42 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January SO, 1887. 
practised, and have found the majority of advocates preferring the pot 
system, in which every requisite application of stimulants and top- 
dressings can be given with more discretion than to plants in baskets. 
I have both seen and practised the pot system, producing spikes of 
0. Veitchi over 4 feet in length, pseudo-bulbs from 12 to 15 inches in 
length, C. vestita lutea from 3 to 4 feet long. I am competent in 
stating the good results were obtained from clean pots and good 
drainage, and a good fibry compost of loam, peat, cow manure, charcoal, 
ami sand, a good strong heat and plenty of atmospheric moisture, 
with the free use of the syringe. As growth strongly advances syringe 
very lightly, to prevent it running into their growths. 
One correspondent finds his Calanthes to be affected with black spots 
both on the foliage and pseudo-bulbs. I am sorry to say we have the 
same disease here. I am told the plants have of late been placed in the 
conservatory when in flower for weeks, where with us the temperature 
falls very low during the nights of winter. I attribute the evil to over- 
watering, especially giving an excess of water to newly potted plants, and 
every precaution should be taken to treat their fleshy roots accordingly. 
—D. Phillips, Digsrvell Gardens. 
ORCHID ENEMIES. 
Where are we to look for our enemies ? Having been a cultivator 
of Orchids for more than twenty years I thought I had become fairly 
coloured forms of L. anceps that are so useful at this time of year this 
variety appears to excellent advantage. 
SOME GOOD VEGETABLES OF 1886. 
(Continued from, page 577, last vol.J 
There is a'great likeness amongst many of the varieties of 
Onions, and they differ in name only. No one who has grown 
thirty or forty sorts can fail to be convinced of this, and to give 
satisfaction well selected varieties should be grown. Webb’s Ban¬ 
bury for instance may resemble several types of the White Spanish 
Onion, but it has been selected with such great care that we have 
not found any summer Onion of its type to excel it in the quality 
of its finely formed bulbs. It begins to bulb in May, attains a 
good size by July, and becomes a huge Onion by September. We 
use it from June until February, and then Bedfordshire Cham¬ 
pion aDd James’s Keeping come in, as these are still the best of 
our keeping Onions. Rousham Park Hero is a fine Onion whe n 
well grown, but unless under special culture no one could say it 
was distinct from the ordinary White Spanish varieties. Giant 
Zittau is a noble Onion, but it is rather slow in growth. If sown 
Pig. 7.—L-ELIA anceps vibginalis. 
, acquainted with all kinds of pests that infest plants and Orchid houses, 
being puzzled a few weeks ago to account for two snails I found quietly 
feeding on a plant of Oncidium Jonesianum on a block suspended from 
a rafter of the house by a copper wire. I think the other day the 
mystery was solved by observing suspended and descending from the 
roof by a slender slimy attachment a snail about 2 inches long, of a 
slaty grey colour, and about a foot from the glass. This to me is 
' Vrrf 6 ^ IlCw ’ never before having seen or heard anything of the kind. 
\\ ill some kind horticulturist or naturalist better acquainted with these 
tormidable enemies to Orchid roots and flower spikes say if this method 
ot attack is unknown or not ? I have long accustomed myself to hunt 
at night by the aid of lamplight-amtmg the pots and moss, but never 
thought it necessary to examine the roof.— S. Eyre, Leeli. 
L .52 LI A ANCEPS VIRGIN ALIS. 
The varieties of Laelia anceps are now very numerous, but that re- 
Gently certificated at South Kensington under the above name is a hand- 
some addition to those. already known. It was sent from Mr F A 
Phil brick's choice collection of Orchids at Oldfield, Bickley, and is rc- 
, markable for the great, size of the flowers, which are 5 inches across, the 
petals being nearly 1^ inch across, of great substance, and pure white. 
1 he lip is broad_ with a' yellow throat. In contrast^ with the richly 
in spring with the others it will not gain maturity until late in 
September, but if sown in the autumn and transplanted in spring it 
will form bulbs by the following August of the greatest excellence. 
It is one of our favourite varieties, and in our estimation is first- 
rate. Trebons -was a fine Onion at one time, but it has become so 
much mixed of late years that it has been very disappointing. We 
have had seed from several quarters, and in each case the bulbs 
were a mixture of colours, including red, white, and a pale yellow. 
In consequence of this it has been given up in favour of Cranston’s 
Excelsior, which is a conical Onion of the same form, very 
handsome, and a fine straw colour. This is the best conical¬ 
shaped Onion we have grown. The Sandy Prize is a good 
Onion of the Banbury type. The White Mammoth is useful 
for a first crop. In the spring of 1886 a friend in Spain sent 
a packet of Onion seed saved from bulbs which weighed 
3 lbs., but although every attention was given to their culture 
here the variety proved quite a failure, and is not included 
amongst the good vegetables which come under this heading. The 
New Queen is a very quick grower, and the Blood Red is the 
strongest in flavour. Magnum Bonum is a form of Trebons, and 
