2G8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ S ptember 26, 1889. 
The special Polypodies have been found chiefly in the lake district, 
except P. cambricum, which was found in Wales. The majority, how¬ 
ever, of the best varieties of Ferns are now raised by crossing, and one 
of the best hybridisers was the late Col. Jones of Clifton, Bristol.] 
STRAWBERRY GROWING. 
Observing the remarks of “ W. S.” on my few notes on Straw¬ 
berries, I should wish to add a few words to what I previously wrote. 
I had not overlooked Loxford Hall Seedling, but I only fruited it one 
year at Totham, and then from very weakly runners, and in moving I 
lost my stock. Having years ago taken the advice of the American 
sage never to prophesy until I know, I did not feel justified in speaking 
positively on the merits of Loxford. It is the neatest grower I ever saw, 
and has few runners, whilst the few fruit I gathered were very large, 
late, and of good flavour. I should judge it to be admirable for ex¬ 
hibition, and at some convenient season I must procure plants and test 
the variety thoroughly, after which I shall be able to record my ex¬ 
perience for the benefit of others. 
I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Iggulden's crops of Strawberries 
on yearling plants, and they were plentiful, large, and exceptionally 
early, and it was mainly for earliness, Mr. Iggulden informed me, that 
he pursued this system. Speaking yesterday to a market grower who 
formerly had great opportunities of experience in the gardens of a true 
“ horticulturophile ’’ (if I may be allowed to manufacture a word), he 
stated to me that the annual system is far and away the best, and the 
only course he would pursue if he were a Strawberry grower. 
I omitted to state + hat 1 only apply the cod potash guano when the 
weather gives me some assurance that it means to give a good down¬ 
pour for a day or two, for the manure not being easily dissolved it is 
worse than useless to apply in dry weather.—H. S. Easty. 
SOME OF THE ANGR2ECUMS, 
The genus Angrtecum was established in 1822 by Aubert du 
Petit Thouars, to include certain species of epiphytal Orchids 
found in East and West Tropical Africa, Madagascar, and the 
adjacent islands, and in a work published by that botanist several 
of the species now in cultivation were described. It was then 
believed that the geographical range of the genus was very limited, 
but species have since been found in Japan and the West Indies. 
Their headquarters are Western Tropical Africa, from Sierra 
Leone to the River Gaboon, the opposite side of the great conti¬ 
nent about Zanzibar, in Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, Bourbon, 
and Mauritius. They are essentially heat and moisture-loving 
Orchids, and with the exception of the Japanese Angraecum 
falcatum they need the warmest compartment of the structure 
devoted to such plants. Being epiphytal in habit the majority 
require to be grown in baskets or on blocks of wood ; but those of 
vigorous habit, such as A. eburneum and A. sesquipedale, are 
usually grown in pots with abundance of potsherds as drainage, 
good fibrous peat and sphagnum, or the latter alone, that moss also 
being employed when the small forms are grown in baskets or on 
blocks. As with all Orchids of similar habit and from similar 
climates, abundance of water is required during growth, and a less 
amount when at rest; in other respects they may be treated like 
most of their allies. A few descriptive notes upon the best of the 
species may be of interest, and will serve to indicate- the chief 
characteristics of the genus. _ 
One of the most remarkable Orchids known is A. sesquipedale, 
and whilst having the largest flowers in the order it is also 
unquestionably the most handsome in it3 genus. Such qualities 
entitle it to some consideration, and several points in its history are 
also invested with peculiar interest. It is, perhaps, the best known 
of the Angnecums, for it is found in the majority of moderately 
large collections of Orchids ; and very deservedly is it so popular 
for the vigorous habit of the plant, the dark green distichous leaves! 
and the great ivory white flowers render it worthy the attention of 
all growers. In the ordinary type of the species the flowers are 
about 6 to 8 inches in diameter, the spreading sepals and petals 
imparting a star-like appearance to them, and the spurs are from 
10 inches to 1 foot in length. Messrs. Ytitch & Sons have a grand 
variety, which is, I believe, named superbum. It is greatly superior 
to the ordinary form, both in the size of the flowers and the purity 
of the white. In both the flowers are borne on a moderately short 
peduncle, and are arranged in a racemoee manner, but widely 
spreading. They are produced during the winter months, and last 
in good condition for several weeks, the sweet Lily-like fragrance 
which the blooms possess rendering them additionally attractive, 
and a single specimen upon the stages of an Orchid house will fill 
the whole structure with perfume. 
This species was one of those known to Du Petit Thouars in 
1822, but it was about thirty-four years later when living plants 
were first brought to England by the Rev. W. Ellis, who found it 
in 1854 growing on the branches of trees on the margins of forests 
in the low and hot districts of Madagascar. A few years later a 
plant produced flowers at that traveller’s reddence, Hoddesden, 
when the plant attracted much attention owing to the peculiarity 
of its structure. Since that time it has been generally distributed ; 
and on December the 10th, 1861, Messrs. Yeitch & Sons exhibited 
a specimen at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, when 
a first-class certificate was awarded for it. As regards the struc¬ 
ture of this Orchid the chief peculiarity is the extremely long spur, 
which, though rarely exceeding a foot in length in cultivation, is 
said to attain Lj foot in its native habitats, and from that character 
the specific name is derived. _ 
Another of the strong-growing forms is A. eburneum, but not 
so remarkable as the one just described, though from its free- 
flowering habit it is one of useful Angrsecums, especially as the 
flowers are produced at a time when the Orchid house is com¬ 
paratively dull—namely, from December to February. Grown in 
pots excellent results are obtained, and several unusually fine 
specimens in some of the chief London nurseries, Kew, and else¬ 
where have been noted in this Journal at various times. The plant 
is of robust habit with long leaves arranged in a similar manner to 
those of A. sesquipedale, and it bears numerous erect spikes or 
racemes of large flowers, of which the roundish pure white lip 
forms the most conspicuous portion, the sepals and petals being 
narrow and of a greenish tint. Two varieties are known—one 
named virens, which has smaller and less handsome flowers than 
the species, but is rather more graceful in habit. Another, named 
superbum, is decidedly superior to the type in the size of the 
flowers, and is said to be one of the introductions of the Rev. 
W. Ellis. 
The type is native of Madagascar, where it was found by 
Mr. Forbes a few years previous to 1830. It was also found in the 
Isle of Bourbon by another traveller. Specimens were introduced 
to the Horticultural Society’s Gardens, where one flowered in 
November, 1831, from which a figure was prepared for the 
“ Botanical Register,” where it is stated that it was believed the 
specimen was the only one in the country. Twenty years later 
a much better figure was published in the “ Botanical Magazine,” 
prepared from a plant at Kew which had been received from 
Mr. Clowes. 
One of the most useful is A. citratum which flowers freely, 
producing elegant pendulous racemes frequently a foot in length, 
with closely packed small creamy white or pale yellow flowers, 
which are nearly an inch in diameter, with spurs about \\ inch 
long. The colour is very delicate, and it is to that the term 
“ citratum ” refers, and not to the possession of any marked 
fragrance as some have supposed. It is a charming little Orchid, 
and when suspended from the roof of an Orchid house its arching 
racemes are seen to the best advantage in contrast with the deep 
green foliage of the plant, and the rich colour of some Dendrobes, 
the glowing little Sophronitis, and the showy Ada aurantiaca. 
Though A . citratum has not been many years in cultivation it 
was known to Du Petit Thouars, who described it in the work 
a’ready referred to. It is a native of Madagascar, whence Messrs. 
Yeitch obtained it nearly twenty years ago, and in their nursery it 
first flowered in March, 1865. In the following year a specimen 
was exhibited at Kensington by the same firm in a class for new 
Orchids shown in flower for the first time, when a prize was 
awarded for it. In 1867 a very good coloured engraving of it 
appeared in the “ Botanical Magazine,” and on February the 18th, 
1874, the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society 
awarded a first-class certificate for the plant. It unquestionably 
merits a place wherever elegant Orchids are appreciated, and has 
now become a familiar occupant of collections. 
Angrascum Kotschyi is another of the beautiful Orchids 
which Messrs. Yeitch & Sons have brought into notice, and for 
which they obtained the award of a first-class certificate at 
the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, October 12th, 
1880. It not only possesses sufficient attractions to render it a 
