Hay 16, 1889. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
401 
No harm will result from water lodging about them, provided it is 
evaporated daily. Evil results are brought about when water 
hangs upon the plants for days and weeks together. The 
syringe, even thus early, may be safely used when there is every 
prospect that the structure can be ventilated, if only for half an 
hour during the day. 
PHALiENOPSES. 
Few Orchids are more particular about the position they 
occupy than these, whether in the Orchid house or an ordinary 
plant stove. They will often thrive in one position, while if re¬ 
moved to another, even in the same house, they will refuse to 
grow ; in fact, if they are not quickly moved back again they 
often dwindle and d : e. Find a suitable corner for them, which 
should be naturally shady, or must be rendered so, and moist. If 
they do well never remove them. Be careful that drip from the 
roof does not fall upon them. If possible stand or suspend the 
plants over a tank of water, and keep their blocks or baskets 
dripping with water. They will bear dewing over with the syringe 
three times a day in bright weather. These are such moisture-loving 
plants that many cultivators fail by placing too much moss and 
peat about their roots. They require very little of this, and 
need material to which the roots can cling. If placed in baskets 
these should be filled with large pieces of crocks and lumps of 
charcoal with living sphagnum on the surface only. This should 
be removed annually, and every particle washed out that has found 
its way amongst the charcoal and crocks. If grown on blocks they 
must be of good size, and the plant secured on the top, using a 
little moss only. The bark of the wood must be attached to the 
block, and once they begin to root they will cling tenaciously to it. 
It will thus be observed that they can be frequently syringed and 
watered without fear of the evil consequences that are liable to arise 
when abundance of water-holding material is used about their roots. 
Watch for thrips, both black and yellow. Sponge the leaves 
frequently, if the insects appear, with a weak solution of tobacco 
water. 
THE MEXICAN OR BRAZILIAN HOUSE. 
Even greater care in shading the occupants of this house is needed 
than is the case with either the East Indian or cool house. The 
plants over a greater period of the year require, and must have to 
grow them well, more light. For the present shade only during the 
hottest part of the day. Less moisture in the atmosphere and at 
the roots of the plants is also required. Many Cattleyas and 
Oncidiums are brought into a sickly condition by over-watering 
them. No greater mistake can be made with these plants than by 
supplying them with water by the aid of the syringe ; they are 
certain in a very short time to become too wet. All that is needed, 
even during the season of growth, is to maintain sufficient moisture 
in the soil to keep the roots and growth from injury, which would 
result if it was allowed to become perfectly dry. The material 
about their roots should nearly approach dryness before a thorough 
watering is given. They not only grow and root better when kept 
in an intermediate state for moisture, but make firmer pseudo-bulbs 
than when in a semi-saturated condition during the whole season of 
growth. The temperature at night may still range about 60°, and 
by day 65° to 70°, rising 5° to 10° higher by sun heat. Admit air 
on all fine days, and giadually increase the supply of moisture in 
the atmosphere as the plants advance in growth. 
CATTLEYA TRIANZE. 
These plants are making abundance of roots, and may there¬ 
fore be placed at the warmest end of the house. By this arrange¬ 
ment a little more moisture can be maintained about them by more 
frequently damping the stage upon which they stand. Well- 
established plants that are in good health can be induced to increase 
the number of their leads by cutting the rhizomes through, or 
partially, just in front of prominent eyes. Strong plants will often 
produce back breaks without severing the rhizome , but if not, 
this operation will have the desired effect. Healthy plants often 
produce from the old pseudo-bulbs strong flowering growths at the 
end of the second season. If any of the back breaks show signs of 
flowering, and the rhizome has been cut, it is wise to remove the 
flowers directly they can be perceived. This gives them every 
chance of making strong growth for the following year.— Oeciiid 
Grower. 
CYMBIDIUM DEYONIANUM. 
Ok May the 8th, 1883, Mr. H. James of the Castle Nursery, 
Norwood, exhibited a plant of the above named Cymbidium at a 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Floral Committee, 
when a certificate was awarded for it. It is a pretty and distinct 
species with flowers about 2 inches in diameter, the sepals and 
petals narrow, of a greenish colour spotted with purple, the spots 
very much darker on the petals. The lip has the point recurved, 
pale purple, with two lateral blotches of rich dark purple. The 
spike w T as about a foot long, with sixteen flowers produced from the 
base of the pseudo-bulb. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., sent from his collection at 
Burford Lodge on March 2Gth last another plant of this 
FIG. 65. —CYMBIDIUM DEYONIANUM. 
Cymbidium, which well showed its distinctive characters, and 
from it the drawing was prepared which is reproduced in the 
engraving (fig. 65). 
SPRING FLOWERS AT KEW. 
The Royal Gardens, Kew, are just now in their spring beauty, the 
warm sun of the past week having had a startling effect upon all vege¬ 
tation. The delightful green of the tender foliage on the trees adds quite 
a charm to the scenery. Some of the flowering shrubs are a glorious 
sight, almost covered with bloom. The different variety of Berberis are 
specially fine. Berberis Darvvini with its bright orange coloured flowers, 
and B. stenophylla, of a similar colour, are very attractive. Many of 
the earlier sorts of Rhododendrons are at their best, but another week 
will give greater variety amongst these. 
A mass of Genista prascox is a charming picture, the soft primrose 
