January S, 1890 . J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
main try ty do with such means as lay at our elbows. Be such what 
they may, a certain amount of heat and also of air moisture is 
absolutely essential in erder to command success. Bottom heat, 
too, is of great importance in this matter. All shrubs force much 
better for plunging in a proper medium. Not that they will not 
succeed without it. They should by all means have as light a 
•situation as possible, and be near to the glass. 
With regard to air heat it may be very moderate during theifirst 
stage of forcing, for our business is to excite a root action first, and, 
indeed, under any circumstances the buds of these plants require a 
•given time to develope themselves. 
Speaking here of the development of blossom buds reminds me 
■of the length of time the Camellia requires to swell and expand 
the blossom bud. The latter, first manifest in May or June, 
■cannot by fair means be made to expand before November. Here 
we see half a year consumed in organising and expanding the bud. 
This is, however, no great marvel when we consider the great 
•amount of well-constructed petals which a bud contains, and which 
must of necessity take much time in perfecting, so that the beginner 
in forcing matters must not be astonished and impatient that his 
dihings make such slow advances. But it is so in all forcing matters. 
The Vine, Peach, and Strawberry all have to swell and expand 
dheir buds in a tardy way. As for Strawberries, one of the chief 
secrets of their successful forcing is to bring them forward in their 
earlier stages by a low temperature and by almost imperceptible 
•degrees. 
But to return to our shrubs for forcing. Let me observe that 
those which are deciduous, as the Moss Rose, Rhodoras, American 
Azaleas, and Lilacs will pass the first three weeks of their forcing 
■with very little light if needs be. They have little occasion for 
light until the foliage commences development. The knowledge of 
this fact may sometimes enable the operator to economise his space. 
During the time that the bud is expanding syringing should be 
used both morning and evening, providing there is fire heat applied 
to the structure. If only dung heat, and the weather is dull, the 
•syringe must certainly be dispensed with, as the steam from the 
fermenting materials will be amply sufficient. A liberal ventilation 
is proper. These hardy things cannot bear coddling, and in order to 
carry out such it is necessary to be provided with plenty of heat to 
meet such contingencies. Where persons force with the aid of fire 
lieat in combination with bottom heat this is easily accomplished. 
Where dung pits are used without fire it is very difficult, and the 
consequence is that much putrefaction through damp is engendered 
"through the earliest part of the spring. Of course watering at the 
TOot must be attended to, and it may be observed that American 
plants taken up with balls of earth require very liberal waterings, 
especially as they approach the blossoming state. 
Here I may as weU advert to the potting them from the open 
-■soil. I before observed that there would be what is termed “ a 
ball ”—that is to say, a mass of fibres, from which the soil is with 
■difficulty disengaged. Now, this ball is not by any means so readily 
permeable by water as the loose soil by which it is surrounded in 
■tbe act of potting, therefore in the act of potting caution should be 
•exercised, and the soil should be pressed in very firmly around the 
l)all: but, be it remembered, that soils in a moist state will not bear 
much pressure, therefore it becomes necessary to use dryish soil. 
I may here speak of retarding matters, and have to observe that 
this class of flowers are in general so susceptible of extremes of 
temperature in the heat way that, unless caution is exercised, their 
beauties are soon dissipated. Azaleas and Rhododendrons left in 
a hot place where the forcing is carried on will not endure above a 
fortnight in all their freshness. Removed to a cool house or room 
they will in most cases endure treble the time, especially if kept 
■from much sunshine. Plants of this description are the better for 
a little pruning previously to their being introduced to heat. Lilacs 
and Azaleas often possess a few coarse shoots projecting beyond 
the true blossom. These having no blossom buds on are simply in 
the way of the object sought, and maybe pruned close back.—E. N. 
The L.\te Clyhe Disaster. 
At the final meeting of the Committee, held at the offices of 
"Messrs. Protheroe & Morris on the 20th of December, Mr. H. J. 
Veitch presiding, Mr. Horsman,the Honorary Secretary, announced 
that the total receipts amounted to £453 Ss., and it was unanimously 
resolved—first, that the subscription list be declared closed ; 
second, that the sum of £452 be equally divided between Mrs. Hall 
and Mrs. Fraser ; third, that the arrangements for investing the 
respective amounts be left in the hands of Mr. Veitch and Mr. 
Protheroe ; and fourth, that as soon as the investments have been 
made a report be sent to all subscribers. Mr. Horsman was accorded 
a hearty vote of thanks for his services as Secretary, as also were 
the editors of the various gardening papers for their kind co¬ 
operation in giving publicity to the Committee’s proceedings. 
Cypripedium Galatea majus. 
Hybrid Cypripediums are so numerous that it might now be 
thought difficult to obtain distinct and meritorious novelties, but 
this does not appear to be the case, and additions are constantly 
being made to the lists of handsome seedlings. During the next 
four years we may expect to see many more, for some thousands 
of seedlings have been raised, both by amateurs and nursery¬ 
men. 
Cypripedium Galatea majus was exhibited by Baron Schroder 
FIG. 1. —CYPRIPEDIUM GALATEA MAJUS. 
at the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society in the Drill 
HaU, "Westminster, when an award of merit was granted for it. 
The plant is a seedling which resulted from a cross between Cypri¬ 
pedium Chantini and C. Harrisianum, and the flowers have a fine 
bold appearance, quite distinct and beautiful. The dorsal sepal is 
edged with pure white, the centre heavily spotted with deep crim¬ 
son ; the lower sepals pale green, with a few spots. The petals 
are purple tinted, tipped with green, and the lip is of moderate 
size, with a polished shining surface, and of a purplish colour.—L. C. 
Orchids in Flower. 
Messrs. B. S. "Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, have the 
following Orchids in flower at the present time, and for mid¬ 
winter it is a surprising display :—Calanthes bella, Masuca, Mylesi, 
Sandhurstiana, Sedeni, Veitchi, and vestita luteo-oculata, vestita 
rubro-oculata; Cattleya "Walkeriana, Coelogynes barbata and speciosa, 
Comparettia macroplectron, Cypripediums Amesianum, Ashbur- 
tonise, barbatum biflorum, callosum, calophyllum, calurum, cardinale, 
chloroneurum, conchiferum, concolor, Dauthieri marmoratum, 
