February 32 , 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
141 
in which they are to be placed. There are hundreds of acres of 
Larch timber in Bedfordshire and some of the adjoining counties 
that at thirty years’ growth are decayed at the core, and only 
worth on an average one-third the price that at their age and size 
they should have realised. To those persons who have studied 
soils in relation to trees the cause of this decline in our most valued 
Conifer is not far to seek, for the practical arboriculturist knows 
well that neither sand nor gravel can sustain for a lengthened 
period a healthy condition in the Larch. 
Most trees can survive and remain healthy on almost any 
description of soil, although the rate of growth and quantity of 
timber produced may not be at all satisfactory ; but this is not 
the case with the Larch, which suffers terribly from disease when 
certain conditions, but more particularly that of soil, have not been 
attended to. From almost every part of Great Britain and Ireland 
I have had specimens and descriptions of Larch trees that have 
become unhealthy and are rapidly dying out from one or other of 
the diseases to which the tree is so liable ; but in nearly every 
instance the cause of failure can be distinctly traced to planting 
the trees on the wrong classes of soils. 
“ Pumping,’' or becoming decayed at the core, is a widespread evil 
to which the Larch is particularly susceptible, and owing to which 
thousands of trees have of late years been rendered worthless or 
almost so, and the returns in consequence greatly diminished. Not 
long ago I was asked to value a large plantation of this tree that 
had become seriously affected not only from “ pumping,” but from 
the ravages of the unfortunately far from uncommon fungus pest, 
Peziza Willkommi. The trees in this case were in a most pitiable 
condition, patches containing several hundreds of specimens, and 
mostly from 30 feet to 36 feet in height, being utterly worthless 
for any constructive purpose, and only fitted for the most temporary 
class of fencing or for firewood. Under ordinary conditions the 
value of these trees should hive been on an average 4s. each, or, 
standing as they were, about £80 per acre. But this is only one 
case out of many that could be mentioned where, owing mainly to 
an unwise discrimination between trees and soil, great loss to the 
owner had been brought about. 
If anyone interested at all in trees and their growth will care¬ 
fully examine a large mixed plantation, where the conditions of 
soil, exposure, vary considerably, it will be found that there is 
a great disproportion in size of the individual trees of a species, 
and it will also be noticed that where the largest and healthiest 
occur the tree is growing on its own particular soil, and flourishing 
at the expense of all around it. 'The finest Oak will be found 
where the soil is deep and loamy, resting on clay ; Beech on 
calcareous gravel, resting on a bed of chalk ; Ash and Elm on 
rather dampish loam or alluvial deposit ; the Scotch and Corsican 
Pines (Pinus sylvestris and P. laricio) at fairly high altitudes on 
gravelly well-drained soils ; and the Cluster and Aleppo Pines 
(Pinus pinaster and P. halepensis) in almost pure sand on the 
geacoast. 
There is no reason now-a-days for continuing to adopt the 
system of mixed planting carried out by our forefathers, under the 
plea that if one kind fails another may succeed, for with our 
nineteenth century knowledge of trees best adapted for various 
soils we may plant with the greatest certainty of success. Nothing 
tends more to lower the art of forestry in this country than 
the chance or haphazard system of tree planting that, even at 
the present day, is such a conspicuous feature of our woodlands.— 
A. D. Webster. 
L^lio-Cattleya Hon. Mrs. Astor. 
This beautiful bigeneric hybrid was exhibited by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, at the meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society on the 13th inst., and attracted more than ordinary 
attention. The flower depicted in the engraving (fig. 22) was 
borne by a small plant, said to have been raised from seed about 
five years ago, and for which a first-class certificate was awarded. 
The hybrid in question is the result of a cross between Laelia 
xanthina and Cactleya Gaskelliana. The flowers are large and 
attractive, the petals and sepals being pale vellow shaded buff. 
The front lobe of the lip is rich purplish ro.se, tinted violet and 
margined with lilac, the throat being yellow veined purplish brown. 
Orchids in Febrcary. 
There is hardly a month in the year more likely to excite 
interest and enthusiasm in the Orchid houses and their occupants 
than the present. With the lengthening days the number of 
species and varieties in flower increases, and the houses daily grow 
brighter and more attractive. Odontoglossums are now making a 
fine show, the varieties of 0. crispum and 0. Pescatorei being 
especially useful, while O. triumpbans, O. Rossi, O. maculatum, 
0. Andersonianum, 0. pardinum, and others all contribute to the 
attractions of the cool house. 
Dendrobiums are flowering unusually well this season, the 
growths being so well ripened last year no doubt accounting in a 
fig. 22.—L^LIO-CATTLEYA HON. MRS. ASTOR. 
great measure for this. D. nobile, that most useful and beautiful 
species, is well to the fore ; also D. Wardianum, the most chaste 
of all Dendrobiums. D. crassinode Barberianum and D. aureum, 
D. speciosum and its var. Hilli are past their best, but will soon 
be followed by the elegant racemes of D. thyrsiflorum, D. chryso^ 
toxum, and others of the evergreen species. 
Cypripediums, though not so showy as some other kinds, are 
nevertheless very acceptable, the length of time they remain in 
good condition being a great point in their favour. C. Sedeni, 
C. villosum, C. Boxalli, and C. bellatulum are amongst those now 
in flower; whilst C. barbatum, C. Lawrencianum, and others are 
coming on rapidly. Cattleyas are chiefly represented by C Trianse 
and C. Percivaliana, both very valuable species, the markings on 
the lip of some varieties of the latter being very beautiful. 
Cymbidium Lowianum is now in good condition, as are also the 
gigantic spikes of Lselia superbiens, a splendid species which well 
repays any trouble taken in its cultivation. 
Lycaste Skinneri and its varieties are the most prominent 
members of this genus now flowering, and here it may be said 
that great care is necessary to prevent the flowers being spotted 
by damp, the white varieties being especially susceptible to injury. 
It is a good plan to entirely withhold water from this species when 
in bloom, and if the plants are grouped together there is less risk 
of injury from watering contiguous plants. Coelogyne cristata, 
and one or two others, contribute their quota to the general 
attractiveness ; while the snowy white Masdevallia tovarensis and 
the glowing Sophronitis grandiflora are still flowering freely.— 
H. R. Richards. 
