February SI, 1839. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
the borders. Thus we have had out already Hellebores, Primrose, 
and Polyanthus in some vpriety, if not in quantity. Crocus 
Sieberi, C. Imperati, and C. biflorus have been well to the fore, 
and others of the same genus a^e showing readiness to blossom on 
short notice. 
Of Iris reticulata var. Krelagei, the redder, Caucasian variety. I 
picked a dozen perfect blooms in January in a wholly unprotected 
border. Quantities of the same plant will be in bloom with us in 
February, and probably some of the commoner and even more 
beautiful type. Iris Histrio, the bluest of this class, is scarcely 
worth growing in quantity, if cost is of consequence, for it is 
scarce and dear, and is not more decorative than the commoner 
species just named. 
Primula villosa (allied to viscosa) is a charming hardy alpine 
species, which has given me this winter more than one succulent 
and charming bloom. A Fritillary (F. Burnati) has sent up a re¬ 
spectable apology for a blossom ; Iris stylosa has let itself be 
beaten in the race by plants whose blossoms it usually precedes. 
It is a genuine winter bloomer ordinarily, but probably misses that 
summer baking which it needs, and which failed it miserably last 
season. Winter Aconites are out, and almost over. Cyclamen 
Coum is flowering under glass, and should have done tie same 
had it been left in a sunny corner in the open. 
These invaluable Primulas, obconica and floribunda, are, as 
usual, plentifully in blossom enough in cool greenhouse, but it 
must, I fear, be now taken as proven that these will never do any 
good without glass protection, and a good deal of that. Polygala 
Chamsebuxus, a beautiful little alpine shrub, has bloomed shyly 
throughout the winter in the open, as well the type (with white 
and orange flowers) as the purple variety. This habit of winter 
blooming is not uncommon with it. It, like many other alpines, 
evidently takes an English winter to 1 e the equivalent of an early 
alpine spring, and opens wide its eyes, the better to assure itself 
upon the matter. So, too, have one or two of the choice Ameiican 
spring Phloxes—viz., Phlox reptans (or verna) and P. amoena 
thrown good though premature blossoms. 
A new and curious dwarf plant, Asphodelus acaulis, lias been 
and is still in blossom. I collect that it is properly a winter-bloom¬ 
ing plant. It is from southern Italy ; the blooms are of a lively 
Hesh colour, and the long and shapely buds of the stme tint aie 
prettier, to my thinking, than are the blossoms themselves. It 
must be counted among new plants. 
As I continue this note there open the blooms of a really 
wonderfully beautiful flower, still not known to most flower lovers, 
for it remains scarce ; I mean Tecophyllsea cyanocrocus. Else¬ 
where I have seen it flowering in February or March, and I collect 
that it may thus be accounted hardy ; but while it is so valuable as 
at present one may be forgiven for coddling it, to the extent of 
giving it cool house or frame to dwell in. Its blue rivals that of 
the Gentian. The individual bulbs vary in the quantity of the blue 
•in the flower ; white is the ground colour. The plant does not 
grow more than 6 inches high, and the form of the blossom is rather 
that of a miniature Gladiolus than of anything else. 
Iris ciucasica major I learn is quite hardy, and its name imports 
that it should be. In the open, however, it does not bloom until 
April. This year it has been with us a grand flower in cool house 
in January. It is one of the really fine yellow Irises, its blossoms 
being of a golden yellow, and resembling in general effect those of 
the later blooming Iris juncea, and the plant is hardier than that 
species. The blooms when cut associate exquisitely with those of 
Iris reticulata, contrasting finely in colour, while consorting well 
as regards form. In the open, however, these two species cannot 
be flowered together, and were it otherwise the habits are too 
•distinct to make such desirable.—H. Selfe Leonard, Guildford. 
PLANTING YOUNG VINES. 
Mr. Garner, on page 110, refers to my having condemned washing 
Vine roots, and though I do not remember having written on the subject 
1 quite agree with what he says. It is a useless practice and leads only 
to evil results. Such a practice should only be tolerated when it is 
'absolutely necessary for the purpose of freeing the roots of insects or 
fungi. Mr. Garner’s remark is doubtless due to my condemnation recently 
•of shaking out and spreading the roots of young Vines when planting 
them, the method of preparation prior to planting, as described in 
the No. 2 example, being all that is really necessary. I have for years 
■failed to see the wisdom of following the orthodox principle of shaking 
away all the soil in order to spread out the roots. It is, to say the least., 
a barbarous system of root pruning, and I fail to see how Vines can be 
expected to make such a luxuriant growth the season after planting as 
'they made the first while in pots after being subject to such treatment. 
The roots will extend through the border from the old ball with as much 
freedom as if they had been spread out with the utmost care after nearly 
all the filbrv roots had been destroyed in the endeavour to disentangle 
dhem. I believe it is only this severe mutilation of the roots of young 
Vines that has brought cut-backs into disrepute for pot culture, and 
compelled many to rely upon growing Vines in one season suitable for 
fruiting. However good these can be grown, better can be produced 
from cut-backs if the old drainage is removed and the roots loosened 
just round the top of the ball—in fact, repotted instead of shaken out. 
—Wh. Bardney. 
A SPOTTED ODONTOGLOSSUM PESCATOREI. 
There are numberless varieties of the popular Odontoglossum 
Pescatorei, differing greatly in merit and value. Those with broad 
even sepals and petals are the most esteemed with regard to shape ; 
FIG. 24.—A SPOTTED ODONTOGLOSSUM PESCATOREI. 
and in colouring those with dark heavy spots on a pure white 
ground are most valued. The finest example of the spotted 
varieties is afforded by 0. Pescatorei Yeitchianum, which has 
exceptionally large rich purple spots on the lower half of the 
sepals, petals, and lip. This magnificent variety is highly valued, 
and is represented by a superb specimen in Baron Schroder’s col¬ 
lection at The Dell, Egham. Several other spotted varieties have 
been named after the introducers or the growers with whom they 
flowered, while still others in which yellow, purple, or rose pre¬ 
dominated in the petals and sepals have received titles desciip- 
tive of those characters. The variety depicted in the woodcut 
