November 7,16S9. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
395 
ORCHID NAMING. 
This subject is now under discussion, and the Committee 
•appointed by the Royal Horticultural Society will no doubt do 
•their best to remove some of the anomalies and inconsistencies of 
the present system, or want of system. In connection with 
it there are, however, two or three points upon which I 
wish to express an opinion, and I should like to see others 
do so with the same object in view. First, as the intention 
obviously is to deal with garden nomenclature only it is evi¬ 
dent that the subject ought to be submitted to horticul¬ 
turists and be determined by them. Botanists professedly disre¬ 
gard the numerous varieties which are prized in gardens, and there¬ 
fore it does not come within their province at all ; farther, it is an 
•unfortunate and deplorable fact that a discordant feeling exists 
between them and horticulturists, and it has always been a most 
difficult matter to effect a combination of the two that would work 
harmoniously. This feeling is undoubtedly less than was the case 
at one time, and broad-minded men are conscious of the ad¬ 
vantages arising from the mutual assistance of theoretical and 
practical knowledge ; still, it is quite as inadvisable for botanists to 
dictate to horticulturists in purely garden matters as it would be if 
the case were reversed. Any system of nomenclature proposed by 
the R.H.S. for Orchids or other plants as occupants of gardens 
■should, to ensure anything like general support, be horticultural 
and not botanical rules. 
If the botanists adopt one system of nomenclature, and it is 
found to be suitable, there is however no reason, as far as I can 
see, why the horticulturists should not name their plants in the 
•same way if they wish to do so. On the other hand, it is desirable 
to make some distinction between introduced wild plants and those 
raised under cultivation, and this is most readily effected in the 
ordinary way by the adoption of popular names for garden plants 
where the differences are very slight and where the plants admit of 
rapid increase either by seeds or cuttings ; what is termed botanical 
•names, or those compounded from the Latin and Greek, being re¬ 
served for introduced plants. There is very little difference of 
•opinion on this matter, and if this is all that the Committee has 
io determine it will no doubt soon complete its work. It is easy to 
separate introduced and home grown plants into two clearly defined 
groups, and it seems preferable to rest any distinction in nomencla¬ 
ture upon this than upon doubtful characters.— Practical. 
Orchids together when more suitable treatment can be accorded to 
them in some other structure that may not be devoted to Orchids. 
—N. G. 
DENDROBIUM FALCONERI. 
When well grown this Dendrobium is one of the finest in its 
genus, its free graceful habit and abundant richly coloured flowers 
rendering it a charming plant in any warm Orchid house or stove. 
It is true some found a little difficulty in its cultivation, but the 
chief point is no doubt, as with other species, to insure the growths 
being well matured, with the provision of a light airy position. 
Mr. B. S. Williams says, “ During the growing season it likes a 
good supply of water ; but after it has finished growth, which is by 
autumn, it should be kept rather dry till it begins to show flower, 
but must never be allowed to suffer for want of water, as it fre¬ 
quently grows during the winter months.” This exactly accords 
with my experience, and it is certainly not nearly so difficult to 
ODONTOGLOSSUM VEXILLARIUM. 
In many gardens only two divisions exist in which Orchids are 
■grown—one cool and the other warm. It is therefore often diffi¬ 
cult to give plants that require an intermediate temperature the 
■exact treatment they need during the winter. If grown too warm 
the above-named Orchid quickly assumes a sickly appearance and 
becomes a prey to yellow tbrips. This is not all ; growth is forced 
much more quickly than is desirable, and the foliage in consequence 
is weak and incapable of supporting itself. Under cool treatment 
the plant goes back rapidly, and one evil is equally as bad as the 
other. Since we have maintained a higher temperature in the 
Odontoglossum house we have not experienced so much difficulty. 
At one time we had hot-water pipes only down the centre of a 
•narrow span-roofed house for Odontoglossums, and the plants on 
the north side suifered severely at the back of the bed. This led to 
two 1-inch pipes being taken off those in the centre and arranged 
along the ventilators on the north side. These have acted ad¬ 
mirably, and close to the central division we have now the exact 
place for Odontoglossum vexillarium. The night temperature 
ranges from 55° to 60°, according to the weather, and the plants are 
at home. Until this arrangement took place they were removed 
early in November to a plant house, where an average night 
temperature of 55° was maintained. It is a mistake to keep them 
either too warm or too cool for the mere sake of keeping all the 
FIG. 45.— DENDROUIUiT FALCONERI. 
flower D. Falconeri every year as some other species, particularly 
those from Australia. 
One of the attractions of this Dendrobium is the great size of 
the white lip and the wonderfully rich colour of the broad central 
crimson purple spot; the sepals and petals also are frequently 
tipped with purple. The central blotch is usually surrounded by a 
zone of orange, and the tapering part of the lip is frequently 
coloured like those of the sepals and petals. Several varieties are 
cultivated, one of the finest giganteum being that represented in 
the woodcut (fig. 46L There is another named Jacksoni, which is 
so distinct that it has been regarded by some as a species. _ It seems, 
however, to be simply a form of D. Falconeri, but differing in its 
leading character?. The flowers are usually smaller, with shorter 
sepals, petals, and lip ; the latter more of a golden hue and want¬ 
ing that peculiarly rich crimson spot so much admired in the 
ordinary D. Falconeri.—B. W. 
and by that time it is, as a rule, always safe to prune any kind of 
shrub as freely as is required. 
The prunings of all kinds of shrubs cannot be more profitably 
■disposed of than by burning them ; the ashes make an excellent 
manure for the kitchen garden. They suit all kinds of vegetables, 
and when mixed with a little soil they are excellent for covering 
Onion and other seeds.—P. 
