818 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ 4pril 17,1S90. 
quantity and quality of bulbs as they do at the present time. Improved 
methods of treatment are the prime factors in the change. It may be 
asked in what respect the superiority of the Dutch to the English 
Hyacinths is most manifest. They are better in nearly every way. 
The plants are dwarfer, the foliage more substantial, the spikes consider¬ 
ably larger, and the trusses much more symmetrical and compact. It 
would be almost impossible to give too high praise to the splendid 
examples of culture exhibited by Messrs. Byvoet, Kersten, and Van der 
Horst, or to the excellent specimens of Messrs. M. Van Waveren & Sons 
at this year’s Show. With the exception of the third named these 
growers are well known to bulb dealers iu this country, but they are 
wholesale vendors only, and therefore unknown to the great majority 
of those who buy Hyacinths in the United Kingdom. In Holland, in 
fact throughout the whole of the horticultural trade, their names are as 
familiar as those of the great English nurserymen are to gardeners here. 
These growers all exhibited in vastly improved form to their displays in 
1885, and it is evident that they have learned much in Hyacinth 
cultivation for exhibition since then. Probably the culture of the bulbs 
for sale had monopolised their attention almost exclusively up till that 
time, and since then they have been devoting a certain amount of time 
and care to studying their requirements for exhibition. Mr. Van der 
Horst is a smaller and less known cultivator than those already 
named, but he had the finest individual examples of all those shown at 
Haarlem, and had a dozen of the best plants been selected from each 
collection in the Exhibition for competition he would have achieved a 
decisive victory. Comparing his selected dozen with, for instance, 
the twelve with which Mr. J. Douglas secured the first prize at the 
Koyal Botanic Society’s Spring Show on March 26th it must be con¬ 
fessed that the English flowers were so far in the rear that had they 
met in competition they would have been beaten almost pointless, 
although they appeared to be of about the average quality of former 
years. The Ilford varieties were I.a Grandesse, King of the Blues, 
Koh-i-noor, Czar Peter, Vuurbaak, The Sultan, Souvenir de J. H. Veen, 
and Electra. The first si.x were shown extensively at Haarlem, and in 
far superior condition. Mr. Van der Horst’s examples of La Grandesse 
and Czar Peter were magnificent, the trusses being quite 8 inches long, 
4J inches in diameter, and so closely furnished with substantial bells as 
to impart to the plants a perfect appearance of massive symmetry. 
And these were by no means the finest examples ; they are merely 
mentioned as affording a direct comparison with the English-grown 
flowers. Von Schiller and King of the Blues, perhaps the two finest 
Hyacinths in their respective colours in cultivation, were equal if not 
superior to them ; and far larger than any, if not quite so compactly 
furnished, were the enormous trusses of Jacques, a new variety, some¬ 
what resembling Gigantea in colour, but a little paler ; and the blue 
Pieneman. The latter is a well-known variety, with very large droop¬ 
ing bells. These magnificent trusses measured 10 inches from base to 
summit, and were well furnished. 
It is important to state that the whole of the preceding remarks as 
to the Hyacinths at the Dutch Exhibition refer to specimens with only 
one flower stem. Obviously a clever manipulator might form fine 
examples by joining two or even three trusses, and this was evident in 
the classes at the Haarlem Show in which the restriction as to the trusses 
being confined to a single stem was not made, but these have been left 
out of consideration, as affording no direct bearing either on the 
merits of the varieties or the skill employed in their cultivation. In 
the majority of the classes the stipulation referred to was in force ; 
hence a true idea could be formed both of the comparative qualities.(5f 
the varieties exhibited and of the condition in which they were 
bapable of being produjed by the best treatment. 
While it is evident from the manner in which the Dutch Hyacinths 
are exhibited that the treatment to which they have been subjected 
is different from our own, it is not easy to ascertain with exactitude 
the details of culture which are pursued with so much success. If 
not altogether silent on the question the Dutchman does not, to put 
the matter mildly, thirst to give information to whomsoever may 
please to ask. There is no great secret in the matter, but there is some¬ 
thing worth knowing, as there is in everything until the nearest 
approach to perfection has been reached. If questioned he will tell 
you somewhat vaguely that much experience of the different varieties 
is requisite in forcing Hyacinths, that to have them by a certain date 
some require forcing early, others late, and some no forcing at ail. This 
we knew before. But some deviations from English practice may be 
noted from personal observation. The latter, as preaehed and practised 
by the well-known growers before named and others, is briefly to pot 
good bulbs in 6 or C-inch pots in October, using a compost of loam, leaf 
mould, decayed manure, and sand, leaving the tips of the bulbs ex¬ 
posed, and then plunging them for a few weeks in ashes or cocoanut 
fibre refuse before introducing them to the house. Mr. Douglas’s plants 
above referred to were apparently grown in 6-inch pots. ' One of the 
first points which strikes the visitor in respect to the Dutch plants is the 
extremely small size of pots used. The majority of them were but 
44-inch, some smaller, none larger than 5-inch. Moreover, the bulbs are 
potted considerably higher than is commonly the case with us. A large 
grower and prizewinner told me he considered it quite sufficient to half 
cover the bulbs, and his plants thus treated were remarkably fine, 
though not the best in the exhibition. Questioned as to the compost, he 
informed me that the mixture generally used was eomposed of well 
decayed leaf mould, thoroughly decayed cow manure, and sand in equal 
parts. 1 his he considered met every requirement of the plants. There 
was none of the loam so dear to English gardeners. Firmly potted in 
this sustaining and thoroughly porous medium the plants made robust, 
sturdy, dwarf growth, with foliage as superior to the weak flabby leaves of 
the plants at the London Show, as were the massive trusses of bloom which 
rose above them. Sand is the plunging material employed in Holland, 
as would be guessed from the important part it plays in bulb cultivation 
for profit, and from the abundant supplies of it on the farms. I more 
than once expressed my surprise at the small size of pot used, and the 
reply was that large pots were not necessary to grow fine flowers if the 
bulbs were potted properly in suitable soil. Possibly the confined root 
space, allied to the firm rich compost, may be the secret of the dwarf 
growth and fine spikes of bloom.— W. P. Weight. 
(To be continued.) 
DeNDROBICM AT.BO-SAXGUIXE'CM. 
The above name is suggestive of white and blood red, bub 
neither seems to convey a correct idea of its colour to my mind,. 
The sepals and petals are of a rich cream, and with the exception, 
of the dark spots in the throat the flower is of a uniform character,, 
which is not common in Dendrobiums. The throat spots I havet 
heard described as of a black currant stain, which I think it more 
resembles than blood. It is a distinctly beautiful large-flowering 
kind, and appears to be rather infrequently referred to, hut this 
fact alone is not sufficient to justify the assumption of sparse re¬ 
presentation in collections generally. It forms a very compact yet 
sturdy growth, attaining a foot in height, but our recently acquired 
specimen has not quite attained to this length of growth, but there 
is a good prospect of it so doing by the end of another year. Its- 
flowers are borne from the ends of the stems, which in our case has 
been six from a strong and fewer numbers on weaker pseudo¬ 
bulbs. Two flower-stalks issue bearing three each, and are slightly 
scented, possibly a full-grown bulb would give larger numbers than 
I have quoted. It flowers in an evergreen state, which is a dis¬ 
tinct advantage. It is suitable for pot or basket culture, requiring 
good drainage, peat, and sphagnum. It enjoys abundant moisture? 
and heat during the growing period, and should not be severely 
dried during winter, but may be kept cool with advantage. 
Dendrobium Jamesianu.m. 
To lovers of white flowers this Dendrobium should have many 
charms, for it is possessed of exquisite chasteness and heauty. The- 
lip has a peculiar distinctness of its own as to colour—reddish orange. 
The name of the gentleman this species is honoured to bear, the 
late Mr. James Veitch, is sufficient proof of its value. The stems,, 
which grow about a foot high, are covered with a black hair-like 
surface ; the flowers, which are produced in pairs, issue from the 
point of the current growth. It is a good grower and certain, 
flowerer. A small plant purchased from Mr. Cypher of Chelten¬ 
ham by Mr. John Daily, Frome, a little more than a year ago, has 
just completed its second course of bloom, and is justly prized for 
its several good qualities. It lasts several weeks in flower if stood 
in a somewhat dry warm house, and shaded from the ill-inspiring 
influence on Orchid flowers—sunshine. It grows well in a pot,, 
which from its moderate vigour need not be large, peat and char¬ 
coal with a surfacing of sphagnum moss meeting its requirements- 
as regards the roots. Copious supplies of water should be given, 
and an evergreen disposition commands water at the roots more or 
less at all times. Severe resting would result in loss of vitality 
perhaps not easily restored. 
Denbrobium superbum. 
This is a very fine spring-flowering Orchid, forming, as it does- 
under generous treatment, very long pseudo-bulbs. It has a 
vigorous constitution, and is consequently very well suited to the 
conveniences of amateur growers not having a house set apart for 
their especial use. It is deciduous and of pendulous habit, a 
growth which for general convenience demands a basket, as- 
suspended from the roof displays the blooms to far greater 
advantage than would otherwise be done. We have but a small' 
plant growing on a charred block which last spring were two tiny 
air-rooted pieces, and though small we have this spring secured? 
several of its striking mauve or purplish blooms in size quite in 
proportion to that of its growth. In its latter stages the sepals- 
and petals assume much the same twisting character as the blooms- 
of James Salter Chrysanthemum. In Mr. Proctor Baker’s garden 
at Bristol D. superbum is grown uncommonly well, one plank 
