July 4, IS), ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTTCULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
3 
2.to 3 feet high have 60 to 70 feet of roots below the basket and 
are very healthy, while not a single root is to be found in the moss 
provided for sustaining moisture about the plants. The roots 
extend and branch freely in the atmosphere, and the plants flower 
■well. If the roots of this variety and others of the same habit of 
growth are confined in pots they would quickly decay and the 
plants become unhealthy. The others represent those that make 
less but more fleshy roots and cling tenaciously to the basket, and 
the charcoal and moss in it soon becomes a mass of roots. Whether 
grown in pots or baskets make no attempt to force the plants to 
root only in the pot or basket. Very little material as a rooting 
’medium is needed, and that should be composed of charcoal in 
Jumps and sphagnum moss on the surface, which should be annually 
removed. 
DENDROBIUM WARDIANUM. 
Although this Orchid requires more shade than the majority of 
Dendrobiums it must not be overshaded nor grown in too moist an 
atmosphere. Under these conditions pseudo-bulbs of a greater 
length are produced, but they lack the solidity necessary to insure 
a profusion of fine flowers. Pseudo-bulbs produced under such 
conditions seldom ripen satisfactorily, and they frequently display 
sjgns of damping during the period of rest. They succeed 
admirably in a vinery where the roof is not overshaded with 
foliage and where liberal supplies of air are admitted. By this 
method of culture the pseudo-bulbs are short-jointed and are 
solidified as they are made. Directly they show signs of having 
lengthened out their growth, which is easily detected by a small 
leaf at the extremity of the pseudo-bulb, they should have a cooler, 
drier, and more airy position. It is important that the change in 
their treatment be gradual and continued until they have lost their 
foliage and are perfectly firm. After the growth has lengthened 
•one of the greatest mistakes that can be made in their culture is to 
suddenly withhold water and force them prematurely to rest. 
Although D. Wardianum requires liberal supplies of water during 
'the growing season the plants must not have very much in the early 
stages of growth, or the leaves will decay at their points, as if they 
had been caught by the sun. The foliage under good treatment 
should remain healthy until the completion of growth and the pro¬ 
cess of ripening commences.— Orchid Grower. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
* June 25th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters, in the chair; 
Messrs. McLachlan, Morris, Michael, Dr. Muller, and Rev. G. Henslow, 
Kon. Sec. 
Ilona berberidifolia. —Dr. Masters further examined the anatomical 
•structure of the stem and petiole of this exstipulate unifoliate species 
•exhibited at the last meeting, and found that the fibro-vascular cords 
leading to the normal position of stipules were present, the stipules 
themselves being quite arrested. He commented upon the importance 
of extended observations on the anatomical structure of plants from a 
horticultural point of view, in that, for example, when the water cells 
are more abundant, the plant appears to be more liable to be attacked 
by mildew. 
The Blight of Caterpillars. —Mr. McLachlan observed on the pre¬ 
sent superabundance of caterpillars that it is far less serious and much 
more local than is popularly supposed to be the case, some districts being 
apparently quite free from any excess. Remarks were made upon the 
popular errors associated with the vague term “ blight,” and the diffi¬ 
culty of persuading the unscientific world that plagues of various kinds 
of destructive animals had nothing whatever to do with atmospheric 
appearances of haze, &c. 
Amorphophallus Titanum. —Dr. Masters exhibited drawings of, and 
Mr. Morris described this remarkable Aroid now flowering at Kew. It 
was received from Sumatra ten years ago, having been discovered by 
Dr. Beccari. The tubf-r weighed 56 lbs. at the beginning of this year, 
and grew at the rate of 4 inches a day. The spadix and stem together 
are 7 feet in height. The spathe was at first closely adpressed to the 
spadix, but on Friday morning, the 21st, it began to spread, and was 
fully expanded for one day only. By Saturday morning it again closed 
round the spadix. Like so many Aroids the odour was most offensive. 
The male flowers are situated low down in a ring, and doubtless pol¬ 
linated the females which were below them. Flies were observed at 
the base, but whether they assisted in the fertilisation or were laying 
eggs in the spadix could not be determined. 
Pyrethrum Attached by Insects.—Dr. Miiller showed specimens of 
leaves penetrated by a dipterous miner, probably a species of Phy tomyza. 
It first appeared on the yellow Soleil d'Or, and thence spread to the red 
varieties. Mr. Morris compared its ravages with those of the Ceniostoma 
cnffeellum, which has destroyed plantations in Ceylon and Dominica. 
The best way to destroy it was to pinch the leaves where the caterpillar 
was burrowing underneath. 
Poa pratensis. —Dr. Masters showed specimens of this species of 
•Grass, which were reported to be covered with a gummy exudation. It 
■did not appear to be present on the dried specimens sent, but it was 
suggested it might have been honeydew. 
Abies N’ordmanniana. —Mr. Yeitch sent a remarkable branch of thi3 
species with a large burr, with spreading branches of a yellowish hue. 
A discussion was raised as to the general cause or causes of such struc¬ 
tures, and whether they were hereditary or could be propagated. The 
opinion entertained was that they were originally due to the puncture 
of some insect, but the difficulty lay in observing it at the time. Dr. 
Masters said he had on one occasion noticed a number of seedlings of 
Fir trees having such abnormal growths on the Simplon. It was 
proposed to subject the specimen to microscopic examination, and to 
test the powers of propagation. Varieties of Clanbrazilian Firs are 
known to be readily propagated which have thus originated. 
TJrtiea dioica, moiueeions. —Mr. Henslow exhibited specimens of the 
female plants of the common Stinging Nettle with male flowers at the 
extremities only of the female branches of the panicles, corroborating 
the generally received view that the occurrence of male organs is cor¬ 
related with a reduced vigour. 
LILIUM TENUIFOLIUM. 
The accompanying illustration (fig. 1), represents one of the most 
charming of all the Martagon group of Liliums. Its slender stem, 
FIG. L— LILIUM TENUIFOLIUM. 
never growing more than 13 inches high, i3 clothed to the ground with 
narrow leaves, and the flowers, which are bright scarlet, are about 
1J inch long. It is a wonder we do not more often see this bright 
coloured little gem. Like most of this group, L. tenuifolium does best 
planted out. A moist situation should be chosen, and if grown amongst 
some dwarf shrubs where it will get a little shelter in the early spring 
so much the better, as it is one of the earliest to bloom. It thrives best 
