[ February 21,1887. 
-148 • JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
wc were overrun with ants, now we have only the nucleus of one small 
colony. Cyanide being a strong poison should be handled carefully.— 
A. Douglas, Baldersby Park Gardens. 
Your correspondent “T. C. A.” in your issue of February 17th, page 
131, says “ that he is greatly pestered with ants in his Vine, Peach, and 
Orchid houses.” I have had no difficulty in eradicating them from Vine 
and Peach houses, by clearing the houses of moveable plants and taking 
advantage of a few degrees of frost; this completely exterminated them. 
Regarding the Orchid houses I experienced great difficulty, and quite 
failed in making any impression on their numbers, until about three 
years ago. I then commenced the cultivation of' a number of Nepenthes. 
As the plants were very small at first I observed no difference for a con¬ 
siderable time, but ever since they began to make pitchers the ants have 
gradually decreased. Their fondness for the secretion in the pitchers 
proves their death warrant. My own experience is corroborated by a 
gardener to whom I gave a few plants ; he wondered where all the ants 
had gone, but on emptying a pitcher he soon ascertained. I would 
strongly advise Nepenthes to be grown in all Orchid houses where ants 
are at all numerous, N. Hookeri and intermedia being as prolific and 
easily grown as any variety I know. Sarracenias would prove as useful in 
cool houses.—G. R. 
As your correspondent “ T. C. A.” is anxious to get rid of this pest, 
perhaps some of the following methods may be of use to him. Some 
time ago I had charge of houses which were swarming with ants. I 
tried treacle placed in saucers, and by that means I caught many, 
but still they appeared as numerous as ever. Then I placed hollow 
bones about their haunts, and finally I procured cow’s liver from the 
butcher, cut it into pieces, and laid them about the houses. The raw 
liver appeared to entice them, for they swarmed on to it, and by going 
round every hour or so with a can of hot water, and dipping the liver 
into the water when covered with ants, I succeeded in exterminating 
them. Although pieces of raw liver are not very desirable about a house, 
it is better than having the plants swarming with ants, and if 
“ T. C. A.” perseveres for a week or so he will soon get rid of his 
pest.—C. Collins. 
I DO not know precisely the conditions under which “ T. C. A.” in 
your last number requires or wishes to get rid of ants, but if my 
experience is of any use to him 1 give it. 1 have a very fine Marfichal 
Niel Rose in a Fig house, and during last spring and summer a strong 
colony of ants made their abode at the roots. I tried every means I 
could think of to get rid of them, but could not. At last I steeped 
some cotton wool in coarse petroleum, and laid it round the base of the 
plant over their abode. In two days they had all decamped, I know not 
whither.— Delta. 
Like your correspondent, “ T. C. A.,” I have had an attack of 
ants to deal with where I could not with safety apply boiling water. 
One Sunday morning I discovered them eating the pistils of my early 
Peaches, apparently not touching the stamens—in fact, they went right 
down into the flowers after the embryo fruit as well, and what to do 
with them was the question, and very quickly too. So I laid some 
pieces of loaf sugar about, and lodged some up in the tree, and in a few 
hours I had the pleasure of seeing them leave the Peaches for the sugar, 
and was, of course, at once destroyed. I then placed a small quantity 
of moist sugar in a saucer at the foot of the tree, and every evening 
for a fortnight I went once and sometimes twice, and emptied them, 
sugar and all, into some hot water, baiting the saucer each time with 
fresh sugar. Result: saved the Peaches and exterminated the ants. If 
your correspondent will do likewise I think he will be equally successful. 
—J. W. H. 
EEFLEXED CHRYSANTHEMUM BOULE DE NEIGE. 
As there seems a little misapprehension respecting this variety, a few 
remarks from one who has successfully grown it may be acceptable to 
some of the readers of this paper. Last spring I procured a few rooted 
cuttings from Mr. Owen of Maidenhead, also a number of cuttings at 
the latter end of April. The rooted cuttings I grew to yield specimen 
blooms, thinking by disbudding I might procure some large blooms ; 
but in this I failed, and I am convinced there is no advantage in dis¬ 
budding this variety, as the blooms were scarcely equal in size or sub¬ 
stance to those grown for decorative purposes. Disbudding this 
variety is where many growers have made a great mistake. The cuttings 
I procured the last week in April, [ inserted three in a small 60-sized 
pot and placed in a close frame, keeping them as cool as possible till 
rooted, when they were potted into 54’s and placed outdoors on a bed of 
ashes. As soon as they were established in these pots I topped them and 
grew them till the pots were well filled with roots, and then gave them 
their final shift into 48 and 32-sized pots. When established I as^ain 
topped them, that being the first week in July (but if part of a batch is 
■required later than Christmas I should advise topping the second week 
in July). Mine were in full bloom at Christmas. I kept them outside 
as long as possible. Before severe frost they were placed in the coolest 
house I had, with a good circulation of air day and night, well supplied 
with weak liquid manure and a good syringing every morning. I mio-ht 
just mention I followed exactly the instructions given me by Mr. Owen 
when L.pio_cured the cuttings. This variety is very profuse when 
grown as a decorative plant, bearing four to six blooms on a spray, 
every one •opening. Another good quality, it is very dwarf, requiring no 
sticks, that being a great point with many growers. In conclusion, I 
might say there are three varieties under the name of Boule de Neige, 
but this is the only one of any use as a late variety ; and I am sure if 
grown as I have here stated everyone will be pleased with the re¬ 
sult.—D. I. 
A GARDENERS’ ORPHANAGE. 
With reference to my suggestion for a Gardeners’ Orphanage, I have 
already received a certain amount of promises of support if the idea can 
be successfully developed, and I shall be glad to hear from any gardener 
in the country who is ready and willing to assist me in drawing up the 
plans. There is an old proverb that “ he gives twice who gives quickly,” 
and therefore in the interest of these poor children I am anxious that 
whatever is done should be done at once. My first annual subscriber was 
E. G. Beale of the firm of Carter & Co., seedsmen, High Holborn ; second, 
Mr. Bull, New Plant Establishment, King’s Road, Chelsea ; £10 donation 
from Messrs, Sutton & Sons, Reading. Letters most encouraging from 
Messrs. Yeitch, Chelsea, Messrs. Low, Clapton Nursery, and from several 
influential gardeners most willing to join in supporting the scheme.— 
C. Penny. 
I AM sorry Mr. Penny’s idea of a Gardeners’ Orphanage, to com¬ 
memorate the jubilee of Her Majesty, should have met with so little re¬ 
sponse. Surely the ‘-bairns” should be the first consideration of every 
gardener who has any, and those who have none should spare a few 
shillings for such a purpose. In many cases where a gardener has secured 
a “ plum ” the qualification of having no encumbrance has helped to win 
it. As Mr. Penny truly observes, many die in the prime of life ; and 
though, perhaps, enough money has been saved to start the widow in a 
small business, if only one of the children could be taken from her, 
it would materially help her to win bread for the rest. If every 
gardener could be persuaded to help with such a contribution as 
Mr. Penny suggests it would with the help of amateurs, give the 
Orphanage a start. I shall soon be out of place, and money is not too 
plentiful with me, but I would give 10s. 6d., and 5s. a year afterwards. 
Will not the Editor of our Journal, and our esteemed chaplain, “D., 
De >/,” use their eloquent pens to plead for the Gardener’s Orphanage ?— 
A. L. G. 
DENDROBIUM SCHNEIDERIANUM. 
Mr. Holmes, gardener to C. Moseley, Esq., Thorpe, Rusholme, Man¬ 
chester, is to be congratulated on his success in raising so many plants 
of such a distinct and pretty hybrid—a cross between that good old 
favourite D. aureum and D. Findleyanum. It was my pleasure to see 
it before Prof. Reichenbach’s letter appeared describing it, and I was most 
favourably impressed. In growth it resembles D. aureum, having that 
peculiar transparent skin with silver veins, some of the pseudo-bulbs 
also being compressed after the manner of D. Findleyanum. It cannot 
fail to become a favourite ; an opportunity will doubtless be afforded at 
the various spring shows of inspecting it, as Mr. Holmes has several 
plants yet to flower. I should say that it was raised in the Gardens at 
Cromwell Ranges, Fallowfield, where Mr. Holmes so successfully grew 
the collection that belonged to Mr. P. Schneider, who has now left this 
country, and in whose honour it has been named. The following descrip¬ 
tion is in the Professor’s words :—“ The bulb is 6 inches high, 2 inches 
thick, and has but three leaves. The flower is sweet-scented, making 
one think a moment of that of D. Falconeri itself. Sepals and broader 
sepals white tinged with fine lilac-purple in the upper half. Lip shortly 
cuneate, oblong acute, very wavy, orange, with a thick oblong area of 
light short velvet at the base, wherefrom reddish dark radiating lines 
emanate, which are longest in front, a whitish area around this, washed 
with lightest sulphur. Column pointed with some purple lines in front 
and a purple dash on white anther.”— Bradwen. 
CCELOGYNE CRISTATA. 
A correspondent of the American Florist , in describing a visit to 
General Rathbone’s collection of Orchids at Albany, thus refers to 
Coelogyne cristata as a useful plant. “ Three years ago he purchased at 
an auction sale a large plant of Coelogyne cristata, the plant being of 
such a size as to be called 1 Jumbo.’ For it he paid the sum of 165 dollars. 
For one year he kept it without disturbing it in any way, then it was 
broken up, and several pieces made of the original plant. At the time 
of writing there are three large pans filled with magnificent bulbs, which 
at auction would undoubtedly bring 50 dollars to 75 dollars each. Be¬ 
sides these there are about fifteen smaller pieces, in value from 10 dollars 
to 20 dollars each. I was somewhat interested in ascertaining the 
number of flowers likely to be cut this season from these several plants ; 
at a low estimate it is said to be about five hundred spikes ; many of 
these spikes have six flowers upon the m, hardly any less than five. The 
