March 31, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
287 
form, having well rounded segments. Colour, scarlet with green 
eye. 
Arturo .—A very pleasing light variety of medium height, and 
a free bloomer. Flowers white, streaked and suffused with 
crimson. 
Leonidas .—Medium to dwarf, and of sturdy habit. Flowers 
deep scarlet, of enormous size, and remarkable for great breadth of 
segment. 
Leonie .—Bold spike, carrying well-formed flowers, these being 
ivory-white, edged with light red. A very attractive variety. 
Other novelties will be in bloom shortly after these lines are 
published, and a prompt visit will be well repaid. It is satisfactory 
to note that advance is being made in vigour, sturdiness, and free 
blooming, as well as in colour and form of flower. Of the older 
varieties a word of praise is merited by Olivette, deep crimson, 
free and good, though now excelled by Acme ; Acquisition, rich 
reddish carmine, with broad star, dwarf and effective ; Bauban, 
crimson self, very vigorous and free ; The Premier, rich crimson, 
the best of last year’s seedlings, of medium height, vigorous and 
free flowering ; Sirocco, a large crimson self ; Fabula, crimson, a 
free bloomer, having two spikes carrying eleven flowers ; Albo- 
viridis, greenish white, edged, Picotee-like, with crimson, small, 
neat, and distinct ; Finette, white, streaked with crimson, an 
excellent light variety of vigorous growth ; Ixion, dwarf and very 
free, salmon-red and white ; and Empress of India, a large round 
scarlet-crimson flower, with greenish-white centre, rich and bright 
in colour, a dwarf grower. 
Noting the vigour of growth and robust health of the plants at 
Chelsea, no visitor can fail to recognise that the conditions of 
culture must be in every respect congenial, and those of an obser¬ 
vant and inquiring turn of mind can glean some valuable hints 
from the courteous and able grower. The pots are plunged to the 
rim in a bed of spent tan that has been kept for twelve months, 
with hot-water pipes below. This is a condition that cannot be 
imitated by every cultivator, but it is not an indispensable one. 
The plants are tractable enough, and the essential points in success¬ 
ful practice are not difficult to provide. Probably the commonest 
cause of disappointment with Amaryllises is an over-abundant 
supply of water in autumn and winter. For six months the Chelsea 
plants do not receive a drop. Generally speaking, this period may 
be faid to begin at the middle of August and end at the middle of 
February. The supply is diminished towards the close of July, and 
the bulbs thus encouraged to ripen, the leaves gradually maturing. 
On the ripening process depends satisfactory ffowering. If water 
is given through the autumn and winter growth is unduly main¬ 
tained, and the plants charged with crude sappy matter, for the 
elaboration of which no time is allowed. A little reflection will 
enable the importance of this to be fully grasped. 
Another great mistake in Amaryllis culture is to place the pots 
aside in an out of the way place when the flowering is over. That 
is the time when growth should be the most actively encouraged. 
From the present period water should be copiously supplied. It is 
difficult to give too much when the pots are packed with white 
fleshy roots, often peering through the surface, like those of 
Cucumbers, asking for more, and this liberal watering should be 
continued until the close of July approaches and the first steps of 
the drying-off process commence. Over-potting must be guarded 
against. It is an encouragement to growth rather than floriferous- 
ness. The largest bulbs at Chelsea are in 7-inch pots, and the 
majority in 5 inch. They are firmly potted in loam with a fifth of 
well-decayed cow manure and sand, and the roots ramify through 
the compost from top to bottom. 
Repotting is practised in January, and every bulb is so treated, 
but where no convenience for plunging exists it might be well to 
defer it until the flowering is over, assisting the plants with weak 
liquid manure while in bloom. No check need be feared if this 
plan is followed. It was adopted with the plants which made so 
great an impression at Ghent a year or two ago, and the results 
were eminently satisfactory. Growers may have noted what 
appears to be a softening of the bulbs while in bloom. It is caused 
by the escape of the spike, and the object should be to grow the 
plants afterwards so that the bulbs fill out, harden, and subse¬ 
quently mature. This point secured, the flowering period may be 
awaited without anxiety. Shrivelling at the roots need not be 
feared as a result of the long spell of dryness. If kept dry for six 
months they will remain plump and succulent. Fresh growth will 
push at the tips, and what may be termed lateral feeders spring 
from the side of the old roots in addition to fresh roots from the 
base of the bulb. 
Of the accuracy of these remarks anyone may satisfy himself by 
personal observation, and by carrying out the hints they embody 
the noblest of spring flowers may be grown with success in 
thousands of gardens where it now has no place.—W. P. W. 
The Cattleya House. 
More moisture must be maintained in the structure in which 
these plants are grown to induce the plants to throw out fresh 
roots into the material in which they have been potted or top 
dressed. Some care is needed not to give the plants too much 
water at their roots. If an intermediate state of moisture can be 
maintained about them by dewing them with the syringe all the 
better. Syringing may also be practised, but on fine bright days 
only. When this is done air may be admitted for a short time to 
evaporate any water that may settle into the young growths. They 
are liable to decay if water remains about them for days in succes¬ 
sion. Syringing is beneficial, and assists in keeping the plants 
clean, but it must not be done too heavily, or it will prove as 
detrimental as excessive watering. If the water about the plants 
can be evaporated once in every twenty-four hours no harm results. 
If scale exists upon Cattleyas they may be thoroughly cleaned 
by sponging them with soap and water. Be careful not to scratch 
the leaves in removing the scale. If not thoroughly cleaned and 
examined frequently scale will increase rapidly with increased 
heat, and soon establish themselves on the young growths that issue 
from the base. Once scale is established upon them they are 
difficult to eradicate. 
Cockroaches are certain to devour any young roots as they 
appear, unless they are well kept under. If houses have been well 
cleaned, and these pests thoroughly looked for at night, only a few 
should remain. These must be sought for every night and de¬ 
stroyed ; if left until they breed they will soon become numerous, 
and give endless trouble and do a large amount of damage. Phos¬ 
phorus paste put down at night on pieces of brown paper is a 
capital method of destroying them. With a light at night they 
are very difficult to catch. A pair of Grape scissors is useful for 
cutting them in two. 
Odontoglossum House. 
Secure the blinds on this house without delay, for the sun has 
now gained considerable power, and the blinds should be drawn 
down for a few hours during the brightest part of the day. More 
moisture may be maintained, and the plants given more liberal 
supplies of water. Admit air daily to evaporate any moisture that 
may rest in the young growths. Watch for slugs, and destroy 
them, or they will devour the flower spikes as they appear. If 
these plants were repotted in early autumn they will only need 
the addition of a little living sphagnum on the surface.— Okchiu 
Grower. 
Peculiar Orchids. 
The genus Sarcopodium comprises a score or so of species, few 
of which are seen in cultivation, but several have been exhibited in 
recent years, and these have drawn attention to a peculiar group of 
Orchids that possess much interest owing to their singular floral 
forms and strange colouring. They are botanically related both to 
Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums, but do not present a strong 
resemblance to the former as regards their flowers, and are mo e 
suggestive of some of the latter. They are natives of tropical 
Asia, and that for which Baron Schroder obtained, an award of 
merit at the Royal Horticultural Society’s meeting on May 
28th, 1890—viz., Sarcopodium Deari (fig. 38), is a native of 
