174 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 1,183”. 
shown from plants what had been planted out in May. In some, forward 
districts pruning will take place now, but in general it is better to defer 
that operation until March. The mulching had better still be left on 
the buds, for although much frost is not to be expected, yet it is better 
to err on the .safe side. 
Ranunculus. —The 12th of February was generally considered the 
orthodox day to plant Persian Ranunculus. I managed to f;et mine in 
yesterday, the 10th, and to-day it has been very wet. In planting them 
it is necessary to be very careful as to the depth at which they aie 
put, inch being the exact depth that suits them. It is better to 
plant firmly, for there is the less chance of worms displacing them, which 
is one of the great annoyances in their culture. 
There are other florists’ flowers, such as the Dahlia and the Hollyhock, 
which 1 have not mentioned because I do not myself grow them, and 1 
like simply to notice tho.se I do gi'ow, and I would also add that I grow 
not for exhibition, but for my own pleasure ; although I am very strongly 
of opinion that as it is with the Rose so it is with ot' er flowers, that if 
the exhibitor’s culture be followed, and his choice of kinds adhered to, 
there will be far more satisfaction than by adopting a lower standard 
of cultivation.—D., Beal. 
CCELOGYNE CRISTATA. 
Mr. W. G-rix, The Gardens, Gledhow Hall, Leeds, sends us a 
flower of Coelogyne cristata with three perfectly formed lips, and 
no other indication of deformity. There are the normal three 
sepals, two petals, and one column, and the three lips are not dis¬ 
torted in the slightest degree. Cases of this kind are usually 
accompanied by other deformity, or are caused by the fusion of two 
or more flowers, but there is no trace of the latter in the present 
example. It is simply a curiosity and detracts from rather than 
adds to its beauty. 
TWO NEW ORCHIDS. 
Mr. Fred Horsjian of Colchester recently flowered a most dis¬ 
tinct variety of L.mlia anceps, which has been named Measuresiana 
in honour of Mr. R. H. Measures, Streatham. The flower is of 
great size and good colour, but the most remarkable character is 
seen in the lip, which is of unusual breadth, very open and richly 
marked. The other is a new Lycaste that has been named Tautzi. 
It may be briefly described as follows :—Pseudo-bulbs 6 to 8 inches 
long, deeply furrowed ; flowers about 5 inches in length, sepals and 
petals recurved. In colour the sepals are crimson brown, the petals 
primrose, and the lip pure white. The throat of the flower is 
dotted with small crimson spots like Phalmnopsis amabilis. 
CORYANTHES MACRANTHA. 
Mr. J. McGr.vth, Blackmoor, "West Derby, Liverpool, sends a 
flower of this extraordinary Orchid, respecting which I have pre¬ 
viously published the following note. 
“ In this and others of the genus the lip is formed like a 
‘ bucket,’ one portion of which secretes a fluid that falls into the 
lip and remains there until evaporated, or it sometimes fills the 
‘ bucket ’ and overflows by a spout. C. macrantha has projections 
upon the lip, which tempt bees to gnaw them ; and Dr. Cruger has 
observed that “ the bees may be seen in great numbers, disputing 
with each other for a place on the edge of the hypochil. Partly 
by this contest, partly perhaps intoxicated by the matter they are 
indulging in, they tumble into the ‘ bucket ’ half full of fluid ; 
they then crawl along in the water towards the anterior side of 
the ‘ bucket,’ where there is a passage for them between the open¬ 
ing of this and the column. If one is early on the look out, as 
these bees are early risers, one can see in every flower how fecund¬ 
ation is performed. The humble bee in forcing its way out of its 
involuntary bath has to exert itself considerably, as the mouth of 
the epichil and the face of the column fit together exactly, and are 
very stiff and elastic. The first bee, then, which is immersed will 
have the gland of the pollen mass glued to its back. It passes out 
with this, and perhaps enters the same or another flower, when the 
pollen masses are placed directly upon the stigma in coming out as 
before.” 
Mr. C. Darwin, in his “ Fertilisation of Orchids,” has fully 
described the peculiarities of structure in Coryanthes, Gongora, 
Acropera, Stanhopea, and allied genera. 
DENDROBIHM SPLENDIDISSIMUM GRANDIFLORUM. 
Tins magnificent hybrid, one of Messrs. "Yeitch & Sons’ Chelsea 
productions, attracted a large share of attention at the City sale 
rooms last Tuesday, when a plant with two leads and ten grand 
flowers were sold for 55 guineas. The flowers were 4^ inches in 
diameter each, with broad open lip deeply coloured, the sepals .and 
petals being also richly tinted. It is from the same species as D. 
splendidissimum, but finer varieties were se'ected as the parents, 
and the difference is verj- perceptible when the original hybrid and 
the other are seen together as in Messrs. Yeitch's houses. Both are 
good, but grandiflorura has a much bolder and more effective 
flower. 
CCELOGYNE CRISTATA ALBA. 
Mr. R. H. Measures, The "Woodlands, Streatham, has probably 
the fine.st specimen white Coelogyne in flower at the present time 
that could be found in private or other collections. It has thirt}’- 
two racemes, or a total of 170 flowers, large, massive, and pure 
white. It is a grand example of this beautiful Orchid, and is 
highly prized by its possessor.—L. C. 
ORCHIDS AT ST, ALBANS. 
If any person entertains a doubt respecting the commercial impor¬ 
tance of Orchids at the present time, a visit to Messrs. F. Sander and 
Co.’s nursery at St. Albans would effectually dispel the illusion. Few 
indeed, except those actually engaged in the business, have an adequate 
idea of the vast development of Orchid trade within recent years. The 
amount of capital now invested in these plants by amateurs and nursery¬ 
men is enormous. Orchid .admirers are rapidly increasing in numbers, 
and quite a little army of persons is employed in one way or other in 
collecting, growing, and distributing them. The business bas advanced 
far beyond the period of a fantastic craze, for the horticultural value of 
Orchids is now widely recognised ; the distinction, beauty, durability and 
fragrance of their flowers have obtained for them a place not only in the 
collections of wealthy and aristocratic amateurs but in those of amateuTs 
of all grades, and even in those of strictly commercial people, who supply 
the great markets with choice flowers. It has been repeatedly proved 
that many of the difficulties supposed to attend Orebid culture are 
purely imaginary, and in consequence hundreds ha 'e taken them in hand 
who would have been otherwise deterred from doing so. 
These and many other thoughts are suggested by an insj ection of 
the St. Alban’s nursery, and the following notes may convey some idea 
of what was seen there in a couple of hours. The new nursery (for the 
original establishment is situated in the centre of the town) is a short 
distance from the Midland station to the right of the line in going from 
London. It comprises a great block of glass houses from 100 to 350 feet 
long, and with corridors connecting the ends of the houses 300 feet in 
length. The houses are span-roofSi, running from north to south, the 
corridor on the south side also connecting with the printing rooms, ware¬ 
houses, potting and packing departments, which will be referred to 
presently, while the corridor on the north side has been considerably 
widened, and is being converted into a Cattleya house. The block is 
thus nearly triangular in form, the apex of the triangle being form d of 
the offices and Mr. F. Sander's residence. The entrance h.all at once 
gives an idea of the character of the establishment ; it is spacious, 
simple, yet extremely tasteful, designed in Elizabethan .style, and 
wainscotted in plain carved oak and cedar. It is separated by glass 
partitions and doors from an ornamental roc’xery, and this in turn on 
both sides le.ids to the two corridors, so that a complete tour lof the 
houses can be made without once passing into the open air. The rockery 
itself is very interesting, being an improvement upon the design repre¬ 
sented at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition of 1886. Real Tufa has 
been employed in a picturesque manner as bold jutting rock.s, with 
miniature fountains and waterLalls to heighten the effect. Numerous 
Orchids have been tried, to test which succeed best planted out in this 
way, and an especial feature has been made of Cypripedium caudatum, 
which it is anticipated will afford a remarkable effect when in flower. 
Lselia elegans also thrives well, seeming thoroughly at home ; Lmlia 
anceps, various Cattleyas, Sobralias, and Coelogynes are freely employed, 
and of the beautiful Arpophyllum spicatum there is a fine specimen. 
Some little difficulty has been experienced in finding Orchids suitable 
for training to the roof, but Yanda teres is being tried, and appears 
likely to succeed, .as it will have a light sunny position such as it most 
enjoys. We could scarcely imagine what the effect might be in a few 
years’ time with the roof covered with the growths .and charming 
flowers of this Orchid. Orchid rockeries could be introduced in m.any 
houses, and with a few Ferns or other plants to furnish them a most 
agreeable feature would be afforded. Few other flowering plants can, 
however, be satisfactorily employed with the Orchids, or a discordant 
effect results. 
It would be impossible to describe within moderate limits the con¬ 
tents of the numerous houses entered from the corridor, but a few 
words may be given respecting the structures themselves before noting 
some of their principal occupants. It should be first said that they are 
devoted exclusively to Orchids, so that in their construction, heating, 
&c., especial provision has been made for the requirements of the cool, 
intermediate, or warm house species. All the larger houses have side 
stages and paths with a raised central stage near the glass, and a path 
under the ridge, where a good view is obtained of the closely packed 
banks of plants, in several cases 200 to 300 feet long. The stages are 
of open wooden trellis, beneath them being large beds of leaves, which 
afford a constant humidity, the beneficial effect of which is shown by the 
