462 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 10, 1886. 
to strangers than a thorough inspection of the extensive docks and 
thousands of ships from all nations that are crowded together in them. 
Some idea of the carrying trade of the Dation is gained, and the commerce 
of a great and bus}’ seaport like Liverpool. 
For those who desire a thorough change from the garden and garden¬ 
ing, no moro fitting opportunity could exist for a day’s trip than to proceed 
by steamer to Llandudno or the Menai Straits. These steamers leave the 
landing stage daily, Sundays excepted, at 10.45 A.M., and the return fare 
is 4s., or 4s. 6d. respectively. If a longer sea voyage is desired, the Lie 
of Man may be selected. This will take up at the least nearly two whole 
days. The fare is equally reasonable, and the steamers leave the landing 
stage daily at 1 p.m., and return the following morning from Douglas at 
9 A.M. 
The principal object of gardeners when visiting a neighbourhood is 
to inspect all within reasonable distance that is of horticultural in¬ 
terest. It is wise and beneficial to have a change, hence the various 
features and enjoyable excursions are pointed out. I shall, however, 
in a future issue point out what gardens, nurseries, and parks within 
reasonable distance are worth visiting.—A City Man. 
RUSHING INTO PRINT. 
Pekhit me just to say, in reply to your “ W. P. R.,” that seeing I 
before said that he had probably no connection with my “ W. P. R.,” 
one would have thought that a single denial to the same effect on his 
part would have been sufficient, if he noticed it at all; but his inuendoes 
and the dates and circumstances, &c., which he gives, coupled with his 
initials and the qualifying statement that he fails to identify himself with 
the “ incidents ” related by me only “ inasmuch ’’ as anything he has 
written about others “ has been free from exaggeration, and strictly 
accurate,” gives one the impression that there may be more between the 
lines and not so many “ W. P. R.’s ” in the world after all. My story 
may be old, but it is true (it is exactly the age he states as the period 
since he was foreman in a lord’s garden), and I would add that your 
41 W. P. R.’s ” newly manifested reluctance to “ take up your space and 
his own time ” on this topic, after occupying so many of your columns 
without hesitation, and spending so much of his own time investigating 
matters he does not appear to have any business with, outside of a desire 
to “ rush into print,” suggests reflections that need not be here expressed. 
I do not admire his late attempt to pillory in the public prints a gardener 
in a private place (whose identity may be guessed by many) be¬ 
cause of private transactions, the true particulars of which “ W. P. R. ” 
cannot vouch for himself, aDd I think you have done right to expunge 
the personal element from the discussion ; but under the circumstances, 
my little story about my “ W. P. R. ” was not, I think, inappropriate if 
old, though it dots not seem to strike your “ W. P. R. ” in the same 
light.— Head Gakdeneb. 
MESSRS. J. VEITCH & SONS’ ORCHIDS. 
The orchidic triumphs of the Veitchian establishment would form a 
valuable and instructive record, and most of the numerous visitors who 
inspect the surprising collections at Chelsea must feel that there is an 
historical interest attached to them quite apart from their individual or 
collective beauty. Not only have great numbers of Orchids amongst 
other plants been introduced by the collectors dispatched by this firm 
either from Exeter or Chelsea, but they have still farther increased the 
numbers of cultivated Orchids by the many beautiful hybrids raised in 
their nurseries. Scarcely a season passes without some valuable addition 
is made in this way, and all orchidists now look with much expectant 
interest for the Veitchian novelties. The merits of many of these have 
been amply proved, and such plants as Calanthe Veitchi and Cypripedium 
Sedeni are favourites in gardens innumerable, while many others are 
destined to obtain a similar popularity as their numbers increase. The work 
thus performed in hybridising is invaluable, and the interesting paper read 
by Mr. Harry J. Veitch at the Orchid Conference last year detailed some 
the difficulties that have attended the experiments and the successes that 
have rewarded their efforts. 
June is one of the best months that could be selected for a visit to the 
Chelsea nursery, for the Orchids are flowering profusely, and there are 
also many other floral attractions. With the Orchids we are, however, 
now chiefly concerned, and a few notes upon these will give an idea what 
constitute the leading features. Visitors to this nursery now generally 
first inquire for the great Cattleya house which is so widely famed as the 
finest structure of its kind, and those who have seen it during the past 
week will not readily forget the effect. The house is 132 feet long, a 
lofty spacious structure occupied throughout with Cattleyas and Lafiias 
in magnificent vigorous health, and bearing at the present time a total of 
over 1000 flowers, mostly grand varieties of C. Mossim, C. Mendeli, and 
C. gigas. These are very numerous, the blooms large, the colours bright 
and varied, some forms being as distinct as those which formerly received 
names. This practice is now discontinued, and the comparative merits 
are indicated by crosses, which is far preferable. It is not surprising that 
Cattleyas have become such favourites within the past few years ; they 
are so free in flowering, produce such handsome blossoms, and are dis¬ 
tinguished by such rich and soft crimson shades, that no other Orchids 
can equal them in these respect-. Of Lseha purpurata large numbeis of 
plants are grown, the varieties choice and beautiful, those with the pure 
white sepals and petals and crimson lips having a very striking appear¬ 
ance. The principal portion of the plants in flower are arranged to f rm 
a hank on one side of the house, and they produce a charming effect, but 
there are numbers of other plants in flower scattered through the house 
with them ; besides those already named being C. Warneri, C. lobata, 
C. elegans, and C. Skinneri all in capital condition. The last named is a 
much-valued plant, especially as its flowers show extremely well under 
artificial light, which probably is partly due to the crystalline lustre of the 
sepals and petals. A large and well-grown plant of Cymbidium 
Lowianum at the corner of the central bed has five long racemes of nine¬ 
teen to twenty-three flowers each, or a total of about 100 flowers. A few 
Oncidiums and other Orchids are also introduced to vary the display ; the 
lovely Odontoglossum citrosmum, with its pendant panicles, adding 
materially to its beauty. 
The central range of houses, which is entered from the fernery, is next 
visited, and there the plants in flower are very numerous in the several 
divisions. Dendrobiums are particularly abundant, some of the most 
useful being represented. The golden D. cbrysotcxum and D. suavissimum 
are very bright; in contrast with them being the white D. Jamesianum 
and D. infundibulum, the two latter being occasionally mistaken for each 
other, but they can be readily distinguished by the colour of the blotch in 
the centre of the lip, which is deep orange in D. Jamesianum and of a 
lighter yellowi-h tint in D. infundibulum. D. crystallinum, the ivory 
white D. eburneum, the curious and delicate D. tortile, the white, free, 
and useful D. Deari, and the handsome white and gold D. thyrsiflorum 
are attractive ; but perhaps the most pleasing of all is the floriferous 
D. Bensonise, which is most varied, the sepals and petals pure white, but 
the yellowish lip has a deep maroon blotch at the base, which differs con¬ 
siderably in size and is sometimes divided, so that there are two blotches. 
This useful and easily grown Dendrobium ought to be much more 
generally grown, for it is one of the most distinct and best. With such 
other well known forms as crassinode and crystallinum it was introduced 
by Messrs. Veitch & Sons through their correspondent Lieut. Col. Benson. 
In an adjoining house are some good plants of Anguloa Clowesi, which 
has been fancifully named the Cradle Orchid, though others have also 
termed it the Tulip Orchid, and it may be imagined that if there were any 
real resemblance to such diverse objects as Tulips and cradles its appear¬ 
ance would be rather peculiar. Its bright yellow flowers are, however, 
very notable, and they last for a great length of time. The Butterfly 
Oncidium, O. Krameri, is an extremely remarkable mimic, and one plant 
is in uncommonly good condition with seven scapes of large richly tinted 
brown and gold flowers. The white drooping Angraecum Chailluanum, 
the old but beautiful Camarotis purpurea, and the brightly flowered bit 
seldom seen Broughtonia sanguinea constitute other attractions. 
At the top of this range is a house of Cypripediums and Phalaenopses, 
with a brilliant bank of the orange-scarlet Epidendrum vitellinum majus. 
Amongst the Cypripediums the long-petalled Stonei lsevigatum and selli- 
gerum are very handsome ; the pretty white C. niveum, and those fine 
forms of the C. superbiens or Veitchi type C. ciliolare and superciliare, are 
also in flower, together with the majestic C. Lawrencianum and the lovely 
hybrid C. Schoederae, though the rosy-tinted flowers of the latter are now 
past their best. The white or softly tinted C. Sedeni candidulum is still 
flowering freely. Of Phalsenopses there is a pretty display of the small- 
flowered P. sumatrana and its pretty relative P. Marias, which also bears 
some resemblance to P. Luddemaniana, though quite distinct. It is one 
of Mr. F. W. Burbidge’s discoveries, and bears his wife’s name. P. 
violacea, P. amabilis, and P. rosea are flowering with P. epeciosa, the 
latter on a block, with two spikes of four and five flowers each. Coelogyne 
Massangeana, C. Dayana, and Dendrochilum latifolius, a broad-leaved 
species with long racemes of flowers, and the new Oncidium Jonesianum 
are equally noteworthy. 
The cool h use is highly attractive, some hundreds of racemes of the 
best Odontoglossums constituting a superb display. O. Pescatorei, O. 
crispum, O. cordatum, O. maculatum, O. vexillarium, 0. luteo-purpureum, 
O. nebulosum, and O. gloriosum are the principal species, some grand 
varieties of these beiDg represented. The bright yellow Oncidium con- 
color, the orange-scarlet Epidendrum vitellinum majue, the crimson 
Masdevaliias of the Harryana type supply agreeable relieving tints. 
In other houses, Gloxinias, lmantophyllums, and the showy Anthu- 
riums afford exhibitions of special beauty that should be seen by all 
interested in these plants. 
FIRM SOIL THE BEST. 
In your last issue, on page 450, “ Kitchen Gardener ” writes a very 
sensible article. I am of the same opinion as he, for I think there is a 
great number of plants ruined by not being potted firmly enough. Take 
for instance Strawberries, which require very firm potting, yet I have 
lived with some noted gardeners that would not have their Strawberries 
potted firmly, but I have had the fortune to live in a place where a 
large number of Strawberries were forced, and where they were potted aB 
firmly as they possibly could be; hence I have seen both sides of the 
question, and have had the opportunity of watching the results. I have 
found that where loose potting was done they not only formed very in¬ 
different roots, but of course made very poor crowns, and then when forced 
in the spring the result was a very poor crop of fruit, when, on the 
other hand, those that were potted quite firmly always formed thick 
sturdy roots and well ripened crowns ; and as it is well known unless the 
plants are well lipened and in a health} condition there can be no good 
fruit when foiced. 
Attain, even such tender-rooted things as Mignonette enjoy firm 
potting, although I have, as a rule, found this plant potted rather loosely 
but I have teen very fine plants grown in 10-inch pots that were so firm 
