178 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I September 1, 1887. 
this season by crops that ought not to have been per¬ 
mitted to encourage and support them. “ Cannot help it,” 
does someone say ? “ no time to pull them up.” “ No 
time ! ” How much longer would it take to clear away a 
row of the Beans than it took to gather the last dish 
that was used from the plants? It would not take a 
minute longer; indeed the plants could have been drawn in 
less time than could a “ last dish ” when fresh pods are 
scarce and have to be sought for over a considerable 
length of row. There may be many too old, but the 
existence of these, that ought not to be there, is sufficient 
evidence of the fresh ones being few, and the plants could 
be drawn in less time than the dish could be gathered ; 
yet they remain week after week—for the spider. 
Passing through a Peach house the other day the 
writer observed to his guide—“I see you have a little 
spider here.” The trees were nearly devoured. The 
complacent reply was, “Yes, they came off them Beans.” 
No doubt that was so, and “ them Beans ” on the border 
close to the front ventilators had not afforded a green 
pod for a month, yet every plant of them could have been 
cleared off in ten minutes, and tens of thousands of the 
“ spider ” kept at a distance from the Peach trees. 
Negligence in removing waste vegetables and profitless 
crops does not pertain to the best managed gardens, but 
in many of the other kind this great blot is much too 
conspicuous to be overlooked.— Observer. 
L2ELIA ANCEPS JN THE OPEN AIR. 
For several years Mr. A. H. Smee has grown many of the 
cool Orchids in the open air in his celebrated garden at The Grange, 
Wallington, with remarkable success. This year several plants were 
placed out as usual in June, and they all appear to be thriving better 
than ever. The recent hot days and cool nights seem to have suited 
them admirably, judging from the strong growths the plants are 
making, especially Odontoglossum Alexandras and Oncidium 
crispum, some of which are forming their flower spikes. This 
season, in addition to those subjected to the above treatment, a few 
large pieces of Lfelia anceps were placed out on a platform above a 
small stream, where they receive the direct sunshine, and during 
the middle part of the day the boards on which the plants stand 
have been almost too hot to place the hand on ; nevertheless new 
leaves and bulbs are now partly made, and in almost every one the 
flower spikes are appearing. When in the houses they were of the 
ordinary green colour, but at the present time their character is 
entirely changed, the young leaves are a fine bronzy red without 
spot or blemish. Mr. Smee has an idea that the blooms, as well as 
the foliage, will obtain a deeper colour. The whole of the plants 
enjoy the heavy dews at night. During some evenings the leaves 
are as wet as though they had been watered with the fine rose of a 
water pot.—W. 
THE GLEN, LEWISHAM. 
The admirable collection of Orchids in the possession of Dr. 
Duke is still increasing, and year after year he has to build more 
houses to accommodate his treasures. Probably in no other garden 
could Orchids be seen packed so closely together in such numbers, 
for the pots are touching each other on the stages, and the pans, 
blocks, and baskets, are hanging on the wires above as thickly as it 
is possible to get them ; not an inch of space is wasted. In the 
Odontoglossum house, although the stages are wide, it is necessary 
to run a wire from end to end to prevent the plants falling off. 
This may appropriately be termed a houseful. One would hardly 
expect to find such luxuriant growth and bloom from this kind of 
treatment, but it is a fact that the plants are flourishing at least 
equal to any in the most noted establishments, where they are 
arranged with scarcely the foliage of one touching its neighbour. 
O. madrense has made large bulbs, and is flowering. A small 
house, the roof of which is devoted to Barkerias, is a remarkable 
sight. There they hang in baskets and on blocks, with splendid 
growths and a forest of roots. The leaves are quite close to the 
glass, and receive the greatest amount of light without direct sun¬ 
shine. They are liberally supplied with water during the growing 
period, and in addition, the mass of plants beneath most certainly 
give up a natural moisture, which greatly benefits those above. 
When required, a hot-water pipe is at command just under the 
roof. 
The Phalaenopses are in an adjoining house, with Dendrobiums 
growing freely, and the new Ccelogyne Forstermani and C. Sander— 
iana breaking strong in fine specimens. The old Cattleya house 
contains some large plants of the useful Ccelogyne cristata in its 
several varieties, Lselia anceps, and a host of other kinds. In the 
new' house, where there are side tables and a centre stage arranged 
in ledges one above another, are hundreds of Cattleyas, Loelias, &c., 
showing sheaths, while a few are in bloom, including a fine form 
of C. Sanderiana and an equally good C. crispa superba. 
The show house is in three divisions, and considering the time 
of year presents a lively appearance, being tastefully arranged with 
Caladiums, Maidenhair Ferns, &c. One of the first objects to 
attract the visitor’s attention is a fine specimen of Oncidium 
Harrisoni in a pan carrying ten strong spikes with numerous 
blooms ; Cattleya bicolor, C. eldorado splendens, C. Gaskelliana, 
C. Leopoldi, C. gigas, and C. velutina, Aerides japonica, A. Field- 
ingi, Ccelogyne speciosa (Horsman’s variety), having green petals 
changing to bright yellow, chocolate throat, with a pure white lip 
this is far superior to the ordinary form ; Odontoglossum bicton • 
ense alba, 0. cordatum, O. Pescatorei, O. Uro-Skinneri, Oncidium 
dasytyle, 0. crispum, 0. longipes, 0. Warneri, 0. tigrinum, Pro- 
menaea Russelliana, Trichopilia fragrans, Lselia xanthina, and 
Cypripedium Law r renceana attract notice. Also showing flower 
are Cattleya Dukeana, described by Professor Reichenbach to be 
intermediate with C. bicolor and C. Leopoldi ; Cattleya Bow- 
ringiana, one of Messrs. Yeitch’s plants, look distinct from those 
recently imported, and some of which are growing well. In another 
house Miltonias in variety are also showing well for bloom. 
In the lower division, with a few choice stove plants, are the. 
Odontoglossum vexillariums in numbers, and Cypripediums. 
Among these are healthy established plants of C. Sanderiana. Ii> 
another house plants of Oncidium Jonesianum are doing well on 
bare blocks of wood. Phabenopsis Esmeralda is represented by 
several plants growing very cool, and making large leaves and thick 
fleshy roots. Another span-roofed house is in course of erection 
for Cattleya gigas. Of this there is a fine lot. Dr. Duke is a 
skilful grower, and a close observer of the wants of each in this, 
beautiful family of plants, and he may well be proud of such a. 
rich collection.—G. W. C. 
PHAJU3 GRANDIF0LIU3. 
Every attention should be paid to encourage a strong vigorous- 
growth of this useful old plant, for upon this depends the strength 
of the flower spikes. Plants with luxuriant growth will produce 
flower stems 4 feet in length, and have a conspicuous appearance in 
early spring either in the Orchid house or in association with 
decorative plants in the conservatory. For grouping for effect few 
plants are equal to this. To insure strong growth the plants should 
be liberally supplied with stimulants in a weak state. For this 
purpose clear soot water and liquid made from cow manure will 
be found most beneficial. These stimulants can be given alter¬ 
nately every time the plants need water at their roots.—G. P. 
CALANTHES. 
The earliest batches of these plants will have made large pseudo¬ 
bulbs with healthy luxuriant foliage, provided they were strong to 
commence with, and have since been liberally treated. It is not 
unusual to find the largest of pseudo-bulbs, through not being well 
ripened, only producing very ordinary sized flower spikes. This 
non-ripening is a serious drawback. Growth produced late in the 
season when there is an absence of light, or when it is prevented 
reaching the plants by overshading, is certain to result in degenera¬ 
tion. More Calanthes have degenerated through immature growths 
than from any other cause. To grow and ripen the plants well 
they must not be started into growth late in the season, but early, 
then gradually ripened after the completion of growth. Premature 
ripening is an evil that must be avoided. Water must not be sud¬ 
denly withheld, as is too frequently the case, but gradually, and' 
with caution ; in fact, the supply must be diminished on the same 
principles as it is given to the plants during their first stages of 
growth. Light and air must also be increased, so as to bring the 
growth of the plants to a standstill as naturally as possible. This 
treatment will insure successful results, while the opposite will 
sooner or later end in failure.—B. W. 
