March 18, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
209 
past when travelling in Bavaria, seeing some remarkably healthy 
sphagnum growing with a most unusual luxuriance [of several inches 
of that exquisite lively green all Orchid growers desire to see under 
their plants, it occurred to me to try end chemically treat this moss 
so as to make it a medium for retaining moisture without souring or 
rapid decay, and after many experiments over a period of two years 
I found that by treating live sphagnum with borax, ammonia, and 
other ingredients, and then pressing it into blocks by hydraulic 
pressure, I obtained an article that kept quite sweet when up and 
used for potting, or retained in square blocks, in baskets, or on rafts 
for a period of eighteen months or two years. After giving this 
article so prepared a fair trial in potting, blocks, &c., I found even 
Sophronitis grandiflora and its varieties to plump out its pseudo¬ 
bulbs when planted on a block of Trepho as I had never before seen 
under culture in this country, whilst the baskets containing the square 
block upon which I planted the imported pseudo-bulbs were not 
dipped frequently for three or four days. Speaking of this to Mr. 
B. Field one day he begged of me to have a quantity of Trepho pre¬ 
pared for him. Several amateurs and growers having proved its 
value had been inquiring for the article, hence I had a few tons 
treated with ammonia, sulphates, borax, &c , on the formula I had 
previously proved. May I add that Trepho should always be used 
with the grain or layers perpendicular and not Hat, to enable it to 
give otf the moisture more freely?— Marcus H. Voss, Dc Montfort 
House, Streatham, S. W. 
EOSE PEUNING. 
Many an article I have read in the Journal under this heading. 
My present object is not to advise, but condole. By this time most 
exhilitors have made up their minds and have fixed plans about 
pruning ; but few, I apprehend, ever anticipated—at least here, in 
S.E. England—finding it impossible up to now, the middle of March. 
I had the advantage of mixing to-day in very high society, from 
a rosarian point of view, but heard nothing about pruning, though 
plenty about the effects of the late frosts. It was considered that 
the frosts of March and the perpetual changes in February have done 
far more damage than all the sharper earlier frosts of the season, and 
that when pruning does begin it will be necessary in many cases to 
cut very close. 
One friend had made a feeble attempt to prune, but had been 
immediately snubbed by the weather, which has been, indeed, exactly 
my own case also. Neither was it held there was much present hope 
of change of weather, though that is entering on a most perilous 
path of prophecy. 
I was much tempted to take away the fern at my usual time, the 
end of February, but was dissuaded by my gardener, who asked me 
“ how I should like to part with my own great coat.'’ I am now 
rejoicing in his higher wisdom. When pruning can begin it will 
come with a rush, and the captains of thousands will have to call 
for assistance. Perhaps they already reckon upon doing that. 
The simple rule, the good old plan, 
Sufficeth them. 
That they should wait who have the power, 
And they should prune who can. 
—A. C. 
SYRINGING VINES. 
In your last issue “ A Kitchen Gardener ” recommends syringing 
Vines in order to obtain a humid atmosphere. He says, “ On dull days 
the Vines should be syringed at least once, and in bright weather they 
should be syringed twice.” Is this right ? I would -ask. It cannot be 
denied that a humid atmosphere is most important to the well-being of 
the Vines, but I have yet to learn that the best way to attain that end is 
by syringing. I have been a witness to many evils resulting from the 
use of the syringe on Vine leaves and fruit, especially where only hard 
water could be had ; and many gardeners are not able to obtain soft 
water, which is undoubtedly best for all purposes. 
For my own part I would much rather bring about the desired end by 
damping the paths and all available spaces, but not the foliage. By this 
practice and keeping the roots well supplied with water I was able to go 
through last season without red spider or any other insect on the Vines 
under my charge, and long after the fruit was ripe and cut they retained 
their foliage green and healthy.— James Pound, Reading, 
SOLANDRA GRANDIFLORA. 
This belongs to a splendid genus of plants named in honour of 
Daniel Charles Solander, LL.D , a Swedish botanist of great celebrity. 
He was the companion of the renowned Sir Joseph Banks in the memor¬ 
able voyage of discovery round the world, and was the collector of the 
botanical notes made during that expedition, and which are now preserved 
in the British Museum. The plant, a bloom of which we figure, is by no 
means commonly to be met with in cultivation. This is not, however, 
because it is not beautiful, but rather that it is somewhat shy in producing 
its flowers. Besides the flowers being strikingly a'tractiveby their Brug- 
mansia-like form and pale yellow colour, the foliage is also agreeable, and 
the plant is worthy of being cultivated in our stoves. For a number of 
years after its introduction in 1781 this plant did not bloom. It was 
propagated and grew luxuriantly. The treatment necessary for the 
production of flowers was found out by accident, a plant being overlooked 
and left in a dry stove at Kew. This plant produced foliage of only 
moderate luxuriance, and produced a flower at the extremity of every 
ehoot. This suggested that a period of rest was necessary, an Ion its 
11 
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Fig. 89.—Solandra grandiflora. 
being afforded the difficulty in blooming this plant vanished. The plant 
is propagated from cuttings, which should be grown on in loam and peat 
in a brisk heat and with liberal supplies of water until it has attained a 
good size. Water should then be gradually withheld until the leaves 
wither and drop off by drought, and the plant will seldom refuse to 
flower profusely. It is a free-growing plant and a native of Jamaica, 
thus requiring heat to grow it, yet a distinct season of drought and rest 
to induce the production of its beautiful flowers.—S. 
NOTES ON THE WEATHER AND VEGETATION. 
We have received numerous communications concerning the weather 
from correspondents in various parts of Great Britain, of which we csn 
only publish the following this week. It will be seen from them that low 
temperatures have been experienced in several districts, while in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London the most severe frosts have ranged from 10° to 20°. 
