150 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 25, 1866. 
The only one of somewhat recent date that showed any trace of 
the Black or Dutch Rock was Cirencester Prize ; but whether any¬ 
thing constitutionally could be evolved out of these is matter for ex¬ 
periment, and I think highly probable. We want hardier varieties 
that could be supplied to the multitude as plentifully and cheaply as 
Vegetable Marrows.—G. Abbey. 
MANURE FOR ORCHIDS. 
Duking recent years some discussion has been devoted to the ques¬ 
tion whether Orchids are benefited by the application of manure or not, 
amd though much has been said on both sides, yet it does not appear that 
any very satisfactory experiments have been undertaken or recorded as 
bearing upon the matter. For some Orchids, such as Cypripedinm insigne, 
Bendrobium nobile, and Calanthe vestita and Veitchi, manure has long 
been employed, both in a solid form and as a liquid, in ordinary garden 
culture with favourable results, but it has been considered as absolutely 
unnecessary for other Orchids, if not positively injurious, and not without 
some reason. The majority of Orchids, but especially the epiphytal 
species, have extremely delicate fleshy roots, and nothing could be more 
likely to injure them than contact with crude strong manure in their com¬ 
post. In fact, valuable plants have been so injured by injudicious appli¬ 
cation of strong stimulants, and the result has caused a prejudice against 
the employment of manurial agents in Orchid culture. When the value 
of plants is counted in guineas it is necessary to be cautious in such 
matters, or a small fortune may be soon lost, Nurserymen do not care 
about undertaking experiments that may prove very costly, and they 
prefer leaving them to amateurs who have more leisure for the purpose, 
and who probably would be less concerned at the loss of a few plants. 
Yet there are some experienced Orchid nurserymen who fully believe in 
the efficacy of manures used discreetly in small quantities, and who have 
strongly advised amateurs to make more experiments, with the object of 
proving how far this is the case. We know that tropical epiphytal Orchids 
are found growing in positions where the atmosphere must be full of the 
gases arising from the rapidly decaying vegetation beneath them ; birds, 
too, are extremely abundant, and the guano deposited upon stems and 
branches where the Orchids grow must afford them far larger supplies of 
ammonia and other fertilisers than can be obtained from the peat and 
moss in which the majority of such plants are cultivated here. It may be 
fairly argued that we have in this no evidence that the plants are bene¬ 
fited by manures, for in a natural state they are often exposed to 
extremely adverse conditions ; and if we point to the great size of pseudo¬ 
bulbs and flower stems on imported plants as compared with those subse¬ 
quently produced under cultivation,it may be rightly said that the former 
are due to the greater sun heat and light they enjoy in their native haunts. 
In the absence of any definite evidence on either side, but with a presump¬ 
tion in favour of supplying moderate stimulants with great care, the only 
way of settling the difficulty was by experiments, and we have now to 
record some that have proved very successful. 
At Higham Hill, Walthamstow, A. Borwick, Esq., has for several years 
had an interesting collection of Orchids which in the past year or so have 
made astonishing progress. Having proved the value of Jensen’s fish 
guano for outdoor crops and miscellaneous plants, Mr. Borwick deter¬ 
mined to try it upon his Orchids, and did so in a manner that would have 
been alarming to many persons. For all the Orchids in pots a compost was 
prepared of peat and charcoal in the usual way, but to each barrowload 
was added a 48-potful of the manure, which was thoroughly well mixed 
with the peat. The whole of the plants were then potted in this, the sur¬ 
face mossed over in the usual way, and they were treated in accordance 
with the most approved practice as regards the routine of culture. The 
results were so encouraging that it was decided to also try it in a liquid 
form, a quarter of an ounce being dissolved in each gallon of water, and 
being placed in the tanks in the houses it is necessarily given every time 
water is applied. It would not have been unreasonable, according to the 
ordinary opinion, to expect a great and sudden mortality amongst the 
Orchids as a consequence of this proceeding ; but so far from this being 
the case the plants made a most vigorous growth, and are now as fresh, 
healthy, and strong as anyone could desire. Even to the least sceptical 
it is surprising, but “ facts are stubborn things,” and it is evident that 
manure can be employed for Orchids with considerable advantage. 
Two span-roofed houses, each about 30 feet long, contain the majority 
of the Orchids, one being devoted to the cool species of Orchids and the 
other to the tropical ones. In the first, which is kept at a minimum tem¬ 
perature of about 50°, is an excellent collection of Sophronitis grandiflora, 
about 300 healthy plants in thumbs and 60-size pots. They were the 
strongest little plants we have seen for some time, and were bearing a 
profusion of buds, promising a beautiful display of their bright scarlet 
blooms a few weeks later. These, with the majority of the other plants in 
this house, are grown on open stages over another shelf, upon which is 
spread a layer of ashes kept constantly moist. Beneath this stage upon 
one side of the house are open tanks 4 feet deep, which receive the rain 
water from the whole house, and is used exclusively for the plants. 
Lycaste Skinneri is very handsome in the same house, the plants most 
vigorous, with stout p3eudo-bulbs, while the flowers are large and of fine 
substance. These evidently thrive on the manure already mentioned, 
and there can be no question that they, with Cypripedium insigne, Maxil- 
laria grandiflora, and several other strong-growing Orchids, have benefited 
considerably by the applications they have received. Odontoglossums of 
the O. cirrhosum and O. Alexandra types are numerous and healthy, but 
the effects of the manure is not so marked in their case. O. Rossi majus, 
O. gloriosum, and O. tripudians are doing well, a fine variety of the last 
named being now in flower. Of O. cirrhosum there are also some good 
varieties in bloom, the flowers of great size, with bold richly coloured 
spots. Oncidium leucochilum is showing a stout spike, and there are 
numbers of others advancing to afford a display later in the season. One 
plant of O Iontoglossum deserves special notice as being one of the most 
distinctly variegated Orchids we have seen. The leaves are about the 
usual size, but are clearly striped with white, which has kept true for 
several years, though, owing probably to a certain weakness of constitu¬ 
tion, like many other variegated plants, it does not grow freely—in fact, 
it does not seem to make any progress, but continues in the same condi¬ 
tion. Lapagerias are trained to the roof of this house and are growing 
vigorously. 
The warmer house contains a large miscellaneous collection, including 
some very handsome specimens of Lselia purpurata, Cattleyas, Cym- 
bidiums, Lycastes, Dandrobiums, and Ccelogynes. The last named are 
grand masses feet or more in diameter with large solid pseudo -bulbs, 
and are evidently in superb health. The beautiful Chatsworth variety is 
in capital condition and bearing numbers of its fine open flowers. 
Cymbidium Lowianum is represented by a wonderfully strong specimen 
which has ten growths this year, and six plants have been obtained from 
it previously. It has three spikes, one with twenty-seven flowers and the 
other two with twenty-four each, and one year it produced a spike with 
thirty-two flowers. The pot is crammed with roots, and this plant alone 
is ample evidence of what manure will do for strong-growing Orchids of 
that character. Lycaste Skinneri is also doing well in this house, a 
number of beautiful, delicately, and richly tinted varieties being in¬ 
cluded. The able gardener, Mr. Grilks, thinks that the flowers expand 
much better in the warmer house, the sepals and petals being straighter 
and more erect than in a lower temperature, where they often recurve. Of 
the white Lycaste Skinneri there are several young plants, most of which 
have been raised from the old back pseudo-bulbs of a purchased plant. 
Eight have been obtained in this way, the first growth after the old pseudo¬ 
bulbs were potted being very small, but the second growth was encouraged 
like the other plants, and the result is in several cases that the last season’s 
pseudo-bulbs are larger than the original ones. Two general favourites, 
Odontoglossum Cervantesi and O. pulchellum, are in excellent condition, 
and both are flowering abundantly. The former is in small pots about 
3 inches in diameter suspended from the roof, and have mostly two spikes 
with three and four flowers each. O. pulchellum is charming, growing 
with the freedom of Pelargoniums, and bearing numerous spikes of its 
pure white fragrant Hyacinth-like blossoms. This is one of the most use¬ 
ful and pretty species of O Iontoglossum that can be grown, and if it was 
always seen a3 at Higham Hill it would soon be in greater demand than 
it is. A handsome specimen of Zygopetalum crinitum is flowering well, 
having three spikes of four to six flowers each, the sepals and petals 
mottled with green and brown, the lip white, with bands of violet hairs 
radiating from the centre towards the margin. These are a few of the 
specialities, but there were also some healthy Dendrobiums, D.Wardianum 
being very strong. Anguloa uniflora is also good, as are numerous Mas- 
devallias,Lycaste Harrison®, Oncidium ornithorhynchum, Cattleya citrina. 
and numberless others. 
A third home contains a general collection of Cypripediums, Dendro- 
bium Ainsworthi, Angraeums, Aerides, Phalmnopses, and other Orchids. 
There are a vinery and conservatory, the latter containing a miscellaneous 
assortment of bulb3 and flowering plants, all of which, with the Vines, are 
assisted by the same manure as the Orchids, but in rather more liberal 
quantities, though even for them it is wise to err on the side of small 
supplies. As regards Orchids, Mr. Borwick has done good service in prov¬ 
ing that manure can be given not only without injury, but with actual 
beneficial results, and though his remarks upon the subject at the Orchid 
Conference last May were received somewhat incredulously, his plants 
afford substantial evidence that his views were correct. It may be re¬ 
membered that on the same occasion several other orchidists detailed their 
experience, and amongsc them Mr. Heath stated that he had used nitrate 
of soda and ammonia for strewing about the houses, with the result that 
the colour of the foliage was greatly improved, becoming a rich green tint. 
Many more experiments might be made in the same way, and it is probable 
the Orchid culture may be revolutionised in a few years.—C. 
TRANSPLANTING CAULIFLOWERS. 
The time has now arrived when this operation may safely be 
proceeded with generally, though in the northern counties it will 
be advisable to defer doing so for a week or ten days, according 
to weather and condition of soil; and if the work is done as set 
forth below satisfactory results will be secured. A portion of 
the plants was pricked out singly in 3-inch pots last autumn for 
early spring planting, and a piece of ground has been liberally 
manured and trenched for this and the Pea crop. In this we 
draw drills, running north and south, 3 inches deep and 2 feet 
apart. Some plants in pots of Early London or whatever variety 
is grown for early work should be planted with a garden trowel, 
disturbing the soil and roots as little as possible in turning them 
out. Press the soil firmly about the balls of earth and roots. 
Then dust a mixture of lime and soot around the individual 
plants, so as to prevent slugs from interfering with them; after¬ 
wards sticking some spruce boughs firmly in the ground on either 
side of the plants as a protection from frosts and cutting winds 
