Aprn »4. ISSM ] 
JOVEXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
385 
important ultimate results. “Sporting” commonly occurs in the 
loliage and growth of plants. The leaves become variegated, or are 
cut and altered in shape, examples of which are seen in Hollies, 
Ivi^, JIaples, with many others of our trees and shrubs. Such 
productions can only be perpetuated by vegetative increase, and if 
they take place in wild plants they die out with that upon which 
exception msy perhaps be found in the case 
of the whole or a large portion of an herbaceous plant with creep- 
mg roots having its foliage variegated, and some of the variegated 
^rrasses^ thus have the power of increase without artificial assist- 
** Sporting,” as everyone knows, also takes place in flowers, 
the Rose and the Chrysanthemum furnishing abundant examples 
of new forms originating in this manner. There again, however, 
the variations cannot be perpetuated by seed, and resort must be 
had to cuttings in the Chrysanthemums or budding in the Roses, 
and it IS not likely flower sports would be more readily preserved 
m a wild state, so that, as with leaf sports, it is extremely probable 
Che majority perish. 
So far we have only been dealing with variations as apart from 
natural hybridisation or cross-fertilisation, but we must now turn 
•our attention to this large and important portion of the subject, 
and it will be seen that several of the points already detailed have 
•a considerable bearing on the matter.—L. C. 4 Stle. 
(To be continued.) 
Pir.VIUS GR.\XDIFOLIU3. 
Pikectly signs of growth are visible repotting should be done. 
Ihe old .soil should be carefully removed from amongst the roots, 
«nd the plants returned to clean pots of the same size. These 
plants do well in a compost of fibry loam two parts, one part fibry 
peat, and the other part of leaf mould. To this may be added one- 
seventh of decayed manure that has been passed through a fine 
sieve, a liberal quantity of coarse sand, a little charcoal, and a few 
quarter-inch bones. The pots should be moderately drained, and 
the base of the pseudo-bulbs just raised above the surface of the 
soil. After potting place the plants where they can be kept close 
and in a moist atmosphere. If practicable plunge the pots to 
prevent watering as long as possible. The soil should never be 
allowed to become dust dry, but water must be given carefully 
■until growths extend and roots are forming freely. If they are 
over-watered in their early stages the young growths are liable to 
become spotted. Tnis must be carefully avoided, or the foliage is 
disfigured the whole of the season. If the plants are infested with 
■scale clean them thoroughly, or with increased heat they will soon 
attack the young foliage, which for some time cannot be cleaned 
uvithout injury. 
SOBRALI.V .M.'k.CR.^NTIIA. 
As signs of ^owth are visible at the base potting may be done. 
If the compost is in good condition and the plants need larger pots 
this can be done without disturbing their roots. Use fora compost 
good fibry peat, charcoal in lumps, and sand ; a layer of sphagnum 
moss may be placed on the surface. The pots should be one-third 
filled with drainage, and the plants slightly elevated above the rim. 
Plants that have become crowded with growths may be carefully 
divided. If the compost at the roots is in good condition they 
quickly recover and grow freely. Being a strong free grower this 
plant bears division well, and will make strong flowering growths 
the first season. They need judicious watering for a time 
afterwards. 
Tuc.ma M.arsiialliana. 
Plants that have had a lengthened period of rest may be started 
into growth. Being a strong free grower the compost advised for 
'Phaius may be used. This plant is often grown too close and too 
warm, with the result that its j^owths run up several feet in length, 
und are too soft to flower. Directly they start into growth they 
should be potted, and then grown in a light position in a vinery or in 
an intermediate structure fully exposed to the sun, and where air can 
ilie admitted daily to maintain a firm sturdy growth. Plants given 
■this treatment will make stout growths, and flower when they are 
■18 inches to 2 feet high. These plants may be grown one or two 
good pseudo-bulbs in each 5-inch pot, ora number together in those 
of a larger size. For effective purpose while in the flower the 
former is prolably the best. Onei these plants are rooting ar.d 
growing freely weak stimulants will prove beneficial. 
DeNDKORIUM I’UECHEI.I.UM. 
This is a charming little Orchid for suspending from the roof in 
baskets. It grows luxuriantly in any moist shady position, but 
requires to be thoroughly ripened to flower it well. It grows and 
roots so freely that there is no difficulty in establishing it in pans 
or baskets. The baskets should be nearly full of charcoal, and the 
remaining compost may consist of peat fibre and sphagnum moss, 
or both mixed together. Rooted portions soon establish themselves, 
and all the care that established plants need is to remove as much 
of the old moss as possible, supply fresh, and then peg the pseudo¬ 
bulbs on to it. Do not over-water these plants in their early 
stages of growth ; but when once they are growing freely the 
syringe may be used twice a-day, and the baskets soaked occasion¬ 
ally.— Orchid Grower. 
L’Orciiidicenne. 
The eighteenth meeting of this Society took place in Brussels 
on the 13th and 14th April. To meet a popular demand these 
Exhibitions have been extended to two days, which speaks well for 
the increasing love and interest in Orchids and their culture in this 
country. The Show was held as usual in the conservatory of the 
establishment L’Horticulture Internationale (Linden), Park Leo¬ 
pold. The exhibits, although not so numerous from a point of 
numbers, they were exceeding those of the last meeting in quality. 
Several interesting and fine Orchids were staged. The Jury, over 
which M. Kegeljan presided, was composed as follows;— 
MM. Lubbers, Secretary ; Massange de Louvrex, Rodigas, Miteau, 
Wallaert, and De Meulenaere. M. G. Waroeque, the President of 
the Society, was one of the chief contributors, and especially 
noticeable were a marvellous variety of Cattleya Mossiie Madame 
A. Waroequd, with blooms of immense size ; Odontoglossuni 
crispum fastuesum, crispum guttatum, several fine varieties of 
0. luteo-purpureum, O. Reichenheimi, carrying an enormous 
spike, and a grand variety of 0. Kuckeri. Prince Metschersky 
presented a teautiful variety of Cattleya speciosissima named 
Regina Olga, the large rose sepals and petals of which are beauti¬ 
fully mottled with purple. M. Jules Hye-Leysen contributed 
among others a splendid variety of Cattleya Mendeli, several fine 
forms of 0. triumphans, one of which being of very rich colouring 
and large size. The Comte de Bonsics staged a fine variety of 
Cypripedium Mastersianum and Harrissianum nigrum. M. Van 
Turschoot also contributed a small group, among which were a fine 
variety of Miltonia AVarscewiezi, well flowered. Dr. Van Can- 
welaert sent a finely spotted form of Odontogiossum crispum, O. 
tripudians, and others. Madame Gibez, Tens, France, contributed as 
usual to the success of the meeting by sending a number of cut blooms. 
A well flowered specimen carrying an enormous spike of Oncidium 
sarcodes was shown by Dr. Capart. M. Van Lausberge sent a well 
flowered plant of Pholidota gracilis, not a showy Orchid but very 
interesting. M. Pourbaix, Mens, also contributed a small group, 
among which were a well flowered piece of Coelogyne ocellata 
maxima, a species often despised, but when seen to perfection is 
most lovely. A magnificent variety of 0. vexillarium splendidum 
was staged in a large group by LTIorticulture Internationale 
(Linden). The plant carried four spikes, with flowers of very 
large size. The splendour of colour must be seen in nature to 
realise the beauty ; description is impossible. Noticeable were also 
several fine varieties of Vanda suavis and tricolor, well flowered 
specimens of Lycaste gigantea, a large number of choice O. cris¬ 
pum, Phalienopsis Stuartiana, stellata, and others. In the group 
of M. Peeters we noticed 0. hystrix giganteum, 0. nebulosum, 
0. Pescatorei, O. Oerstedti majus, 0. Jenningsianum, 0. luteo- 
purpureum, beautiful spotted form of 0. crispum, and a largo 
specimen of O. cuspidatum, well flowered ; Lycaste Skinneri alba 
and gigantea ; Cymbidium eburneum, and the rare Epidendrum 
Wallisi carrying several fine spikes of bloom, and a fine specimen 
of Cypripedium hirsutissimum. A number of certificates were 
awarded. 
NOTES ON FRUIT TREES—APPLES. 
(^Continued from page 325.') 
Sitoation. 
U-NQUESTIONARLY the best site for a fruit garden or orchard 
is a slope inclining to points between south-east and south-west. 
A gentle slope due south, or preferably facing a little south-east, so 
as to face the sun at about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, is the 
most suitable. Ground inclining due east is objectionable from its 
exposure to the cold winds that often prevail from that quarter 
during the spring and early summer months, the advantage of 
