178 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[[ February 27, ISOOi 
simum, D. densiflorum, D. thyrsiflorum, and others flourished. The 
plants were afterwards grown in a moist warm border of a plant 
stove, and they quickly attained their original strength. 
Manure foe Orchids. 
It is no new thing to use manure in the compost for terrestrial 
Orchids. It has been recommended and practised in gardens for 
twenty years to my knowledge, and with the best results for 
Calanthes, Bletias, Phajus, Cygripediums, and others. Cow 
manure carefully prepared and added to the compost is a decided 
advantage with such plants as Cypripediums of a strong growing 
nature. It is best to use it near the surface, so that at the end of 
each season any that remains can be readily removed. Manure in 
a liquid state, made from steeping cow manure in water, has been 
repeatedly given to these plants with the most beneficial results. 
Soot water in a clear state is stimulating also. A bag of soot 
steeped in a tank with cow manure and used in a weak state is 
a splendid stimulant. We have tried its effects, not only on 
Calanthes, Bletias, and Phajus, but frequently on Cypripedium 
insigne. With the latter, plants as nearly equal in all respects as 
possible were selected, and some watered with the liquid during the 
season of growth, and the others with pure water only. The 
stimulant had the effect of producing finer growth of a deeper 
colour and larger flowers. This liquid is also good for Coelogynes, 
Lycastes, and strong-growing Zygopetalums. We do not doubt 
that suitable artificial manures would also be beneficial to these 
plants. We have tried some that have been recommended for this 
purpose, but prefer the manure and solution that has been referred 
to. We have grave doubts, however, about using artificial manures 
in the compost for epiphytal Orchids. As a rule these manures 
are too forcing in their nature. We should certainly prefer weak 
liquid from cow manure. This we syringe amongst the pots and 
about the floors of the house, to be evaporated and taken up by 
the plants from the atmosphere. This note is intended as a 
warning. The successes in some quarters may lead to a wholesale 
system of feeding with manure and stimulants, and result in more 
harm than good. My advice is. Use manure and liquid to the class 
of Orchids I am considering cautiously. When we look at the 
excellent results attained by good culture without manure or liquid 
in the case of epiphytal Orchids we have grave doubts of any 
improvement to warrant the risk. In some cases—Dendrobiums 
for instance—larger pseudo-bulbs and foliage may have resulted, 
but whether this is an advantage remains to be proved. It is wise 
to experiment in this matter, for by so doing only can reliable 
knowledge be obtained. But before the practice is taken up 
generally it is necessary to know whether strong growths and bold 
foliage made under pressure by the aid of forcing artificials are 
likely to prolong or shorten the life of the plant.— Orchid 
Geo’wer. 
EOTAL HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Scientific Committee. —Present : W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., in 
the chair, and Professors Michael Foster, A. H. Church, H. Marshall 
Ward, D. H. Scott, Messrs. G. F. Wilson, T. Francis Rivers, H. J. Veitch, 
W. F. Blandford, E. McLachlan, Dr. Oliver, and D. Morris. 
Mealy Bug at Alexandria. —Mr. Morris supplemented the informa¬ 
tion already given by him respecting this new Egyptian pest by reading 
a letter from Mr. J. W. Douglas, to whom the specimens had been sent, 
stating that the coccids had proved to be not only a new species, but a 
new genus. It was proposed to describe them under the name of 
Crossotosoma mgyptiacum. 
GroiotJi on Stem of Cattleya. —Mr. McLachlan reported on a peculiar 
growth on the stem cf a Cattleya from Brazil. This was at first sup¬ 
posed to be of the nature of a cocoon, but a careful examination of the 
structure had shown it to be a gall. Professor Marshall Ward under¬ 
took to make further examination. 
Sugar-cane horer at St. Vincent. —Mr. McLachlan drew attention to 
a disease in Sugar-cane at St. Vincent, where in some localities about 
25 per cent, of the crop would be lost this year. According to Mr. 
Herbert Smith, who had examined the canes, a beetle of the family 
Scolytidm and the larva of a moth, were concerned. It is probable that 
the beetles only enter the canes by the exit holes of the moths. The 
moth is probably a widely spread species already known to attack 
Sugar-cane into other countries. The affected canes should be burned, 
and steps taken to destroy the moth in the localities specially frequented 
by it. 
Bisease of Orchids. —Mr. Morris exhibited several specimens of a 
Cattleya attacked by a fungoid disease of apparently a very virulent 
character. From a specimen received about a fortnight ago Mr. Massee, 
at Kew, had infected two or three healthy plants, and in three days the 
whole of the pseudo-bulbs had become diseased. Specimens of similarly 
affected plants were sent by Mr. James Douglas from a gardener who 
was anxious to know if there was any remedy, as he fearai his collec¬ 
tion was in danger of being destroyed. The Committee was of opinion 
that the disease, whatever the cause, was of a very virulent character. 
It was not the ordinary “ spot ” so well known to Orchid growers. The 
specimens were referred to Professor Marshall Ward, who had already 
given some attention to the subject. 
Orchid Hybrids. —Mr. H. J. Veitch exhibited Cypripedium Lathami- 
anum X, raised first at the Birmingham Botanic Gardens, by crossing 
C. Spicerianum <? with C. villosum 9 • Messrs. Veitch had raised similar 
hybrids, and had, moreover, raised hybrids from the reversed cross. 
Plants from all the three sources were shown. These agreed so closely 
in all essential points that they must bear the same name. The fact 
of plants obtained by crossing, and also by reverse crossing, producing 
seedlings of almost exactly the same character, is very interesting. 
Similar results have been obtained by Messrs. Veitch in crossings which 
have produced Cypripedium Sedeni x, and Fuchsia Dominiana x. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch also exhibited a new hybrid Dendrobium. The 
seed-bearing parent was D. japonicum, and the pollen parent D. Wardi- 
anum. The hybrid D. Wardiano-japonicum had smaller pseudo-bulbs 
than D. Wardianum, but the flowers were nearly those of D. japonicum, 
but larger and with broader segments. They were also highly scented, 
as in D. japonicum. 
Carther in Apple Trees. —Professor Marshall Ward brought before- 
the Committee specimens of Apple trees badly affected with the so-called 
canker, on which there were numerous red perithecia of a Nectria. It 
is probable that the initial injury in this case had been caused by 
frost, and that the Nectria had established itself in the cracks thus 
formed. 
Picea nobilis. —Mr. James Douglas forwarded branches of Picea 
nobilis affected by gouty swellings, due probably to the attacks of an 
Acarus (Phytoptus), or to Ahdium elatinum. Professor Marshall Ward 
kindly undertook to examine the specimens. 
London Fogs. —Dr. Oliver and Professor Scott presented an interim 
report on the investigations undertaken by them respecting the effects 
of London fogs on plants under glass. Specimens of Orchids affected 
by fog had been received from Messrs. Veitch & Son, Chelsea ; and of 
Tomato plants from the Superintendent of the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Gardens at Chiswick. On the suggestion of the Chairman it 
was decided to take up an investigation of the chemical constituents of 
London fog, and trace the exciting causes of the injury to plants. The 
question was a very important one, and demanding considerable time 
and attention. In order to carry out the work under advantageous 
circumstances, it was resolved to make application to the Government 
Grant Committee of the Royal Society for pecuniary aid. 
[We did not receive the above report in time for insertion in our 
last issue.] 
PLANTS FOR A VINERY WALL. 
“ M. G. D." (page 108) will find Plumbago capensis one of the best 
plants he can have for covering the back wall of his vinery. The 
temperature required for the Vines just suits this plant, for it does 
not mind shade, and both grows and fiowers well under the conditions it 
has to endure in a house solely devoted to Grapes. We have it planted 
at the base of our Muscat vinery ; the wall is 12 feet high, the border 
about 18 inches wide, and as much in depth. The soil is mainly com¬ 
posed of loam, leaf soil, and charcoal, with a sprinkling of finely ground 
bones, and receives a similar top-dressing annually. When the plants 
were placed out they were encouraged to grow freely, the shoots 
extended, and were tied to the wires or fastened to the wall their whole 
length, with a view to cover it as quickly as possible. When this has 
been effected all the additional shoots, which will grow a, way from the 
wall, should be allowed to hang downwards in a free manner, as trusses 
of bloom will be borne at the point of each shoot. After the first supply 
of fiowers during the summer the shoots will make fresh growth, which 
will continue to produce flowers more or less well into the autumn. 
Abundance of water, both at the roots and over the branches, is neces¬ 
sary to promote free growth and cleanliness, as without it the leaves are 
sure to become infested with red spider, which not only spoils their 
appearance, but checks the free growth, upon which the season’s flowers- 
depend. When well established frequent supplies of liquid manure to> 
the roots will be of much service in assisting a full development of 
vigorous shoots, deep green foliage, and abundance of large trusses 
of bloom. 
From October until Christmas our plants are subjected to rather 
rough treatment. The space being required for Chrysanthemums we 
prune all the current year’s shoots to within one or two eyes of the 
wall; from those remaining shoots are freely produced the next spring. 
The wall is then covered with tall Chrysanthemums, the leaves of which 
completely hide the Plumbago from sight. This seemingly rough 
treatment does not interfere with the success of the plants the next 
year, as when the vinery is put into order and “ started ” about the- 
middle of February young shoots are freely made, and never fail to- 
flower well. Sometimes green fly -will attack the points of growth, and 
at times, perhaps when fumigating the house with tobacco smoke is out 
of the question owing to the Vines being in bloom, recourse must be had! 
to syringing the Plumbago with soapy water or other insecticide, taking 
care that it is not used in too strong a state. I have seen a number of 
flowers spoilt by too strong an application of lemon oil, therefore I 
should like to caution the inexperienced against a mishap of this . sort. 
The young leaves are tender, owing to their being grown in strong 
heat and without the aid of much sun to make them hardy, as under the 
Vines very little of the sun’s influence is felt. 
Up the back wall of a late vinery we grow Tomatoes, and manage to 
1 secure some fair fruits during June and July by having the plants 2 feet. 
