February 7,18S5. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
much to insecticides or fumigation, as these plants have a great 
antipathy to the latter. If kept clean, instead of being practically 
leafless when introduced into the forcing house, they should be 
covered with dark green foliage, proving that the plants have been 
properly treated and are in good health. If kept in a dry atmo¬ 
sphere after the completion of growth they are almost certain to 
be attacked by thrips. They require a cool treatment, and should 
be fully exposed to sunshine and the syringe freely used. The 
Azalea does not like fire heat, although it is often subjected to it, 
but rather cool, airy treatment, until the use of artificial heat is 
necessary. If the temperature of the structure in which they are 
placed can be kept 33°, that is ample, and it is better to allow it 
even to go a few degrees lower than dry the atmosphere in which 
they are grown. These plants being hardy should not be subjected 
during the resting period to hothouse treatment. The nearer an 
intermediate state for moisture, throughout the year, the soil can 
be kept, the more luxuriantly they grow. In Belgium a system of 
sprinkling with water is practised, and the leaf soil in which they 
are grown is never saturated, or, on the other hand, 
allowed to become dry. 
It is a well-known fact that Standen’s manure has 
been for years recommended for these plants. Many 
growers, however, have condemned it on the ground that 
it will eventually kill the plants if persisted in, but this 
is by no means the case, if used with care and judgment. 
Old root-bound plants with a few puny leaves only 
nestling round their flower buds can with two applications 
be restored to health next season. They will produce 
dark foliage, and the character of the plants in a single 
season become completely changed. One or two applica¬ 
tions annually are necessary for plants in the condition 
described.— Wm. Bardney. 
Dendrobium Crassinode Barberianum. 
Although closely allied to the well known D. Wardianum, 
this fine Dendrobe is distinct whether in or out of flower. The 
stems or pseudo-bulbs are, on the strongest plants, nearly a yard 
in length, and easily distinguishable by the much swollen nodes 
and depressions between. If these are well ripened they 
produce a great number of flowers, which are probably the 
most showy in the genus. It makes a fine display in wood 
baskets suspended from the roof, allowing the pseudo-bulbs to 
assume their natural pendent habit. 
A strong moist heat is essential while growing, and during 
this period the plants must have an abundant supply of water at 
the roots, a light sunny position, and be frequently sprinkled 
with tepid water. Like all the deciduous species it requires 
little or no water after the leaves have fallen until showing signs 
of life early in the new year, a minimum temperature of 45° 
suiting it well during this period. Small plants of this Orchid are 
Cypripedium Mrs. Fred Hardy. 
Amongst the many handsome Cypripediums that have 
been introduced of late, the one depicted in the woodcut 
(fig. 18) must be accorded a prominent position. It was 
obtained from a cross between C. superbiens and C. bel- 
latulum and evidences of both parents are readily 
observable. The petals are very striking and of much 
substance, with purplish spots on an almost pure white 
ground. The lip is somewhat small, and is of a dull 
white flushed with rose colour, darkening towards the 
mouth. The dorsal sepal is white faintly tinged with 
green, and having rows of dark maroon spots. It was 
exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, at the 
Drill Hall, on January 15th, when it received an award 
of merit. 
Calanthe Culture. 
FIG. 18.— CYPRIPEDIUM MBS. FRED HARDY. 
apt to die off at the base of the pseudo-bulbs, a habit they 
generally lose after attaining a large size. Although to a certain 
extent this is a natural defect in the species, it may occasionally 
be caused by injudicious watering when the young growths are 
pushing. 
At this stage a certain amount of water is needed, as the 
flowers are a great drain on the resources of the plants, but this 
is in all cases better applied by immersing the plants in water 
just deep enough to cover the roots without wetting the young 
shoots. As the season advances and the sunlight increases this 
caution is unnecessary, but care must still be taken that the water 
does not collect in the apex of the young growths. 
Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum. 
This well known and very variable species is much stronger 
growing than O. crispum, which it somewhat resembles in habit. 
Hariy two plants have flowers exactly alike, and although varieties 
innumerable have been named and described, not half of these are 
I AM interested in, and should like to learn some¬ 
thing new about growing Calanthe Veitchi. For some 
years I have been, as I thought, a successful grower 
of these plants, and have had spikes measuring 4 feet 
6 inches and 4 feet 8 inches in length. This is considerably 
behind Mr. Friend’s 5 feet 9 inch spikes (page 67), and I 
feel sure a few remarks from him as to his method of culture would 
be useful and interesting to many readers.— John Bates, Stone. 
Phal^nopses at Harnham Cliffe. 
Some very fine Phalagnopses are now flowering with Captain 
Greenwood at Harnham Cliffe near Salisbury, the strong flower 
spikes and vigorous growth of the plants betokening the care 
that is bestowed on their culture. The plants are growing in 
wood baskets suspended about 18 inches from the roof in a 
small lean-to pit. A fine piece of P. Stuartiana has four large 
leaves and a spike bearing twenty-four flowers; these are 
upwards of 2 inches across, the sepals and petals white, the former 
spotted about the base with brown ; the lip is also white in ground 
colour, with many bright red spots on the side lobes. Several 
fine plants of F. SchUleriana deserve note, with spikes bearing 
from fifteen to twenty large, brightly coloured flowers, as also 
does a very fine form of F. grandifiora with blossoms of extra 
size and substance. 
