, 
and the discoverer of Odontogloasum Schroderianum, Sobralia 
Sanderm, aud many other new Orchids ; and Mr. Forget, a young 
Frenchman and a collector of great promise. All three were 
together on an exploring tour when Mr. Forget espied the won¬ 
derful specimen high up on the branch of a tree ; the natives 
soon felled it, and the plant was very carefully taken to the port 
and shipped home. To the great care taken with it the extra fine 
condition is due. The specimen has some 250 bulbs, with many 
sheaths ready to bloom, and is full of green leaves." 
The beauty and usefulness of Cattleya labiata vera and its 
numberless variations are indisputable, and with the several novel¬ 
ties promised in other genera, the sale should be an important 
one. 
CyPRIPEDIUM IXSIGNE. 
Where these have flowered in a moderately cool house and 
since rested under cool conditions they may be started into 
growth. Having grown large supplies of this variety for years, 
we have found them succeed admirably by introducing them 
about the present time info a vinery that has been started. 
They make strong growth under these conditions, and if allowed 
to remain under the shade of the Vines and given the cool airy 
treatment they require throughout the season the plants flower 
profusely. Well established plants liberally supplied with water 
during the season of growth produce large blooms, and we are 
often favoured with two from one stem. Large pans full of roots 
do well for years if top-dressed annually with a few lumps of 
peat, a little moss, and cow manure in a moderately dry state. 
This may be done at the present time, while plants that it is 
desired to grow on may be repotted. We have carried out this 
work at various times with no perceptible difference in results. 
We prefer, however, to repot those that need it before they start 
into growth, so that no damage be done to young roots after they 
commence extending. These plants do well in peat, charcoal, and 
crocks used in a rough condition, mo'-s being used on the surface 
only. If the material about the roots is in good condition, potting 
may be done without disturbing the roots. If it is thoroughly 
decomposed it should be washed from amongst the roots with tepid 
water.— Orchid Grower. 
Saccolabium gig ante um. 
Without a doubt one of the finest pieces of Saccolabium 
giganteum in cultivation is a plant at Court Hey, Broad Green, the 
residence of A. R. Gladstone, Esq. The plant in question was 
sent direct from Burmah to Court Hey in 1886, and had at that 
time five growths. It was placed in a basket 15 inches square, 
the compost being charcoal and crocks, with a surfacing of 
sphagnum moss. Since then it has never been disturbed, and the 
soundness of the system is evidenced by the thick fleshy roots 
with which the basket is intertwined. Now it has eight strong 
healthy growths and fourteen racemes of flower, which have 
collectively about GOO individual flowers. The scent is delightful 
and the plant a perfect picture, and one which Mr. Gladstone 
deservedly treasures. Mr. Elsworthy, the gardener, is noted for 
his fruit culture, and it is pleasing to add this short note on his 
success in another department.—P. 
SCARCITY OF VIOLETS. 
I CAN agree with what Mr. Molyneux has to say at page 559, 
particularly as to the importance of getting the plants into the 
frames in September. This has been my practice every year since 
I have grown Violets until the present ; but this time, partly for 
want of time and partly owing to the continued wet weather, I 
was three weeks later than I otherwise should have been, and what 
is the result? My plants did not become established before the 
cold nights came, and I have not had the usual quantity of fine 
blooms which in foi’mer years I have been able to gather during 
the whole winter. 
I cannot say that the past summer was altogether favourable 
to the growth of the plants, or that they did not make sufficient 
foliage. On the contrary, they really grew too vigorously, the 
leaves being soft and of bad colour. Consequently, I think the 
plants should have been placed in the pits or frames some weeks 
earlier instead of three weeks later. It would be useless trying to 
make up for lost time by placing hot manure under the plants ; in 
fact, this would only aggravate the evil, causing the leaves to grow 
spindly, and be more susceptible to damping. Nothing better 
could be done than to follow Mr. Molyneux’s advice—viz., to give 
abundance of air at all times when it is not raining or freezing. 
Now is the time to prepare for another year by trenching and 
manuring the border on which they have to be planted in the 
spring. I find that a good coating of soot and lime well worked 
into the soil, and from 2 to 3 inches of good manure, leaf soil, or 
artificial manure of some sort is necessary to grow Violets well. 
The more robust they grow the less they will suffer from the 
attacks of red spider, which is their great enemy. 
I fear that owing to the thin nature of the leaves mildew or 
damping will cause some trouble during the winter. This rarely 
attacks robust plants where the London fogs do not reach them. 
—T. A. 
FRUIT CULTURE. 
Extension v. Restriction. 
The resources of our home fruit supply are inadequate to the 
demaud, and, consequently, large importations annually have to 
make up the deficiency. As horticulturists, I regret to say we have 
sadly lacked foresight. We may have been keenly alive to the 
value of fruit as an article of diet, but the importance of growing 
it of the first quality for the market and to meet an increasing 
demand appears only recently to have dawned upon us. High- 
class fruit culture has not been extended to any great extent 
beyond the gardens of the affluent, who, up to the present, have 
grown it mainly for their own use. I am perfectly aware that many 
orchards and fruit plantations exist in various parts of the country, 
but, unfortunately, for the most part they have been managed by 
men unskilled in the production of first class fruit. We must not 
overlook the poor condition of the majority of these orchards. Is 
too many instances the trees have long ago started the downward 
course, and are in a rapid state of decay. Their moss and lichen 
covered stems and branches may charm the naturalist and the 
artist, but to those anxious to promote the growth of first-class 
fruit for the teeming masses of humanity they have no attraction. 
They should long ago have been swept away and others planted 
full of energy, trees that have youth and vigour on their side. It is 
from these, and these only, under good management, that fruit can 
be obtained that will compete favourably with foreign produce. It 
must be freely admitted that we have been asleep while others 
have anticipated our wants and provided for them. We have the 
experience of the past to guide us, and it is to be hoped that we 
may eventually profit by the valuable lessons our inactivity has 
taught us. 
The suitability of land in this country for fruit growing we 
need scarcely consider. That is beyond question and dispute. We 
have abundance that is suitable in every way, and in every county, 
throughout the kingdom, some soils and some localities being more 
favourable than others, but there are few indeed in which a 
limited number of varieties cannot be grown to a high state of 
excellence. The preparation of the land, how this should be 
accomplished, and the most economical methods are of importance, 
and cannot be passed without consideration. 
Our climate’s variableness, absence of sunshine, and liability 
to spring frosts, are frequently placed before us in order to prove 
that fruit growing on a large scale would be folly. The 
experience we have gained proves beyond a doubt that our 
climate is equal to, if not superior in some respects, to that of 
any other nation for the growth and development of hardy 
fruits. If we have not the amount of sunshine in summer 
enjoyed in America, we have the advantage in winter, as the 
trees have not to endure such intense cold. Whether the large 
amount of sunshine to which the fruits are exposed in America 
is an advantage is an open question. I am inclined to think it is 
too hot for many hardy fruits, especially for the Apple, and if we 
grow fruit largely for the market, it is against these mainly that 
we shall have to compete. Transpiration of water from the fruit 
during hot weather must be enormous, which accounts no doubt 
for the mealy nature of the fruit sent to this country. What is 
the condition of our own fruit when well grown ? It is crisp and 
full of juice, there is no comparison between the two. We may 
dismiss this part of our subject by saying that well-grown British 
Apples are much superior to those from America. 
We may just glance at one other matter in passing that is 
frequently urged against fruit growing—namely, the difficulty of 
disposing of home-grown fruit at remunerative prices. This is 
perfectly true, and I am not surprised that such a state of things 
exists. We may, however, inquire into the cause. The bulk of 
the fruit sent to the market is miserably small, poor in appear¬ 
ance, equally poor in quality, gathered mainly from trees that 
are merely existing in many cases, the fruit often being shaken 
from the trees instead of being gathered carefully, the fruit being 
rarely if ever sorted into first, second, and third quality, the latter 
