122 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Februtry 12, 1891. ^ 
O. triumphans is familiar to Orchid admirers as one of the finest 
members of a large genus, but it is similarly a matter of common 
knowledge that the varieties differ greatly in their beauty, espe¬ 
cially in the colouring, and a richly coloured form ranks very high 
amongst the most effective Orchids grown. That shown by Mr. 
William Whiteley at the meeting in question is probably the best 
ever shown before the Orchid Committee, although at least half a 
dozen varieties had been certificated by the Floral Committee 
before the first-nammd body was constituted. Whiteley’s variety 
has finely developed flowers, the sepals broad, the petals and lip 
much broader, the ground colour being an exceedingly rich clear 
yellow tint, with distinctly marked bars of bright reddish brown. 
The plant was a strong one, and had one tall stout raceme. It 
had been grown by Mr. Godfrey, manager at Mr. AVhiteley’s 
Hillingdon establishment.— Lewis Castle. 
Orchids at Cleveley. 
In my account of Cleveley some time ago I specially mentioned 
the grand pans of Coelogyne cristata with its varieties, and Ltelia 
anceps, and now that they ai’e in flower it is well to add a little 
more about them. Of these two most useful winter flowering 
Orchids there is a magnificent display. Arranged as they are with 
a background of choice specimen stove Ferns, and set in a bank of 
Maidenhair Ferns, they present a sight at this time of year not 
easily forgotten. Of Lmlia anceps there are 158 spikes and 
.320 flowers. In this number is included the magnificent mass of 
Laclia grandiflora, bearing forty-eight spikes and 144 flowers. This 
is probably the finest plant of this variety in the country. The 
flowers this season are m.uch larger than hitherto. Coelogynes are 
represented by some half a dozen pans, and include cristata, 
Lemoniana, and the Chatsworth varieties, which are covered with 
flowers, averaging 100 spikes to each pan, which represent 2000 to 
3000 blooms. The effect is charming, and Mr. Timmis, the owner 
of Cleveley, must feel justly proud of such a show ; as also must 
his gardener, Mr. Cromwell. Another pleasing feature at this 
season is the Odontoglossum house, where are to be seen a splendid 
display of Sophronitis, hanging alternately with well flowered 
examples of Odontoglossum Eossi majus, and all thriving 
remarkably. 
Onctdium Cavexdisiiiaxum, 
In addition to many pretty Orchids in bloom at Highfield, 
Woolton, the residence of W. II. Tate, Esq., there is a very fine 
plant of the above, carrying sixteen spikes, each bearing sixty 
flowers. It is not often met with under such favourable conditions, 
but Orchids are really well grown at Highfield. Mr. Tate has 
a very choice collection, and Mr. George Haigh, the gardener, 
knows the cultivation they require. I shall have pleasure in noting 
the collection a little later on in the season.—E. P. E, 
Calantiie Culture for Profit. 
I "WAS much pleased with your article upon the above subject 
recently ; but although agreeing with the able writer upon the 
main points, there is one little yet very important matter respecting 
which I feel inclined to differ from him—viz., the best compost for 
Calanthes. 
I am one of those w'ho strongly advocate the use of loam for 
Calanthes, as I have seen both it and the compost recommended 
by “ M. il.” tried, and the result was much in favour of the 
former. The finest Calanthes I ever saw were grown in a mixture 
of three parts fibrous loam to one part dry cow manure, with a 
good sprinkling of finely broken oyster shells and charcoal through 
it. The gardener in this instance was possibly a fortunate “one in 
a hundred,” as he was generally able to procure good fibrous loam. 
In preparing it for Calanthes it was broken up by the hand into 
pieces the size of a large walnut, and passed over a riddle to free 
it from any loose soil before it was mixed for potting. 
At the place I mention we used to grow the greater part of the 
stock in 7-inch pots—five pseudo-bulbs in a pot. The pots were 
filled with clean crocks to within 2^ inches of the top, and the 
pseudo-bulbs planted in the soil above the level of the pot, in the 
same style that most Orchids are potted. They were then taken 
into a Cucumber house and placed on the side walls of the 
beds, where they remained until removed to their floweiing 
quarters. By the time they were needing shading the Cucumber 
leaves were sufficiently numerous to supply all requirements in 
that direction, and when syringing the Cucumber plants it was 
always our practice to give the Calinthes a slight syringing too. 
During the time they were in a vigorous growing state frequent 
supplies of diluted cow urine were given them, but as soon as 
growth ceased these supplies were stopped, and water gradually 
withheld until the flowers commenced expanding, after which no 
more was given them. 
I can fully endorse what “ M. H.” says regarding the necessity 
of keeping the pseudo-bulbs in heat during their resting period, as 
I remember at one time having a good object lesson on that point 
I was serving at a place where Calanthes were well grown, and the 
master thought much of his plants. One year, to give them a 
thorough rest, he had them all removed after flowering into a house 
which never had a much higher night temperature during the 
winter than 40°, and often below that. When the time for potting 
came round, what was the dismay of everyone to find that the- 
greater portion of the pseudo-bulbs were decayed and quite worth¬ 
less, and this all through mistaken kindness ! 
I do not think there is a more useful winter-flowering plant 
than the Calanthe, and it is remarkably strange how few take the 
full advantage of its utility. I know places where it forms the 
main supply of cut bloom during the dark months of the year, and 
yet in my present situation, where cut flowers during the winte? 
are much prized, there is not one Calanthe.— Flos, 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE PANSY. 
Many years ago, certainly from 1840 to about 1870, the 
“ Show ” Pansy was a popular flower with English florists as 
well as with our Scotch friends ; but whilst with us this flower 
dropped considerably into the background and was rarely seen,. 
Scottish florists continued year after year to introduce new and 
good varieties. Some of our English growers still cultivate this 
flower in the midland and northern districts, and the new Midland 
Pansy Society will do something towards creating a further 
interest in them. Divided as they are into three classes, seifs, 
W'hite grounds, and yellow grounds, with rigid rules as to quality in 
regard to markings and blotch, they do not admit of that great 
diversity of colouring which belongs to the fancy Pansy, hence the 
latter has achieved a great popularity in Scotland, and especially in 
the northern and midland districts of England. Some idea may be 
glined of its popularity in the fact that annually an average of 
100 new varieties are sent out for the first time by various raisers, 
ranging in price from 2s. Gd. to Ss. each. I have several Pansy 
growers’ catalogues before me, and in one I find 328 varieties 
enumerated, in another 418, and in another 531 varieties ; and if all 
the varieties in the catalogues published could be tabulated there 
would not be less than a thousand. 
This popular flower is also receiving great attention in America 
as well as in Germany and other parts of the Continent, and 
various “ strains ” of seed are advertised for decorative purposes,, 
but those who wish to grow flowers to exhibit for prizes must 
grow the fine named sorts of the florists. We are indebted to the 
Scotch florists for the superb varieties seen at the exhibitions in 
the midland and northern districts especially, and in amateur 
gardens where named varieties are grown. 
To describe the cultivation fully of named varieties, to have 
them in their true character and beauty, would require more space 
than I am able to ghm now. A few hints must suffice. Planting 
at the proper time is an essential point. The Scotch florists often 
send out plants in the spring not too well rooted, and wflthout any 
soil about the roots, and it is a mistake. When sent to a distance 
in the month of March, or earlier, and they can be planted in good 
soil in a cold frame, or temporarily planted rather close together in 
a sheltered spot, and protected in bad weather, they have time 
to make some roots before planting them in their open quarters in 
April. Where plants can be looked after during severe weather, 
buy them in October or November, and they then make strong 
plants for blooming early in the spring. It is a very great mistake 
to buy Pansy plants in May or June as some do, even waiting to 
see them in bloom first, for unless cool moist weather follows for 
a few days after the planting they make little or no headw^ay, 
and many die, then Pansies are condemned as being difficult to 
grow. 
Any good soil suits them for ordinary garden decoration,, 
digging it as deeply as possible, and mixing in decomposed manure 
and fresh loam, and if the existing soil is heavy some burnt 
earth or coarse sand. Plant out in April, or early in May at the 
latest, in March if possible ; and in dry weather water copiously^ 
Pansy plants should not be allowed to become too dry, neither water¬ 
logged in very wet weather. I have always found tbe young roota 
clinging to burnt earth and garden refuse when it has been used. 
An important point is to keep the plants free from green and 
brown aphis, the latter especially, as the Pansy is very subject to 
it in dry weather, particularly when keen east winds prevail. It 
is safest to give the plants a good dressing before planting, and I 
know no safer insecticide than “ Swift and Sure,” w'hich can be- 
obtained from any seedsman with instructions for use. This, used 
according to instructions, does not injure the very young flower 
buds, and is efficacious in destrojjing the aphides ; but it is wiser 
to apply a dressing occasionally, or the brown aphides soon do mis¬ 
chief beyond our reach. To those who grow for exhibiting 
