8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
January 4,1894. 
Culture of Calantiie Veitciii. 
Of all the plants that belong to the Orchid family, there is 
not one more useful or easy of cultivation than this Calanthe. 
In a cut condition the flowers are perhaps more generally admired 
and employed, the absence of foliage militating against the general 
use of the plants. If the pots are arranged amidst a base of 
Maidenhair, or other low-growing Ferns, intermixed with a few 
well-grown Palms, such as Kentias, Cocos Weddelliana, or Geonoma 
gracilis, about 2 feet high, a good effect can be obtained. An excel¬ 
lent way of arranging them is in a mass in a sloping form on each 
side of a narrow span-roofed house, having a path in the centre. 
Our plants occupy a position in the late vinery, the Grapes 
having been cut to admit of the Calanthes being accommodated. 
A vinery in midwinter would not perhaps be considered by some 
a suitable site to flower Orchids in, but the fact of their flowering so 
satisfactorily under these conditions convinces me more than ever 
of the usefulness of Calanthes. The spikes show to great advantage 
if cut with their whole length of stem and arranged lightly in suit¬ 
able vases along with graceful greenery. There is nothing better 
for this purpose than a spray of the dark bronzy coloured Berberis 
aquifolium, this colour forming a really good base for the Calanthe 
blooms. To give additional lightness, amongst the Mahonia foliage 
some fronds of Maidenhair Fern should be inserted. They are 
also useful for bouquets. The colour is especially pleasing when in 
good condition—a rich rose ; even then in density the colour varies, 
owing mainly to cultural conditions. In districts much addicted to 
fog and want of light the colour is often a pale lilac. The height 
of the flower spikes varies according to the treatment given the 
plants. In some instances they do not reach more than 15 inches 
high, while in others they attain a height of 3 feet, and even more. 
Well developed spikes will average thirty blooms to each. At the 
present time we have some single spikes with twenty-eight developed 
blooms and four unopened buds, the spikes being 2 feet 10 inches 
long. The length of the pseudo-bulbs also varies considerably for 
the same reason as does the flower spikes, but mainly these are 
influenced by the methods of culture practised. Sometimes they 
are not more than 6 inches high, and again they grow 1 foot 
and of proportionate thickness, which means strong or weak flower 
spikes, as the case may be. It is useless to expect large, fully 
developed flower spikes from half-starved, weakly pseudo-bulbs. 
Considering the ease with which this Calanthe can be,grown, 
and its usefulness when in bloom, it is surprising that more of 
them are not seen in better condition in private gardens of small 
pretensions. A moist warm atmosphere during the time they are 
making their growth is necessary for the development of good 
foliage and stout healthy pseudo-bulbs. A temperature which 
ranges from 65° to 70° by night, and rises to 85° during the day, 
accompanied with shade to the plants and a position near the 
glass, are the salient points in their culture. A shelf near the roof 
in an ordinary stove. Cucumber or Melon house, will answer very 
well. A position so near to the glass that the foliage will be burnt 
during the summer is to be deprecated, the scorching of the leaves 
under such conditions being attended with results not to be desired 
when flowering time comes round. When growing in a moist 
atmosphere the foliage is rather susceptible to scalding, owing to 
sudden bursts of bright sunshine. Various sized pots may be 
employed, according to the purpose for which the plants are 
required. We pot our Calanthes in different sizes, four of the 
largest being placed in 7-inch pots, and as many of the smaller size 
into 5^-inch pots. One strong pseudo bulb is sometimes put into 
a 4^-inch pot. Such plants come in useful in a variety of ways 
when they are required for certain positions in the dwelling house. 
When greater masses of flowers are neeeed, eight pseudo-bulbs 
should be employed in 9-inch pots. 
The middle of February is a good time to repot this Calanthe. 
The pseudo-bulbs by that time will be making fresh roots, the 
soil for some time previous having been kept quite dry. 
Thoroughly shake the old soil out of the roots. The pots 
should be quite clean and half filled with crocks ; in the case of 
the largest sized pots a few additional crocks will be needed. It 
is an essential point to maintain the drainage in a perfect condition. 
Over the crocks place a layer of rough loam. The compost that 
answers well is one of three parts fibry loam, one of partly dried 
cow manure, but not much decayed, with a free addition of sharp 
silver sand and charcoal to keep the whole porous where the loam 
is of a heavy nature. Place the pseudo-bulbs in the soil sufficiently 
deep to allow of them standing erect, and no more. If the soil 
is moist give no water until they show signs of new growth, 
except it be a sprinkle with the syringe to maintain moisture 
about them. After potting, the pots in our case are packed closely 
together on the stage over a water tank in the Cucumber house 
until growth is well begun. Afterwards the pots are stood on a 
shelf, either in the same house or in a similar position in the plant 
stove, and shaded from bright sunshine, otherwise they receive all 
available light. 
When the growth has fairly commenced, abundance of water is 
given to the roots. Where possible use rain or softened water; 
and when roots are freely made weak liquid manure is supplied 
every alternate watering. The plants are syringed at least twice daily^ 
which tends to keep the foliage clean. If a base of coal ashes can be 
provided for them on the shelf during the summer so much the better. 
A top-dressing of freshly gathered cow manure at a time when the 
bulbs are swelling freely and the foliage developing will be of 
much service, adding to the luxuriance of the foliage and increasing 
the strength of the flower spikes. When the growth is made, and 
the new pseudo-bulbs ripening, water should be gradually with¬ 
held both from the roots and foliage. I would, however, warn cul¬ 
tivators of little experience to be careful in this detail; if the water 
supply is suddenly limited the foliage will prematurely decay. 
I like to see some at the time the flower spikes are opening. 
Towards the autumn the flower spikes will protrude from the base 
of each pseudo-bulb. The soil should be kept moist at this stage, 
and when the plants commence to unfold their flowers provide a 
dry atmosphere, combined with a cooler temperature, say 50 to 
55° by night, with a rise of 10° during the day, although two or 
three degrees higher at both periods will not interfere with their 
development properly. A lower temperature than that named, 
along with a moist atmosphere, would cause the flowers to become 
spotted, and eventually decay prematurely. Under favourable 
conditions the flowers last in beauty fully three months, our jJlants 
commencing to unfold the lower blooms early in November. The 
spikes at the present time, December 28th, are not yet fully 
developed.—E. Molyneux. 
[Some spikes of bloom we received from Mr. Molyneux were 
remarkably fine, and indicated that the system of culture detailed 
above is an excellent one, which may advantageously be adopted by 
other growers,] 
The Weather in London. —Changeable weather has characterised 
the past week. Severe frosts and local fogs were prevalent on Saturday 
and Sunday, but Monday was milder and tolerably clear. Tuesday was 
for the most part dull and cold, with snow showers. Wednesday 
opened cold, and with a wintry aspect. 
- The Weather in the North. —The weather of the past 
week was less variable than that of the preceding one. The 27th ult. 
was a gloomy day, and the evening very wet. The following four days 
were dry and pleasant, the former part of the Slat especially so ; but 
the afternoon was colder, and a heavy shower fell in the evening. New 
Year’s Bay was fine with a slight touch of frost throughout the day aud 
night, and Tuesday also was a fine seasonable day.—B. D , S. Perthshire. 
- Koyal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—G ratifying as is the 
public support giren to this charity, unfortunately the claims on its 
resources are greater than can be met. The Secretary had an excellent 
record to place before the Committee on Friday last, in the form of 
upwards of £110 in special contributions ; but he had also a list of 
eleven new applicants, making eighteen in all for election, but one of 
these was not considered eligible. Amongst the contributions were 
£35 15s., the proceeds of a concert at Altrincham, sent by Mr. W. 
Plant. The following sums were also sent from autumn shows :— 
Eeigate, £20 ; Rugby, £6 17s. 8d.; Bristol, £6 lls. 4d. and Leighton 
Buzzard, £6 lls. Personal donations amounted to £16 5s., aud the 
proceeds of collecting boxes £18 14s. 2d., including £7 Is. 5J. from 
Mr. Jones of Lewisham, as resulting from his Chrysanthemum Show. 
The month’s record shows how much may be done towards a good 
cause by a combination of effort by sympathetic helpers in various 
ways and districts. Only five children can be elected as recipients of 
the charity at the annual meeting to be held at the Cannon Street 
Hotel on 9th February. The annual dinner is proposed to be held, 
subject to the convenience of the Lord Mayor, on lOih May. 
