December 2", 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
561 
or four hours before it is wanted, or proper care is not taken 
of the vegetable portion of the salad, Lettuce, Endive, and other 
ingredients being left in an exposed and perhaps hot position to 
flag badly, and this freshness once lost cannot be restored. Nor 
should they be kept in water for hours together, this frequently 
destroying crispness. The living portion of a salad ought to be 
gathered a short time, or not more than four hours at this time of 
year before it is wanted, and should be kept in a cool place both 
before and after it is washed and otherwise prepared. A moderate¬ 
sized salad might consist of two each of Green Curled and Broad¬ 
leaved Endive stripped of the green outside leaves, and not very 
finely shredded, to these being added about a dozen young Onions, a 
small handful each of Mustard and Cress, two hard-boiled eggs, 
and a small Beet duly sliced, one floury Potato, and about six sprigs 
each of Tarragon and Chervil. There are a variety of dressings 
for salads, some being very simple, yet good, and others more 
elaborate. Personally, I am in favour of a simple dressing, and 
prefer the French style of keeping these in a suitable bottle or 
other receptacle, individuals at the table taking as much as they 
like. Nor are some persons content with one kind of dressing, as, 
for instance, some people have a marked aversion to oil, others 
being fond of it, and two or more dressings would be more likely 
to meet all tastes. Much-minced and be-soaked salading would 
also be avoided. In conclusion, I will add a receipt for a simple 
dressing suitable for those who do not keep professed salad-makers 
■and for gardeners. Place one teaspoonful of mixed mustard and 
one teaspoonful of pounded sugar into a bowl, and add two table¬ 
spoonfuls of good salad oil, drop by drop, and carefully stir these 
together. Next gradually add four tablespoonfuls of new milk 
and two tablespoonfuls of vinegar, with cayenne pepper and salt to 
taste. All must be carefully stirred together, or the sauce will 
curdle. This dressing may be either poured direct into the salad 
bowl, or else kept in a bottle, being available at least two or three 
days.—W. Iggulden. 
Considering that only comparatively small sums have been 
expended in purchasing Orchids at Kew, and that the greater por¬ 
tion are gifts or have been obtained in exchange, it is surprising 
what a large and interesting collection has been formed. The 
houses, open to the public at all times, contain some rare or beauti¬ 
ful plants in flower, and though I am a frequent visitor I have 
never yet entered this department without finding something of a 
noteworthy character. Extensive displays of a few species are not 
attempted, these can be seen in nurseries or private gardens, and 
the object of a national collection should be to provide as good a 
general representation of the Orchid family a3 possible. This is 
evidently what the authorities have been endeavouring to do for 
some years, and the result of their efforts is seen in a steady 
improvement both in numbers and condition. 
INDIAN CROCUSES. 
It was an excellent idea some time ago to provide a porch 
to the cooler of the two houses, as they can be utilised for those 
plants that require only the coolest quarters ; and it answers a 
further purpose, as by means of the outer and inner doors the 
admission of cold draughts of air on to the more delicate plants 
is avoided. In ordinary private gardens this is a matter of im¬ 
portance, but in a public establishment visited by so many 
persons as Kew is, it cannot be over-rated. This porch is prin¬ 
cipally employed for Sarracenias, Droseras, the Dionsea, and 
similar plants, but during the past month or so it has been occu¬ 
pied with those charming little Orchids, the “ Indian Crocuses,” 
Pleiones, or Coelogynes as we must now call them according to that 
great w’ork, Hooker and Bentham’s “ Genera Plantarum. ’ In 
■shallow pans of moss the pretty little delicately tinted flowers 
cluster round the small leafless conical pseudo-bulbs in great 
numbers, almost concealing both plants and moss. Pleione Lage- 
naria, with pale purple sepals and petals, the neat lip fringed, 
blotched crimson, purple, and yellow in the centre, is one of the 
earliest and most profuse flowers. P. maculata is a charming con¬ 
trast, the sepals and petals white, the lip spotted and streaked with 
purple, very free, and easily managed like the first named. Then 
there is P. Wallichi, one of the most handsome of all, with larger 
flowers, sepals and petals of a rich clear purple, the lip fringed 
white or blush, and a pale yellow centre. Owing to these plants 
flowering without their leaves, small Ferns are sometimes planted 
with the pseudo-bulbs to furnish a foil of green, but if plenty of 
fresh, green, healthy sphagnum is employed, these are scarcely 
necessary. After the flowering, when the light green leaves begin 
to expand, the Pleione3 are almost as pleasing as previously, the 
tint of green being a peculiarly refreshing one in contrast with the 
darker or duller green shades prevailing in Orchid foliage generally. 
MASDEVALLIAS. 
The collection of Masdevallias at Kew is becoming very large 
and interesting, but it necessarily includes a considerable proportion 
of the small-flowered species which are too often regarded simply 
as botanical curiosities. It cannot be claimed for them that they 
furnish much in the way of colour to an Orchid display, but genuine 
plant lovers require something more than mere brilliancy of colour 
to interest them. The Masdevallias present a w r ide range of floral 
characters both as regards form and size, and it is regretable that 
the often suggested illustrated monograph of the genus has never 
yet been produced. Some time ago it was said that a titled gentle¬ 
man in the north had undertaken the task at his own expense, and I 
believe large numbers of accurate drawings were prepared by a 
lady artist. I also understand that Mrs. Dyer of Kew has for a 
long time been engaged upon drawings of these curious plants, and 
her collection now must be almost unique. Those who know the 
excellent work performed by the lady named in plant-sketching 
will readily understand that the Masdevallia drawings are both 
artistic and botanically faithful, and it can only be hoped that at 
some future time they will be presented to the public. 
Amongst the Masdevallias in flower were M. melanopus, 
M. macroura, M. polysticta, M. ochthodes, M. Reiclienbachiana, 
M. pulvinaris, M. Chelsoni, M. Carderi, M. platyglossa, M. bella, 
and M. ignea. 
Of other Orchids in flower, to which on another occasion an 
additional note or two may be devoted, were the following 
C^pripediums insigne (quite a large bank of flowers), Spicerianum, 
Sedeni, porphyreum, calurum, Leeanum, Harrisianum, conchiferum, 
and Roezli. Disa purpurascens, one of the blue flowered Capo 
Orchids introduced by Mr. Watson ; Epidendrum (Barkeria),Lindley- 
anum, Oncidium tigrinum, Odontoglossum crispum, and 0. Rossi 
varieties ; Miltonia Candida, Laelia anceps Barkeriana, L. autunmalis 
atro-rubens, Cirropetalum Wallichi, Catasetum macrocarpum, C. 
fuliginosum, Cymbidium giganteum, Calanthe Veitehi, C. ve3tita, 
C. veratrifolia, Liparis pendula, L. spathulata, Trichopilia suavis, 
Coelogyne fuliginosa, C. fimbriata, and Maxillaria venusta.—C. 
USEFUL WINTER ORCHIDS. 
CALANTHES. 
Late supplies of these plants will be invaluable for the con¬ 
servatory now that Pelargoniums and other autumn-flowering plants 
are past their best. Do not place them in this structure before 
nearly all the flowers are expanded and the soil is perfectly dry in 
the pots. The flowers will last nearly double the length of time in 
a temperature of 45° to 50° than would prove the case if kept in 
the warm moist atmosphere of the stove. Be careful to place the 
plants where they will be free from drip, and where the atmosphere 
is moderately dry. In a low temperature and moist atmosphere 
the flowers are very liable to become spotted. Arrange them so 
that the pots are hidden by surrounding objects and the spikes of 
bloom stand well above other plants. 
DENDROBIUM NOBILE. 
Few plants when well flowered in 6 and 7-incli pots, or even 
larger, add more to the effective appearance of the conservatory at 
this period of the year than this old inhabitant of our plant houses. 
If the soil about the roots is dry before removal to such structures, 
and it is kept in that condition during the whole of the time they 
are there, no harm will follow ; on the contrary, the plant wdl be 
benefited by the change. The flowers are so useful in a cut state 
that they must not be allowed to remain upon the plant long enough 
to rob next year’s growth of the support which is necessary untd they 
are well rooted and independent of the old flowering pseudo-bulbs. 
This plant can be used with safety in rooms provided it is not kept 
in too long or arranged where cold draughts will strike upon it. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM ROSSI HA JUS. 
Unquestionably one of the best and most profitable Orchids that 
can be grown where decorative plants are required in quantity, 
either for the room, conservatory, or for flowers in a cut state. By 
growing a good number there is no difficulty in having a succession 
of flowering plants from the middle of October until the middle 
of February. For single vases, pans of this plant 5 or G inches 
across, carrying six or seven spikes, with an average of three flowers 
PHAJU3 GRANDIFOLIUS. 
Very useful plants for the conservatory, and if they are wanted 
in bloom as quickly as possible place them in brisk heat, and their 
