Maj- 10, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
383 
attention. On his way home from London and Manchester he halted 
for a’ night at Wakefield, and not only gave the local Paxtonians and 
florists an opportunity of admiring the specimens with which he had 
gained high honours in keen competitions, but he clearly, fully, and in 
a very happy style pointed out to his hearers how to grow similar plants. 
At the close of the lecture Mr. Horner answered a number of questions 
and gave much interesting and valuable information. On the motion 
of Mr. W. Hudson, seconded by Mr. Jesse Hardwick, and warmly and 
eloquently supported by Mr. Herbert Chapman, a very hearty vote of 
thanks was accorded the lecturer. 
-Sxow’s White Winter Broccoli, Sandringham Variety. 
—Mr. W. J. Murphy, Clonmel, writes — I am surprised your corre" 
spondent, “ A Kitchen Gardener,” should have omitted Snow’s White 
Winter Broccoli, page 356, from those he recommends. A quarter of a 
century since the lecturer on horticulture at the Government Farming 
and Gardening Institute at Glasnevin, I remember well, gave this first 
place. Since then I have tried dozens, and now retain but three for 
my own use or for commendation among my many gardening friends. 
They are Snow’s, Mammoth White, and Late Queen. The two last do 
well in strong rich loam, and if planted with a “ crow bar,” and without 
stirring the soil, they will stand the winter best and be more compact. 
THE CULTURE OF CYCLAMEN PERSICUM. 
_ The cultivation of the Persian Cyclamen does not, as a rule, re¬ 
ceive the attention it deserves, for it is one of the most useful 
plants for general decorative purposes for the autumn, winter, and 
spring. As the time is now at hand for taking in hand those that 
have done flowering for this season, a few remarks concerning their 
culture, may he of service to some of your readers. Your corre¬ 
spondent, “K” (page 339), in his brief remarks on the Cyclamens 
at Ripon has rather taken the wind out of my sails, as the system 
he records does not differ very much from the one that I have been 
the most successful with ; but I have never used bottom heat, 
although it may be advantageous. 
The soil in the pots should be allowed to become sufficiently 
dry, so that it will freely part from the roots without doing them 
much damage ; but it must not remain dry for long, as it is a mis¬ 
take to dry the corms off. If the plants have healthy foliage on 
them let it remain, but should it be infested with red spider, 
thrips, or any other insects it is best removed. The soil should be 
entirely shaken from the roots carefully, so as not to injure them 
more than can be helped. They may then be put into clean pots 
properly drained, selecting the size of pot in proportion to the 
quantity of roots and size of corm. If the corms are young, and it 
is desired to have large plants, they may be put into the same size 
as they came out of, and shifting to a size larger when they get 
well rooted. For general decorative purposes and G-inch pots 
are mostly suitable, and plants sufficiently large can be produced in 
these sizes for all ordinary purposes. The soil should consist of 
equal portions of loam, leaf soil, and decayed manure, with a good 
prinkling of sand and a little soot thoroughly mixed previous to 
using. It is very important that this thoroughly mi.xing of the in¬ 
gredients should be done, otherwise the plants will vary in their 
growth, some receiving more than enough of the rich soil and 
others, on the contrary, have a deficiency, consequently will not do 
so well. In potting the soil must be well worked among the roots 
and made quite firm, leaving the corm well above the surface. If 
the soil is in a rather dry state at potting time it will require water¬ 
ing after. If moderately moist no water will be required for a few 
days beyond a light sprinkling over each day. They should be 
placed in a house or frame as near the glass as possible in a tempera¬ 
ture of about 60°, and given a moist atmosphere, and kept rather 
close until growth commences, when more air may be admitted to 
build up a good strong growth. After they are well started they re¬ 
quire to be kept on the moist side, dryness at the root and in the atmo¬ 
sphere being fatal to their well-being. A slight shade during the 
hottest part of the day will be necessary, but they should be 
allowed as much sun as they will bear, especially during the autumn 
months. 
If green fly attack the young leaves fumigate at once, and if 
thrips or red spider, dip the plants in some well known insecticide, 
but great care is necessary in this operation, otherwise the foliage 
in the earlier stages of their growth will be injured, and a check 
given to the plants. The humid temperature should be main¬ 
tained we'l into the autumn to give the plants sufficient strength 
to prepare for the forthcoming bloom. As they approach the 
flowering period more air should be given, also a reduction of the 
moisture in the atmosphere made, and with the assistance of a little 
weak liquid manure, a light position, and a temperature of about 50°, 
a good show of blooms should be the result. 
Inferior strains of Cyclamen should not now be tolerated, as 
a good strain can be procured from the various seedsmen who 
make a specialty of them, and fine flowering plants can be had in 
from twelve to fifteen months from the time of seed-sowing, but the 
present is not the time for sowing seeds. — W. Simpson, Knowslcy. 
ORCHIDS AT BIRMINGHAM. 
Near to Selly Oak station is The Uplands, the residence of 
Charles Winn, Esq., who is a very successful exhibitor of Orchids 
at the Birmingham Shows. At the Chrysanthemum Show held in 
November last his gardener, Mr. G. H. Barnes, exhibited specimens 
of Coelogyne cristata in his collection, and ag.ain at the spring Ex¬ 
hibition on April 11th and 12 th plants of the same species were 
included. To obtain such a succession of blooms the plants are 
grown in different temperatures, the former being helped along in 
the heat of the Cattleya house, whilst the latter are retarded in the 
cool house with Masdevallias, the pseudo-bulbs in both cases being 
well developed. Such a valuable chaste flower is always welcome ; 
and that the flowering season can be prolonged without the least 
injury to the plants is a fact worth recording. 
The Cypripedium house, although only 26 feet long and 24 feet 
wide, is filled with many rare plants ; something like 120 species 
and varieties are grown, and those in flower justify the remark that 
only the best have been obtained. C. Druryi has eighteen growths, 
and is flowering well ; C. Morganise has six growths, five of which 
have appeared in eighteen months ; the richly coloured C. grande 
atratum, C. prsestans, and the new hybrid C. Lathami, raised in the 
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, are all doing well. 
It is the practice of Mr. Barnes to steam the house every after¬ 
noon. This is done by closing the ventilators and turning the hose 
on to the hot-water pipes until the house is full, afterwards open¬ 
ing the lights a little to let out the superfluous moisture ; and in 
addition to this the plants are syringed lightly two or three times 
daily. Besides keeping insects in check this system is very bene¬ 
ficial to all the occupants, for the plants are as vigorous and healthy 
as any I have met with. The Cattleya and other houses are 
similarly treated when there are few plants in flower, but to 
attempt it in a flowering house would be at the risk of losing the 
bloom. Odontoglossum vexillarium appears to like this treatment. 
Many of them have thrown up three spikes from a single growth. 
One small plant is carrying twelve spikes from four growths. 
The long span-roofed cool house is filled with choice forms of 
Odontoglossum Alexandroe, together with many supposed hybrids. 
0. Rossi majus was rendering the house gay, one large specimen 
having over sixty flowers ; and 0. R. m. rubescens had six blooms 
on a spike. At one end is a panful of Cypripedium spectabile with 
three dozen growths. Two years ago there were only two small 
potfuls of Disa grandiflora. These were divided and c.ai'efully 
nursed, and now, besides several pots, there is a pan containing 
about thirty-seven flowering growths. 
The Cattleyas and Dendrobiums are as select as the Cypripe- 
diums. Among the former I noted a fine piece of C. exoniensis 
with twelve large bulbs, each bearing a bright green leaf. The true 
old form of C. labiata is also included, and good plants of the 
gorgeous C. Trianae formosa were in bloom, together wdth a host of 
other Orchids.—G. W. C. 
MANURES FOR PLANTS. 
Last week I noted a communication on feeding plants, and although 
I am unable to speak on the merits of the case from the point of view 
of your correspondent, havinz failed to follow the discussion, I have 
some notes on the subject which may not be out of place without in any 
way encroaching on debatcablc points. The notes referred to were sug¬ 
gested by a case which was brought to my notice last autumn. From a 
commercial point of view the subject was one of some import.ance to the 
owner of the plants—Chrysanthemums—rown for cut flowers. Look¬ 
ing at them they appeared to suffer from starvation, and that was what 
I made bold to tell their owner, but he brought forward the very con¬ 
clusive evidence that the plants had been regularly supplied with liquid 
manure, so that starvation wms not a satisfactory solution of the case. 
However, I held by my opinion, and advised the flushing of the soil with 
hot water, and thereafter applications of either superphosphate of lime 
