Fcljruary 5, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
101 
effectively demands the highest skill and closest attention. No one 
can estimate the loss in fuel which takes place in our gardens 
annually as the result of ignorant and wasteful firing, besides the 
irritation and unpleasantness it frequently causes between the 
gardener and his assistants. Stoking does not strike us as being a 
W’ork of so fascinating a nature that anyone can become fond of it, 
yet such is the case, as I can fall to mind many instances of young 
men who took as much pride and interest in their fires as they 
would in potting the rarest and most expensive plant. When this 
^ the case it is always a pleasure to inspect the stokehole, which we 
find damped to keep down dust, the ashes 
neatly placed on one side and frequently 
removed (no lumps of coal or coke in them), 
and the fire irons placed where they can 
always be found. Contrast this with a 
slovenly kept stokehole—the floor strewn 
with ashes, everything dry and hot with 
dust and sulphur enough to choke anyone, 
and the fire irons thrown about in disorder. 
The condition in which a young gardener 
keeps his fireplace not infrequently indicates 
his character in respect to other duties he 
may have to perform. 
The^ principle of good stoking may be 
very briefly stated. It consists not in the 
apparent quantity of fire there may be in 
the furnace, but in the cleanliness of the 
fire, if I may so express myself, a fire that 
18 free from exhaustive and dead matter, 
and is composed only of combustible mate¬ 
rials. The same quantity of fire in a clean 
furnace will give at least double the amount 
of heat that it will give in a furnace which 
is choked with ashes and clinkers. I had a 
very clear proof of this only a few weeks 
ago. A large new boiler had been at work 
for upwards of a month, and gave every 
satisfaction for a time, but gradually for 
a week or so failed to circulate the water 
so well. The stoker was positive the firing 
was faultless, and invited me to look at the 
fire, which I did, and certainly there seemed 
an excellent one. However, I was not satis¬ 
fied, and the fire was taken out, with the 
result that on the bars at the far end was 
a thick layer of expended material effec¬ 
tually sealing up the space between the 
furnace bars, which in good stoking it is so 
important to have clear for the admission of 
air to the fire, and also reducing the boiler surface on which the 
action of the fire could play. The removal of this material made 
all the difference between successful and unsuccessful stoking, 
between a sluggish circulation of hot water and a perfect one. 
The difference in the heat-giving power of a dirty and a clean 
fire is also very evident in our hearth fires. Rake the dirt out of 
the grate, and the fire, even if it appears a smaller one, gives out 
a much greater heat. 
Stoking in relation to temperature, fuel, boilers, and other 
matters in sympathy with the subject might be very usefully 
considered, but I have trespassed too long already, and will only 
add that I hope these few observations may help and encourage 
some young gardeners to excel in this work at the commencement 
of their gardening career.— Owen Thomas, Chalsworth Gardens. 
Guayra, is rare, petals and sepals greenish yellow, lip bright yellow, 
flowers large, two or more together, from axils of leaves somewhat 
of the appearance of Cattleya citrina. V. Phalfenopsis (Madagas¬ 
car) has large flowers, white orange lip, produced in large bunches 
from axils of the leaves.— Urbanus. 
Orchids at Streatiiam. 
L.elia elegans and its varieties have long been special objects 
of attention at the residence of R. H. Measures, Esq , Streatham, 
and it is doubtful if his collection is surpassed in this country, as 
FIG. 19.— CYPRITEDIUM CASTLEANUM. 
it comprises all the finest varieties obtainable. Cypripediums also 
constitute another important feature, including nearly all the 
species and hybrids in cultivation, together with the best varieties 
of the respective types. This year the fogs have proved very 
troublesome, and many fine flowers were lost before they had 
reached their best condition. Fortunately the plants themselves 
have not suffered, in fact the loss of the flowers may prove an 
actual advantage in the case of small plants or those not very 
strong. Several additions have been made to the Cypripediums 
lately, and one that Mr, Measures values greatly for its distinct 
bluish-purple colour is C. Castleanum (fig. 19), the history of 
which has been previously given. An excellent coloured drawing 
has been prepared from this, and shows the peculiar blue suffusion 
admirably. 
Orchids at “My Garden.” 
This is grown to perfection in one of the Pine stoves at 
Osberton, Worksop. I remember a few years ago seeing a plant 
growing luxuriantly the whole length of the house producing very 
fine pods of a good size and in great abundance. Mr. Woods, the 
gardener, was kind enough to give me a couple of dozen pods about 
the length and thickness of a good sized French Bean, There are 
only a few species known to me—namely, aromatica, planifolia, 
lutescens, and Phalmnopsis, The two former have insigni leant 
flowers but are grown principally to obtain fruit, which is easily 
done by artificial fertilisation. V. lutescens, a native of La 
After such a prolonged period of severe weather it would not 
be surprising if Orchid houses were rather dull and the plants 
flowerless. In one or two instances lately we have, however, noted 
collections where the display of flowers has been bright and cheer¬ 
ing in no ordinary degree. Much depends upon the situation, and 
a garden outside the smoke and fog radius of London is favoured 
as compared with those exposed to the ill effects of the poisonous 
compound known as London fog. At no time of year can a profit¬ 
less visit be paid to the residence of A, H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, 
Carshalton, rendered historical by the late Alfred Smee’s enter¬ 
taining book “ My Garden.” Something can always be found of 
interest, and on a journey a week ago numerous Orchids were 
found in flower scattered through the various houses that would 
have made an imposing group if arranged together. The Cattleyas 
have not yet commenced to expand their floweis with the exception 
of C. Dayana, but they are promising well: “ sheaths ” are 
numerous, and the plants healthy. Of Cypripediums the following 
were noted :—0. Bullenianum, C. callosum, C. superciliare, C. Leea- 
num, and C. javanicum, all flowering well. 
