November 1, 1838. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
399 
last about the middle of January, and we are afraid to pot the last 
bulbs until the middle of November, as by merely keeping them in 
a temperature that excludes frost it is a difficult matter to prevent 
them flowering before they are wanted. One year we purchased 
cheap bulbs and thought we had secured a bargain, but many of 
them failed to produce a flower. Since then we have had the 
best obtainable, and the majority of them produce two, and many 
of them three spikes. 
The largest flowering Hyacinths have a fine appearance when 
potted singly in 5 or 6-inch pots, but the small Romans are not so 
massive, and single plants do not look well even in small pots. 
'They appear best in little groups, and if six or eight bulbs are 
placed in a 6 or 7-inch pot they will give much satisfaction. We 
find them grow most freely in a somewhat light rich soil. The 
pot is drained and filled with soil, and then the bulbs are pushed 
into it, the soil being pressed hard down afterwards, and only the 
•crowns are visible when potting is completed. They are then 
placed as close as they will stand in a cold frame, and are 
covered with ashes to the depth of 8 or 10 inches. The lights are 
arranged over them to prevent the soil being saturated with rain, and 
they are left undisturbed for three or four weeks. At the end of 
that time it is always found that the roots have penetrated the soil 
freely and the tops have attained a height of several inches, then 
they are ready for taking from the ashes and placing in a tem¬ 
perature of 60° or a little more to induce them to flower. If one, 
two, or three hundred are potted and plunged at once, and only 
half this number are required to form the first, place those 
not immediately forced in a cold frame, and keep them there for a 
fortnight or so, when if placed in a little more heat they will 
succeed the others. As the tops expand more water is required, 
but the spikes do not require staking, and by the time they are in 
flower they will be surrounded by a quantity of green foliage, which 
has a very cheerful appearance. Once in flower they may be placed 
an the greenhouse or conservatory or cut for the rooms.—M. M. 
GRAPES SCALDING. 
Mr. Riding, at page 333, appeared to consider that the ideas I 
•advanced on this subject are mere theory, but I can assure him such is 
not the case. My ideas are entirely based upon facts and close personal 
observations, and I can give him a case in point. Upon taking charge 
of a garden a few years back in the month of November, I found a 
-quantity of whiting remaining on the vineries, three in number, and I 
was informed it was used to prevent scalding. The two earliest houses 
were constructed of iron rafters and copper bars, with sliding lights, 
but each alternate light was fixed, so that only half of them opened at 
: the top. The varieties of Grapes in the earliest house were Black 
Hamburgh and Buckland Sweetwater, in the second house Muscats 
-chiefly, also in the late house which was constructed of wood for 
rafters and bars, with continuous opening lights top and bottom ; the 
two early houses had also continuous opening lights in front]. The 
•varieties were eight of the most popular late Grapes, including three 
Vines of Lady Downe’s at the warmest end, and I was informed that 
they were all scalded more or less ; but the Lady Downe’s Vine at the 
end (west) was the one that suffered most, more than its two neighbours, 
and I had ocular proof of the fact; but the other varieties were not so 
conspicuous in that respect, the Muscat of Alexandria next to the Lady 
Downe’s appeared to be the worst. The following season, as the Vines 
•came on in succession, the precautions given on page 294 were faithfully 
carried out by the young man in charge, and the early house, which was 
started in January, escaped without any artificial shading, but in the 
Muscat house, which was started a month later, a few berries were 
■touched, as at the time of stoning I remember it being extremely hot, 
and with ail the ventilators and doors open the temperature was more 
than I desired ; but that was the only season they did scald while I was 
•there, and the late house being better constructed as regards ventilation, 
•escaped without any of the bunches being damaged by scalding. Pre¬ 
vious to taking charge of these gardens, I had charge of some vineries 
where Lady Downe’s was grown, and scalding was not seen there ; and I 
know of other places where scalding is scarcely seen, and the ventilation 
has been attended with the greatest care in these cases. I advocated 
the practice that has done me good service, and I am at a loss to 
understand the same practice failing with others. 
In advocating fixed temperatures for the guidance of those in charge, 
I did not consider it necessary to add that due allowance should be 
made to meet exceptional circumstances, as I considered that is gene- 
Tally understood, as I am fully aware that it is neither necessary nor 
■desirable that the temperature should be so exact. Though these fixed 
temperatures are so much condemned by your correspondents, in what 
way are we to communicate to the inexperienced young men the tem¬ 
perature desired in the various compartments under their charge better 
than having them attached to the thermometers ? The system is carried 
out in some of our best establishments, both private and public. The 
system in itself is right enough; it is its abuse that leads to bad re¬ 
sults, asiin many other good customs. The rational system advocated by 
some of your correspondents may be successful in the hands of ex¬ 
perienced men, but I consider dangerous in a high degree with the 
inexperienced, and likely to lead to carelessness. I am fully aware 
that there are many ways and means of attaining the same end, and 
let each individual adhere to those he finds the most successful, but 
when success does not accompany our efforts, it is then time to seek a 
change to remedy the evil. I did intend writing more fully on the sub¬ 
ject of scalding, but Mr. Cooinbe I consider has treated it more success¬ 
fully than perhaps I could.—W. Simpson. 
SATYRIUM CARNEUM. 
Few members of the genus Satyrium are grown in collections 
of Orchids, yet they are interesting and in some cases beautiful. 
FIG. 48.—SATYRIUM CARNEUM. 
They are somewhat difficult to manage successfully, but with a 
little careful attention their peculiarities are soon ascertained. 
Cool houses or cold frames suit them best, for, like most of the 
terrestrial Orchids from temperate climates, they are impatient of 
excessive heat or undue exposure to the sun when in growth. A 
compost of light loam, peat, sand, and leaf soil generally gives the 
best results, supplying water with great care. S. carneum was 
recently shown by Mr. T. S. Ware of Tottenham before the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, when a first class 
certificate was awarded for it. The flowers are borne in a stout 
