April 1. 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
Green Batavian and Green Curled ; Leek, Musselburgh ; Cabbage Lettuce, 
All the Year Bound ; Onions, James’ Keeping, Queen, Giant Rocca ; Par¬ 
snip, Hollow Crowned ; Radish, Fronch Breakfast; Mixed Turnip ; Peas, 
William the First, Laxton’s Supreme, Champion of England, Ne Plus 
Ultra, and a few of Veitch’s Perfection ; Spinach, Prickly and Round (this 
is optional, as the Round will stand the winter) ; Tomato, Hathaway’s 
Excelsior; Turnips, White Stone and Chirk Castle ; Vegetable Marrow, 
Long White. 
I am sure if “ S. B.” had seen my Aigburth Sprouts this winter he 
would have said they were fit to exhibit, in spite of the dry summer and 
the fact that they were only watered twice. I have found the Peas named 
produce good crops of excellent quality ; and if I raised the seed bill to 
three times its present amount, I should most likely be told that the seed 
cost more than the Peas are worth. The seeds named can all be pur¬ 
chased at a reasonable price, and the varieties will suit a beginner till he 
finds out his employer’s tastes and disposition, and fixes on a hobby for 
bimself.—A. L. G. 
HINTS ON ORCniD CULTURE. 
(Continued from page 229.) 
CULTIVATORS’ ENEMIES. 
Orchidists have abundance of enemies to contend with, for the 
plants are subject to the attacks of many insects ; but in this, as in 
other cases, prevention is better than cure, and a continual watch¬ 
fulness for the first appearance of these pests and the adoption of 
prompt measures will save endless trouble. It is important to insure 
that the plants purchased are thoroughly clean, and if there be any 
doubt on the matter they should be well washed with tepid water 
and a small quantity of softsoap, sufficient to discolour the water, 
this being especially necessary for imported plants, the roots of which 
should also be washed in clean water. Orchids are subject to the 
attacks of most insects which infest other plants, such as green fly, 
red spider, thrips and scale of several sorts, and mealy bug ; while 
snails, slugs, woodlice, ants, and cockroaches also cause much trouble 
if allowed to become numerous. It is not difficult to keep a small 
collection clean, but where large numbers of plants are grown it 
requires constant care ; and in some establishments it is the rule to 
thoroughly clean the whole stock periodically, for delicate plants 
once a month. The frequent use of tepid water, softsoap in very 
small quantities, or weak tobacco water is the best means of keeping 
the foliage clean, applying the liquids with a sponge or camel’s-hair 
brush. Green fly and the thrips may be destroyed by fumigation 
with tobacco or tobacco paper. Though this is commonly recommended 
it is a dangerous expedient in the hands of beginners, for a strong 
fumigation will often prove far more injurious than beneficial. It 
should only be resorted to in extreme cases, and then it should be 
given very moderately on several alternate nights ; choose a quiet 
evening, have the house drier than usual, and if moveable blinds are 
employed pull these down Be careful to place the fumigator where 
the hot smoke does not ascend directly under any plants, and do not 
employ burning coal or coke, as the gases arising from these are very 
injurious. Slugs and snails must be looked after closely, a little 
bran being a good bait for them. A few cabbage leaves can also be 
laid about on the stages, and frequently examined ; hollowed potatoes, 
a little moss, and various other things serve as traps for woodlice. 
Ants may be caught in glasses of sugar or treacle and water sunk 
in the stages level with the material, or old bones can be placed 
about and occasionally plunged in hot water ; while for cockroaches 
I have never seen anything better than Chase’s phosphor paste, 
which can be spread on pieces of paper, wood, slate, or any substance 
and placed at night where they are most frequent, removing it again 
in the morning. Isolating stages by means of metal saucers soldered 
round the supports and filled with water is an excellent plan, and the 
Orchid pan already noticed answers a similar purpose. There are 
several insects which are peculiar to Orchids, and one of the worst 
of these is that which attacks Cattleyas, causing the pseudo-bulbs to 
swell, and for which the only remedy seems to be cutting the growth 
away immediately it is seen to be swelling unusually. A useful little 
friend in the Orchid house is the green frog, which is a most per¬ 
severing and voracious destroyer of insects, and two or three of them 
in a collection will save the cultivator a great amount of trouble. 
The diseases of Orchids are few, and are principally due to 
excessive moisture in the air or at the roots, accompanied by unduly 
low temperatures. Many Orchids will continue healthy with very 
little heat, but the supply of water must be correspondingly dimi¬ 
nished or decay of some kind will commence. That form termed 
“ rot ” chiefly attacks the pseudo-bulbs, but sometimes the leaves, 
and in any case the decayed portion must be cut clean out, dusting 
the surface freely with sulphur. “ Spot,” which appears on the 
leaves, has a similar origin, and the best plan is to alter the treatment 
as to heat and moisture, cutting away the worst leaves, or dusting 
them with sulphur. It is important to keep all material in a fresh 
clean state, providing a wholesome atmosphere by suitable ventilation. 
—An Amateur. 
(To be continued.) 
We are informed that the annual Potato Show at the Crystal 
Palace will be held as usual this year, but it will form part of 
the Company’s programme for the season, the direction and arrangement 
being entrusted to the Superintendent. Mr. W. G. Head. Schedules are 
in course of preparation and will be issued as soon as possible. 
- The Tree Ferns at Chiswick which are being prepared for 
the Indian and Colonial Exhibition at South Kensington are making 
excellent progress. The large orchard house is devoted to the Dicksonias, 
Cyatheas, and Todeas, which present an array of these plants such as can be 
seldom seen. There are some particularly grand specimens of Todea 
barbara (T. africana), and one has been received at Kensington weighing 
two tons. A large example of this which has been grown several years 
at Kew weighed 15 cwt. when it was received, and another sent to Ham¬ 
burgh weighed 23 cwt., but that above recorded is probably the heaviest 
that has ever been imported to this country. Filmy Ferns, including 
numerous Todeas and Trichomanes, are also plentiful, and it appears that 
the representations of Colonial flora to be shown at the Exhibition this 
year will constitute an important and highly interesting feature. 
- We learn that Mr. R. I. Lynch of the Cambridge Botanic 
Gardens has translated “ Les Plantes des Alpes ” by M. Correvom 
Director of the Jardin Alpin d’AcclimatatioD, Geneva, but that publishers 
do not care to risk its production. If those who would buy the translation 
will forward Mr. Lynch a postcard to that effect, he will publish it 
himself in the event of his receiving information of a sufficient number of 
purchasers to cover the cost. The price would be less than 5s. The 
original work has been a success, as might be expected from the author’s 
experience as a cultivator, from his familiarity with the conditions under 
which Alpine plants grow wild. The value of the work rests in this 
unusual combination of knowledge. It has been written as a guide to 
culture, assuming that intelligent and successful cultivation must depend 
upon a knowledge of alpine nature. For this translation the author has 
written an additional chapter on botanising on the Alps, and it contains 
all that is found in the second French edition. 
-The summer Show of the Croydon Horticultural Society 
will be held on June 30tb, and the autumn Show on November 10th and 
11th. The schedule of the first-named Show embraces 100 classes, the 
autumn Show 48 classes, and very good prizes are offered. His Grace the 
Archbishop of Canterbury is the President, and Mr. A. C. Roffey the 
Secretary of the Society. 
- “ L. G.” sends us some remarkably well-grown samples of 
Tabernaimontana coronaria elore pleno, with the following 
remarks—“This is a plant that is not nearly so much grown as it 
deserves to be, especially where there is a demand for white flowers. I 
have a plant growing in the back of a Croton house. It is in a 14-inch 
pot, is about 4 feet high, and as much through. It is in flower 
quite nine months out of twelve, and during that time hundreds of 
flowers are gathered from it. They are much valued by ladies on account 
of their fragrance, which also makes them very valuable for buttonhole 
and bouquet making ; the only defect is their having such short stems 
that they have to be mounted on wire. The flowers should be gathered 
as soon as open, when they will keep fresh for a week. The plant is 
easily propagated by cuttings taken from half-ripened shoots. They 
should be placed in a moist bottom heat under a stand, light, or bellglass. 
The best soil is good fibrous peat and loam in equal parts. After the pots 
are filled with roots give liquid manure at every alternate watering. The 
plants must not be allowed to get dry at the roots, or the buds will fall 
prematurely.” 
- We are informed that Mr. John SimonitE died on March 26th 
at Rough Bank, Sheffield, in his eighty-sixth year. He caught a chill 
three weeks ago, which brought on a severe attack of bronchitis, from 
which he never recovered. He was father of Mr. Ben Simonite, so well 
known as a cultivator and raiser of florists’ flowers. Mr. Simonite was 
also a raiser and cultivator more than half a century ago. Much 
