November 30, 1393. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
487 
was brought. Retracing our steps we climb the tower, where the 
keen sharp air brings forcibly to our mind that we had an early 
breakfast, and our worthy guide, Mr. Wilmett, trots us off to 
his creeper-clad cottage, where two hungry gardeners lighten the 
larder, and afterwards feast our eyes outside on the glowing mass 
of Ampelopsis Veitchi clothing the gardener’s house and the out¬ 
side of the garden walls. 
On the left bank of the river, immediately opposite, is Shelton 
Abbey, the home of the Earl of "Wicklow, laying low in the valley, 
distinct in its character from Glenart, but equally beautiful. The 
nearest bridge is miles away, and boating is not possible at any¬ 
time. To-day water is scarce, at other times too plentiful, coming 
down with a rush from the mountains ; but friend Wilmett, 
though not an energetic man, is equal to this emergency, and 
orders his heavy cart, in which, cushioned on straw, we navigate 
through broad shoals of gravel, and catch Mr. Tyler at home, 
from which I think Irish gardeners are seldom absent. Huge Bay 
Laurels and many shrubs, but semi-hardy in less favoured localities, 
flourish here. All looks well in the houses. Again more Pines, 
but little inferior to those of Glenart ; but a limited staff of hands 
cannot result in the high keeping which obtains across the river. 
Another noted place a few miles from here is Coollattin Park, the 
seat of Earl Fitzwilliam, as yet to me a terra incognita. 
Nearer to Dublin is the ruins of the seven churches in the 
valley of Glendalough, and nearer still to the busy hum of the 
great city is the Scalp, a gigantic freak of Nature in rockwork 
building, huge boulders of many tons weight piled high up on 
each side of the high road. The Scalp being but some nine miles 
by road from Dublin is a popular resort of those on pleasure bent, 
and sundry remains in the shape of bottles bearing the name of 
Guiness or Jamieson give silent evidence of modern Celts 
patronising Irish manufacture; but among the mountains of 
Wicklow, the lover of Nature can, undisturbed, hold communion 
with her visible forms, and easier understand how strong is that 
feeling of amor patriae in the breast of the poor emigrant, so 
many of whom go to seek their fortunes in the great land of the 
West, and so few of whom return to see again the loved hills and 
valleys of dear Ireland. 
Sparsely populated, each census telling the tale of decreasing 
numbers, the few one meets with are quiet and thoughtful looking, 
greeting the stranger in soft and pleasing accents, so different to 
the awful brogue some English papers are pleased to give us 
specimens of. Warm-hearted, generous to a fault. Some years 
since the rector of the parish I was then situated in was lending 
a sympathetic ear to my tale of difficulties—I, a newly imported 
gardener, experienced with a large staff of workmen ; but years 
have rolled by, and hours of trial have come that few escape, and I 
have experienced that generous warm-hearted sympathy ungrudg¬ 
ingly given to me, an alien in race and creed, that I can now 
endorse the remark he then concluded with—“ with all their faults 
I love them still.” I venture to touch but lightly on a subject 
which may at first eight appear out of place in the Journal. Yet, 
on consideration, it cannot be an unimportant one to the English 
gardener settled in Ireland; and to those who are not, it may serve 
to remove one at least of many erroneous impressions that time 
and experience have eliminated from the mind of—E. K. 
Orchids for Flowering at Christmas. 
{Continued from page 464.) 
A SELECTION of Orchids for flowering at Christmas would be 
incomplete without that easily managed and useful species Cypri- 
pedium insigne, which, with its varieties, can be depended upon, 
with greater certainty and less trouble than any other, to produce 
its flowers in December, and retain them in good condition into 
January, or later if desired. As a matter of experiment we have 
grown this Cypripedium in many different soils and under varying 
conditions, and though it has not been always equally satisfactory, 
it has never absolutely failed. If potted soon after flowering in a 
compost of equal parts fibrous loam and peat, with the addition of 
a small proportion of old decomposed cow or horse manure, it has 
a long season of growth, a vinery being a capital place for it, 
supplying water and syringing freely in warm weather. At the 
present time a conservatory, warm greenhouse, or the cool end of 
an Orchid house is suitable—in fact, any position where it can be 
protected from draughts of cold air, and where the temperature 
does not fall below 45°, diminishing the application of water as the 
flowers show, but giving enough to prevent their suffering or being 
checked. When in flower plants can be placed in a room, or the 
flowers if cut and arranged in vessels of water will last for weeks. 
The varieties are now numerous, ranging from a pale yellow or 
nearly white tint to a rich polish bronzy brown, with purple or 
violet spots, or tinting in dorsal sepal, which also varies in size and 
in the breadth of the white margin. One of the best still is, however, 
C. insigne Maulei. _ 
For richness of colouring and gracefulness of habit Lselia 
anceps and its charming varieties are unsurpassed for winter, and 
their flowers can be as readily ensured at Christmas as the old 
Cypripedium just named. They can be grown in a warm con¬ 
servatory or in the warm end of a cool Orchid house, but from now 
until tbe flowers are fully expanded they are better in rather dry 
quarters, as the presence of much moisture in the air is apt to 
injure the flowers. Only sufficient water is required to keep them 
fresh and prevent the plants suffering, and it may be taken as a 
general rule for Orchids in flower during winter that the smallest 
quantity of water with which they can be supplied consistent with 
the health of the plants is the most likely to ensure the long lasting 
of the flowers. The ordinary varieties of L. anceps, with rosy 
purple sepals apd petals and rich crimson lip, are all beautiful and 
useful for general cultivation, but there are scores of other forms 
differing greatly in richness or delicacy of colouring, some, as 
Barkeriana and Dawsoni, possessing strongly marked characters. 
A most useful winter Orchid is Zygopetalum Mackayi, which 
produces its purple-veined flowers naturally in the dull season, and 
the plants being managed without any great difficulty it is de¬ 
servedly a favourite. It makes its growth best in an intermediate 
house, a warm conservatory, or the coolest part of a stove. When 
in flower it is preferably, however, transferred to drier quarters 
like most of the others mentioned. The well-known Dendrobium 
nobile can be added to the list, for if the plants have been duly 
prepared it is easy to have some in flower at the middle or end 
of December. D. Wardianum can also be occasionally had in 
flower at the same time, but both must have been thoroughly 
matured in a sunny warm position, and be bought on very gradu¬ 
ally. D. nobile is especially valuable, as its flowers are useful for 
cutting to be employed in buttonholes or bouquets. Vanda 
coerulea will help materially if it can be secured, and its pale blue 
flowers can easily be had if the plants are arranged in a cool house 
and carefully watered during the present and the next month. 
The small flowered but fragrant Vanda Amesiana is another 
charming Orchid for this season, its white rose and purple-tinted 
flowers being much appreciated. Like the last, it is best in a 
cooler position while flowering. The diverse-flowered Dendrobium 
Phalsenopsis var. Schroederianum is in excellent condition during 
November and part of December, some plants frequently continuing 
attractive over Christmas. An intermediate temperature suits 
very well, but it can be arranged with any of those named in a 
warm conservatory. The true autumn-flowering Cattleya labiata 
may be grown under similar conditions, and its flowers prolonged 
into January. This, and its varieties under whatever names they 
are grown are most valuable for the Christmas list.— Orchidist. 
(To be continued.) 
THE PREMATURE DECAY OF APPLES. 
I WAS much interested in reading Mr. Iggulden’s letter on page 437, 
November 16th, and, like him, should be glad to have a satisfactory 
explanation of the premature decay of our early Apples this season. 
Every agriculturist knows full well that when Turnips have been 
checked in their growth by hot dry weather, and their skin has become 
“hide bound,” they will after a soaking rain, start to grow again, and 
the skin being tough will frequently crack at the shoulder, the Turnip 
putting out fresh tops at the neck, and subsequently keeping very badly. 
This would seem to support Mr. Iggulden’s theory that the late rains, 
which came before the fruit was ripened, coming after the long dry spell, 
had by causing the fruit to swell rapidly occasioned the mischief com¬ 
plained of but this theory is difficult to maintain in the face of the 
fact that the same varieties when grown in pots under glass, and had never 
suffered from lack of food or moisture, spotted and cracked quite as 
badly as their fellows in the open air. Many of the best fruits after being 
carefully gathered and stored swelled and cracked like a baked Apple, 
Ecklinville, Alexander, Lord Suffield, Lord Grosvenor, and New Haw-- 
thornden, were amongst the worst offenders, whilst Cox s Pomona, a 
variety which I think much under-rated, Domino and Bismarck have 
stood the trial better. 
Of the American varieties I cannot say much,^ as they are unsuited 
for our climate in the Midlands. Newtown Pippin we discarded year 
8 
