544 
June 20, 1896. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
well-drained pasture is full of nitrogen, in three forms—nitrates, 
ammonia, and organic matter. The first 9 inches of soil in 1 acre, 
if weighed when dry and all roots removed, would contain about 
2,250,000 lbs. of soil. At 010 per cent, of nitrogen this quantity 
of soil would therefore contain 2250 lbs. ; but the turf we use for 
potting has alt the roots in it, and these by their decomposition 
yield a large supply of nitrogen. Clover being a leguminous plant, 
greatly increases the nitrogen in a pasture. 
How is the Nutrition of Pot Plants Effected ?—The various 
composts we use for potting purposes should contain sufficient 
food for the growth of the plants ; but the food in the richest soil 
can only last for a short time in the limited space of a pot, and 
therefore we should try to make the best of the soil. It isjia 
common practice when sifting soil to throw out the lumps of turf 
that will not pass through the sieve. This is a great mistake. 
These lumps should be rubbed through, as their decay greatly 
increases the supply of nitrogen to servo as plant food. 
When the soil in pots is getting exhausted the plants cease to 
grow vigorously, the foliage becomes pale, and the plant is weak in 
the growing point. We must now supply it with food. Soluble 
artificial manures are generally used where good liquid manure 
cannot be obtained. Great care should be taken not to overfeed, 
as this encourages rank growth ; young tissues are built up too 
fast ; the plants are not well matured, and when in this condition 
are more liable to prevalent diseases. Dr. Sorauer says that “ the 
majority of diseased plants he received from gardeners was the 
result of overfeeding.” 
I have used tons of chemical manure, and from practical 
experience I find it better to under than over-feed. If we wish to 
keep our plants healthy we should know the composition of the 
soil we have to deal with ; also the composition of manures, and 
the ash constituents of plants. We should then be able to mix our 
own compounds to suit plants under our care. In conclusion I 
may say that of all the elements essential for plant life nitrogen is 
the most important. It is one of the chief elements of protoplasm, 
and this is the substance which gives life to plants.— {Paper 
read hy Mr. J. Gay, at a meeting of the Wormley and District 
Horticultural Society.) 
Cattleya gigas Sander.e. 
Amongst the most conspicuous of the many handsome Orchids 
shown at the last meeting of the Drill Hall was Cattleya gigas 
Sanderse, of which the woodcut (fig. 97) represents a flower. This 
Cattleya is superb in colour and of splendid shape. The sepals 
and petals are of the brightest rose, while the lip is of an intensely 
rich maroon with gold and brown veins in the throat. It was 
staged by Mr. J. Hamilton, gardener to Hamar Bass, Esq., Burton- 
on-Trent, and was awarded a first-class certificate by the Orchid 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Broomfield Collection of Orchids. 
The celebrated collection of Orchids got together by Matthew 
Wells, Esq , Broomfield, Sale, near Manchester, is to be sold on the 
premises on Wednesday and Thursday, June 26th and 27th. The 
plants will be sold without reserve, as Mr. Wells is relinquishing 
their cultivation; and Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, of Cheapside 
London, will effect the sale, commencing at half-past twelve o’clock 
each day. The collection includes many rare and beautiful species 
varieties and hybrids. ’ 
Habenaria bifolia. 
This, the British Butterfly Orchid, is now very beautiful in the 
woods hereabouts, and a dozen spikes loosely arranged in a glass 
before us are exquisite, and fill the room with fragrance. But it 
is growing naturally under the deep shade of Hazel bushes, and 
with the pure white flowers in contrast with the dark green of the 
surrounding foliage the true beauty of this is seen. Here, also, 
is where they luxuriate, revelling in the moist soil and shady 
cool atmosphere, and the strongest spikes in dry open positions 
cannot compare with these for size of flower or length of spike. 
This Orchid is easily naturalised in suitable positions in shrub¬ 
beries or underwood in the pleasure grounds, and the nearer the 
conditions approach those indicated above the greater will be the 
success with it. In localities where they are plentiful no harm can 
be done by lifting a few clumps just after the flowers fade, and 
establishing them in the garden. This is quite different from the 
reckless spoliation of our native wild flowers and Ferns, which 
goes on and apparently increases in the vicinity of all large towns^ 
hawkers digging up Primroses and Ferns just as they are in the 
middle of the season’s growth, these being planted in town gardens 
without any regard to a suitable position or soil, and consequently 
dying at once. The Habenaria referred to thrives in an ordinary,, 
fairly stiff loam, and after planting should be mulched with some 
short material, as lawn grass or half-decayed leaves. Possibly,^ 
owing to the conditions under which it grows, this species is not 
quite so free in seeding as the Orchis species— e.g., 0. maculata, 
0. militaris, or 0. pyramidalis ; but if the flowers are not cut too 
hard there will soon be a number of young plants, which during. 
June and July will fill the air with the delightful perfume of their 
blossoms. 
L^lia majalis. 
Although a dwarf-growing plant this superb species takes 
rank with the finest in the genus, and compared with the size of 
the growth the flowers are wonderfully large ; in fact, if well 
managed there is not a more satisfactory species to grow. A 
small plant in a suspended pan 5 inches across has three twin- 
flowered spikes, and these, when fully opened, will doubtless be 
7 inches across, no mean result from pseudo-bulbs barely 2 inches 
high. A common cause of complaint against this species is its 
alleged paucity of blooming, but this is chiefly the fault of the 
cultivator. 
L. majalis should be grown in a light sunny position in the 
coolest part of the Cattleya house, with an abundant supply of 
moisture at the roots, and these, being fairly large and fleshy,, 
delight in an open and well aerated compost. Some growers use 
blocks for this Orchid, and but for the almost constant attention 
required in watering, this system has much to recommend it, the 
roots having nothing to surfeit them, and the fact of their being 
wholly exposed to the atmosphere is conducive of their longevity— 
an important point. Still the fact cannot be gainsayed that blocks 
should only be used for those species which it is impossible to rear 
in any other way, and with L. majalis this is possible—in fact, easy. 
Shallow pans, filled to within half an inch of the rims with 
crocks, these being kept rather high in the centre, and a thin layer 
of compost, are all that is needed. Good fibrous peat in lumps as 
large as a pigeon’s egg, fresh sphagnum moss, and a little charcoal 
will be a suitable mixture for it. As soon as the pseudo-bulbs are 
quite finished, as indicated by their plump appearance, the plants 
must be turned out of doors and fully exposed to all changes of 
weather excepting very heavy rains. On the other hand, they 
must not by any means be dried, but need frequent attention in 
watering. 
As the nights get colder at the end of August or beginning of 
September they must be taken either to a cool airy vinery or Peach 
house, or arranged in a pit with a south aspect, still exposed by 
day, but drawing the lights on at night. This thoroughly consoli¬ 
dates and ripens the growth, and is the principal point in the culti¬ 
vation of this species. The plants may now be kept nearly dry 
until the new year, vphen they may be again introduced to the 
Cattleya house, and as soon as the buds at the base of the pseudo- 
bulbs commence to swell the compost must be put in order,, 
repotting or surfacing as may be necessary. This insures the 
new roots a congenial medium to run in, thus increasing the vigour 
of the plants. 
The flower spikes appear in the centre of the young growth and 
quickly develop, being generally in full beauty by the end of May. 
It is from this circumstance that the species received its native 
name of “ Flor De May, Mayflower.” The blossoms, as mentioned 
above, are frequently 7 inches across, the sepals are lanceolate, the 
petals broader, both of a pretty rose tint. The lip is large, rose, 
with streaks and a few spots of deep lilac purple. L. majalis is a 
native of Mexico, whence it was introduced in 1838. —H. R. R. 
MODERN GRAPE GROWING. 
Early Training. 
{^Continued from page 470.) 
It is a common practice with those even who intend to grow their 
Vines on the restrictive method, to commence with something which is 
far beyond the extension system, and can only be termed a wild or 
rambling system. “The more leaves, the more roots,” they say. 
Possibly, but that depends on whether you calculate by weight or 
numbers. 
Allow a Vine to make rampant growth and you get large fleshy roots 
comparatively few in number, and which, if unrestricted, will travel 
several yards away from the stem during the first season, desert the 
border altogether you have been at so much pains to prepare for them, 
and all your after watering and feeding of the prepared portion will be 
80 much labour and material thrown away, for once roots get away from 
