January 22, U91. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
for the weather was not such as to render it very safe for tender 
plants. Cyclamens were expected, and in their place Orchids were 
found, a rather peculiar change, and I do not remember ever 
seeing so many of these plants at a January meeting before. 
Cypripediums and Lajlias predominated, and included several fine 
novelties, for there seems to be no limit to the variations obtainable, 
especially in the first named genua. 
The varieties of the useful autumn and winter-flowering Lmlia 
anceps are now very numerous, and range in colour from the pure 
white alba and the charming delicate Dawsoni to the extremely 
rich Barkeriana. There is also a considerable difference in the 
size of the flowers, and that shown by the Right Hon. J. Chamber- 
lain at the meeting (grandiflora) is one of the largest, being 
equally notable for the breadth of the sepals and petals and the 
general fine form of the flowers. Another handsome variety was 
L. anceps Ballantineana, the sepals and petals tipped with crimson, 
and the lip with very rich magenta. Both these were deservedly 
honoured by the Orchid Committee. 
Amongst the Cypripediums a hybrid named Kramerianum 
from C. oonanthum and C. villosum was noteworthy f(.r its 
distinct colouring, good shape, and polished surface. The dorsal 
sepal was broad and rounded, boldly veined with rich purple o.i a 
white ground, and the deeply tinted veins were still further brought 
into relief by the pure white well defined margin. The petals 
and lip were heavily suffused with a purplish tin'', and were 
notable for their shining polished appearance. 
Cypripediums were also largely shown by Messrs. B. S. 
Williams & Son of Upper Holloway, who had an excellent group 
of these and other Orchids, with Palms and Ferns. Though many 
fine hybrids were included, one that attracted most attention was 
C. Sallieri aureum, a strong growing and free-flowering variety 
of the C. villosum type, with handsome flowers of a clear golden 
colour and wax-like texture that renders it extremely distinct. 
This was only ore of many, however, and Messrs. Williams have 
no less than thirty-nine species, hybrids, and varieties in flower at 
the present time in their Holloway nurseries. The collection 
comprises nearly all the most valuable forms obtainable, and is in 
excellent condition, together with many others mentioned in the 
next paragraph. _ 
As a list of Orchids in flower in midwinter, the following is so 
remarkable that it is given here in full :—Calanthes bella, masuca, 
Sandhurstiana, Sedeni, Veicchi, vestita luteo-oculata, and rubro- 
oculata ; Coelogynes barbata, cristata, and speciosa ; Cymbidium 
ensifolium estriatum; Cypripediums Amesianum, Ashburtoniae, 
barbatum biflorum, barbatum Warnerianum, Boxalli, callosum, 
calophyllum, calurum, cardinale, chloroneurum, conchiferum, 
Crossianum, Dauthieii, Dauthieri marmoratum, Fitcheanum, 
Harrisianum, Harrisianum vivicans, hirsutissimum, hybridum, 
insigne albo-marginatum, Maulei, i. o. grande, Lawrenciaoum, 
Leeanurn, Leeanum superbum, longifolium leodense, Measuresi- 
anum, Meirax, nitens, oenanthum superbum, politum, Sallieri, 
Sallieri aureum, Sedeni, Sedeni superbum, Sedeni candidulum, 
selligerum, venustum superbum, and vexillarium superbum ; 
Dendrobiums bigibbum, endocharis, McCarthise, and superbiens ; 
Ltelias albida, albida superba, anceps, anceps Dawsoni, anceps San- 
deriana, anceps Williamsi, autumnale, and Gouldiana ; Leptotes 
bicolor ; Limatodes rosea ; Lycaste Skinneri, and Skinneri alba ; 
Masdevallia tovarensis ; Odontoglossums Alexandra, Andersoni- 
anum, Insleayi leopardinum, lingulare, Hirstedi majus, Eossi 
majus, and vexillarium ; Oncidium cheirophorum, Forbesi, orni- 
thorhynchum, Phalmnopsis, prmtextum, and tigrinum ; Phajus 
grandiflorus ; Restrepia antennifera ; Sophionitis grandiflora, and 
grandiflora coccinea ; Vandas Amesiana, and tricolor insignis ; 
Zygopetalums crinitum roseum and intermedium ; and Epiden- 
drum Wallisi. 
Concerning one of these plants whjch was conspicuous in Messrs. 
Williams’ group at the Drill Hall, though only a small specimen, 
something may well be said, for it is one of the most charming Orchids 
grown. This is Oncidium Phalsenopsis (fig. 12), which is only too 
seldom seen in collections. The form of the flowers is well repre¬ 
sented in the woodcut, and those who are unacquainted with the 
plants will be able to form an idea of its beauty when it is said 
that the dots, spots, and bars are of a peculiarly bright bluish purple 
or violet tint on a pure white ground. The plant is not of strong 
growth, but at Holloway it succeeds admirably in a cool house, 
and this is one of the recommendations of the species, as it can be 
0 5 
accommodated with the Odontoglossums, and any addition to the 
cool Orchids is most welcome. 
The severe weather during the past month or six weeks has 
caused cultivators of Orchids much trouble, and the difficulty has 
been to maintain a suitable temperature without injuring the 
plants by excessively hot pipes. Plants in many instances arc 
suffering to some extent, as must be inevitably the case, and all 
that can be done at present is to adopt every precaution to prevent 
the hot air passing direct from the pipes to either leaves or roots, 
and to hope for a change. It is almost tantalising to hear from a 
correspondent in San Francisco that “ up to the end of December 
FIG. 12.— OXCIDIU3I PHALiEXOPSIS. 
we used no fire for Cattleyas, and the temperature has not been 
below 40°. Cattleya guttata is in fl')wer, and we have fresh green 
Peas and Tomatoes on the table.” — Lewis Castle. 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE PEACH AND NECTARINE 
UNDER GLASS AND ON THE OPEN WALL. 
[A Paper read by Mr. \V. TUNNlXCilO v, Calder.-toae, Ai^burth,before f’e meaibers ol 
the Liverpool Iloit cultural Association, Jaauary loth, 1891.] 
It is unnecessary to take up any time with allusions to the history 
of the Peach, but before I proceed to the details of culture I may be 
permitted to remark upon the scarcity of matter relating to the culture 
of the Peach in the Horticultural Press, especially on the open wall, 
whilst week after week articles follow each other in rapid succession on 
the cultivation of the Vine. In many places the Peach is sadly 
neglected. This ought not to be, for I consider a good Peach scarcely 
second to any other fruit. It is indispensable in a collection of fruit for 
exhibition. The same may be said of a good dessert. And what a 
pleasing sight is a house or a wall of Peach trees in flower, the trees 
laden with bloom, some almost white, varying in colour to the deepest 
rose. In my opinion it is nearly as pleasing as a house of Orchids 
in bloom. Again, when the fruit is approaching ripeness, the 
leaves carefully drawn back, all fruit being exposed to the full sun, 
what a picture it is ! Something to be proud of. But enough of 
this. I will now proceed to the cultivation of the Peach on the 
open wall. 
In the first place I may say that out of doors the crop is rather a 
precarious one, late spring frosts and cold east winds being the greatest 
enemies. But these can be a certain extent be guarded against by the 
aid of blinds upon rollers firmly fixed to the coping of the w'all. Ours 
are made of light canvas in 24 feet lengths, which can be readily 
raised or lowered by coids and pulleys. This is a substantial protection. 
They have been in use seventeen years, and even now seem little the 
worse for wear. Without such protection I think it would be useless 
to attempt the cultivation of the Peach outside so far north. I may 
say that during all those years we have never failed to produce a crop 
nr a part of one, according to the weather which is prevailing in the 
spring when the trees are in bloom. It is generally on the open wail 
