December 28, 1898. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
678 
CyPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE VAR. ILLUSTRE. 
There are many varieties of Cypripedium insigne now in 
cultivation, and these vary much in character. During the past 
few months three or four different forms have been adjudged 
awards of merit by the Orchid Committee of the Koyal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, this number including the variety depicted in the 
illustration (fig. 83). This was exhibited at the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, S.W., by R. J. Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, 
Camberwell, on Tuesday, November 28th. It is a very distinct 
kind, and attracted more than ordinary attention. The upper 
sepal is yellowish green, unusually heavily spotted brown, and has 
a well defined white tip. The petals are similarly marked, and the 
lip dark thining brown. 
ORCHID LESSONS FOR YOUNG GARDENERS. 
ROOTS AND THEIR REQUIREMENTS. 
(^Continued from -page 550.) 
Before pointing out the requirements of Orchid roots we must 
devote a few words to explaining in what respects they differ from 
those of most other plants, as a good guide is obtained in our 
practice if we understand with what we are dealing. In the first 
place, Orchids can be divided into two natural groups for the 
purposes of cultivation, as the requirements are very different. 
The largest group is that comprising what are termed “ epiphytes ” 
—namely, Orchids which are mostly found growing upon trees or 
other plants, or on decaying vegetable matter, and but seldom in 
the ordinary soil ; the other includes the so-called terrestrial 
Orchids, which are commonly deciduous, losing their leaves and 
growths every year, dying down to a fleshy tuber, which remains 
under the soil through the period of rest. With the epiphytes 
Orchid growers are mostly concerned, and to them first attention 
must be devoted. The principal point that will be noted in con¬ 
sidering these plants is that the roots are naturally seldom covered 
with much material, and this is of a light character, being formed 
of such decayed vegetation as may accumulate where the Orchids 
find a suitable spot for growing. As the plants are not parasites— 
that is, they do not derive any food support from the sap of the 
stems on which they live, it is therefore obvious the principal 
nourishment of the epiphytal Orchids must come from the rains 
and atmospheric moisture surrounding them. So it is that the 
roots perform two functions—one being to hold the plant in 
position, and the other to extract the requisite moisture from the 
air or some light substance, which shall not bury them deeply. As 
might be expected, the roots are very different from those of 
plants which derive their support from soil in the ordinary way. 
If examined they will be found to be comparatively thick and 
fleshy, free from the numerous minute fibres characteristic of 
other plants, while the roots produced on the stems, and therefore 
entirely exposed to the air, are frequently found to be covered with 
a whitish, ashen, or leaden coloured kind of bark, except the 
young tips, which are usually of a greenish tint, and the condition 
of these afford one of the most reliable indications of the health 
and activity of many Orchids, especially those producing large 
leafy stems. _ 
Three cultural hints can be derived from the facts mentioned, 
first, that the roots being thick and fleshy are easily injured and 
not readily renewed, pointing to the necessity of great care in 
all operations ; secondly, that very little material is required about 
the roots of the epiphytal Orchids, consequently it is a mistake to 
bury them deeply in large pots under a mass of close substance, 
excluding air from them, and leading to a sourness most antagonistic 
to healthy growth ; thirdly, that gross nourishment is not required, 
but a regular supply of moisture, and that the appearance of the 
stem roots often gives us an excellent idea of the state of the plant. 
In the case of the terrestrial Orchids the roots partake more of 
an annual character, for after each season fresh roots are produced, 
and the principal object of the cultivator is to encourage these to 
make free and rapid progress by a liberal supply of readily available 
food in a more substantial soil. Familiar examples of this class 
are afforded by the Calanthes of the vestita group amongst those 
grown under glass, and by Cypripedium spectabile amongst those 
which can be grown out of doors. The same fleshy moisture-loving 
character is, however, possessed even by these, and the only 
temporary safeguard against carelessness is that the large pseudo¬ 
bulbs or tubers serve as storehouses from which the plant draws 
supplies in time of need.—O rchidist. 
(To be continued.) 
REMARKS BEARING ON FRUIT CULTURE. 
Having received a letter from a correspondent, who is a member of 
a “Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association,’’ in which I am asked 
to answer five questions of a practical and very interesting kind ; and in 
writing answers thereto, it occurred to me that the matter might prove 
as useful as it is opportune to readers of the Journal of Horticulture. 
The questions are given in my correspondent’s own words, and are as 
follows :— 
(1) , Is canker in fruit trees caused principally by the roots penetrating 
into bad subsoil, such as clay, sand or gravel ? Yes; the principal 
cause of canker in fruit trees is the pushing of the roots into a cold, wet, 
poor, and perhaps, sour subsoil. Strong, vigorous growing varieties of 
the Apple worked on a free stock are rarely affected with canker. 
(2) , Are the roots of fruit trees (Vines in particular) under ordinary 
treatment inactive during the winter months? Practically, if not 
literally, the roots of fruit trees are inactive during the interval elapsing 
from the shedding of the leaves to the bursting of the buds in the 
spring, or at any time that circumstance may occur under artificial 
treatment. 
(3) , Do the roots of the Vines start into growth before or after top 
growth has commenced ? I believe the roots of the Vine start 
growing generally after top growth has commenced. This is certainly 
the case where the roots are in outside borders, and I believe it is the 
fact when the roots are growing in inside borders too. The Vine 
grown under favourable circumstances has completed its functionary 
preparations for another year’s work when it has shed its leaves, and so 
the plump well-ripened buds only await the necessary amount of 
increased light and warmth to push into growth in the spring in advance 
of root action. This is only reasonable, seeing that the temperature— 
to say nothing about the great importance of light as a factor of growth 
—to which the top part of the Vine or tree is subjected, is uniformly 
much higher than that of the soil about the roots. 
(4) , Is it beneficial to supply manure water to fruit trees just 
previous to their coming into bloom ? It is most certainly beneficial to 
well water fruit trees with diluted liquid manure previous to their 
coming into bloom, then, or at any other time, always assuming that 
the condition of the soil about the roots is such as to render the applica¬ 
tion of water advisable. It is more important that the soil should not 
be allowed to approach the dryness at the period indicated than at any 
other stage (not excepting the time the fruit is stoning) of the tree’s 
gro wth. Ocherwise the fruit buds would be likely to drop. 
