JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ April 14, 1887. 
£92 
As a rule, much leaf soil and light material is forked into flower 
beds. This suits many plants, but not Calceolarias. In fact, I am of 
opinion that their failure in many cases has been brought about by sand 
and leaf soil, as in our case we not only succeed in keeping them in 
masses throughout the whole season, but we rarely lose a plant. We 
avoid leaf soil and sand or light soil for them, as a cool rather heavy 
soil suits them. Cow manure is the best for them, and a good quantity 
of this may be dug into the soil previous to planting them. If the soil 
is very light a good dressing of heavy soil may be added with the 
manure, and they can all be planted out by the middle of April. This 
is another great advantage in dealing with Calceolarias, as they can be 
planted early, and do not take up valuable space in the houses or frames 
in April or May, when every available inch of accommodation is required 
tor other more tender plants. Their early planting also enables them 
to make a erand display early in the season, and this is very desirable 
in the majority of gardens. The growths of Calceolarias are somewhat 
brittle, and if allowed to become tall are apt to be blown over and 
broken, but if the young growths are pinched a time or two the plants 
beeome very dwarf and bushy, and this is the best form they can 
assume.—M. 
CYPRIPEDIUM HIRSUTISSIMUM. 
. Though familiar to most Orchid growers now Cypripedium hirsu- 
1 issimum invariably attracts much attention when in flower, its distinct 
appearance rendering it prominent even in a large collection. Varia¬ 
tions are occasionally seen, but these are not usually so marked in 
cnaracter as (hose of other species, and the divergence from the origin- 
,7 lntr °duced type is slight, A comparison, however, of the remark- 
a lie variety from Baron Schroder’s garden (fig. 52) with the “ Botanical 
Magazine plate of 1857, or with any of the ordinary varieties now in 
cultivation, will show that in all respects it is greatly superior. The 
size is especially noteworthy, the petals being 3 inches long, the apical 
\ or ', on orming a broad rounded lobe 1| across and about the same in 
< eptn. 1 lie dorsal sepal is also of great size, being 2 inches in diameter. 
I he colouring is similar to the usual forms, but much darker, the petals 
gieemsh at the base, then a few dark spots and a deep purple tip. The 
dorsal sepal is margined with green, and has a purplish black centre, 
tne lip neat in form, green, with a purple tinge. The margins of the 
sepals and petals, with the peduncle, are thickly clothed with short 
black hairs, to which character the plant owes its specific name. 
„ v u T hirsutissimum is a native of Java, and was sent to 
ew y Hr. l arker of Hornsey, who it is said, purchased it at a sale, 
was named by Bindley. 11 requires a good temperature, like the 
other tropical Old-World Cypripediums; but at The Dell it thrives in 
the Coelogyne house.—C. 
_ AN ORCHID SOCIETY. 
I Ail glad to see in your last issue that Mr. Cummins draws atten¬ 
tion to the want of an Orchid Society. It is indeed remarkable that so 
laige, so wealthy, and so intelligent a body should never have yet banded 
themselves together to form such an association. No doubt the R.H.S. 
has always aspired to supply this want, but how it succeeds in the 
attempt requires no comment from—B. D. Knox. 
ORCHID FLOWER3. 
Mr. James Cypher, Cheltenham, sends a few choice Orchid floweis 
remarkably fresh and bright, and amply proving how well they travel 
when carefully packed. One of the stout cardboard parcel post boxes 
was employed. At the bottom of this was placed a layer of fresh, 
slightly damp, moss. This was covered with tissue paper, and upon 
that the flowers were placed firmly, and over them another sheet of 
tissue paper. The flowers arrived as fresh as if just cut, and included 
the following—Cattleya Trianae, a very handsome variety in the way of 
Leeana. the petals 2,j inches broad, of a soft pale rosy hue; the lip is 
bold, If inch across intensely rich crimson running into the throat 
1) inch, beyond is a fine gold band and a nearly white base with pale 
crimson margin ; Cattleya intermedia, extremely elegant and well- 
coloured, the apical lobe of the lip of a similar warm crimson hue to 
the best forms of C. Trianas, contrasting beautifully with the pure white 
throat anil column and the delicate purplish pink hue of the lateral lip ; 
arc hi n o over the column and the equal sized sepals and petals. 
This Cattleya is one of the most admired when in its best condition, and 
a specimen in Mr. Cypher’s nursery with fifty-four flowers indicates its 
good qualities in a striking manner. Dendrobium Wardianum, a 
distinct and handsome variety, with broad slightly reflexing sepals and 
-petals, white tipped with dark crimson, and of glossy wax-like substance; 
the lip is great size, over If inch in diameter, open, rich golden yellow in 
the throat, with two large maroon spots at the base, one each of the 
column, with a white band towards the apex and a purple tip. Den- 
drobium nobile pulcherrimum is a pretty and elegant variety, the flowers 
of moderate size, but the exceedingly dark crimson blotch in the centre 
of the lip is bordered with pure white, the sepals and petals also being 
very slightly tinted with crimson towards the tips. Dendrobium Far- 
meri album is pure white except the lip, the lower half of which is 
bright yellow; and Odontoglossum aspersum, the supposed natural 
hybrid between 0. Rossi and 0. maculatum, is represented by a much 
darker and finer flower than is usually seen. 
THE LITERATURE OF GARDENING. 
(MR. W. PAUL’S LECTURE.) 
(Continued from page 270.) 
We have now reached the opening of the present century. Th* 
Horticultural Society of London was founded in 1804, and this gave a 
great impetus to the literature of gardening. Thomas Andrew Knight 
was an early President of this Society, and wrote many valuable papers 
in its “ Transactions.” William Salisbury’s “ Hints to the Proprietors 
of Orchards” (1817) was a book much thought of in its day. Henry 
Andrews’ “Engravings of Heaths” (1802), “The Botanists’ Reposi¬ 
tory ” (ten vols. 4to), “ The Heathery ” (1804-14), and works on Rsses 
and Geraniums, are valuable, as containing beautiful coloured 
engravings of the popular flowers of the time. Walter Nicol wrote a 
series of rood books—“ The Scotch Forcing Gardener” (1798), “ The 
Practical Planter ” (1799), “ The Villa Garden Directory” (1809), “ The 
Gardener’s Kalendar” (1810), and “ The Planter’s Kalendar” (1812). 
William Pontey was also one of the best writers of this period. “ Rural 
Recreation; or, The Gardener's Instructor” (1802), “The Forest 
Pruned” (1808), “The Profitable Planter” (1809), and “The Rural 
Improved” (1823), were practical works held in much esteem, and ob¬ 
tained a large circulation. 
We come now to the greatest name in the whole range of garden: 
literature—John Claudius Loudon, the friend of Jeremy Bentham. His 
“ Encyclopaedia of Gardening ” is an extraordinary book of nearly 
1500 pages octavo, closely printed. The first edition was published in 
1822, the fifth in 1827. ft is written in a clear pleasant style, profusely 
illustrated, and enters more or less fully into every branch of gardening. 
The value, too, is much enhanced by the fulness and accuracy of the 
general index. Loudon wrote also an “ Encyclopaedia of Plants 
“ Hortus Britannicus,” a catalogue of all the plants indigeneous to, cul¬ 
tivated in, or introduced to Britain ; “ The Arboretum et Fruticetum 
Britannicum —a splendid work in eight octavo volumes, profusely 
illustrated. I have heard it said, and think it probable, that this work 
cost £20,000 in bringing out. His accomplished wife states that on the 
conclusion of this work in 1838, “ In addition to the large sums in 
ready money he had paid to the artists and other persons employed 
during the progress of the 1 Arboretum,’ he found at its conclusion 
that he owed £10,000 to the printer, the stationer, and the wood-engraver 
who had been employed on that work.” Loudon wrote several other 
works, all worthy of his high reputation, and was for some time editor 
of the Gardener’s Magazine ” and the “ Magazine of Natural His¬ 
tory.” There is nothing in my life that I look back upon with move 
satisfaction than that I had the great honour of reckoning Loudon and 
Bindley—another great writer on gardening, of whom by-and-by— 
among my personal friends. Loudon, though chary of his time, was- 
naturally a sociable man, and had many friends, and was always ready 
to recognise and lend a helping hand to rising talent and merit of every 
kind. The writings of his amiable, accomplished, and clever wife, prin¬ 
cipally addressed to ladies, are still in much request, especially “ The 
Ladies’ Flower Garden,” in six quarto volumes, beautifully illus¬ 
trated. 
Other writers of this kind were Griffin, Haynes, Hooker (who pub¬ 
lished “ Pomona Londinensis,” quarto, a book on fruits, with forty-nine 
beautifully executed plates), Cushing, Hogg, Lyon, Emmerton, Mean,, 
and Brookshaw. The “ Transactions ” of the Horticultural Society of 
London and of the Caledonian Horticultural Society now began to play 
an important part in garden literature, some valuable papers being 
contributed thereto by various authors. 
Robert Sweet earned by his writings the gratitude of lovers of plants 
and flowers. “ The Botanical Cultivator” (1820), “The Hortus Britan- 
nicus ” (1825), “ The Geraniaceae ” (1820-30), “ The Cistineas ” (1825-30) r 
“The British Flower Garden,” “Flora Australasica” (1827-28), and 
“ The Florists’ Guide ” (1827-32), arc beautiful and useful books. 
Henry Philips published a series of well-written and interesting 
books. “ Pomarium Britannicum” (1820), “ The History of Cultivated 
Vegetables” (1822), “ Sylva Florifera” (1823), “Flora Domestica ” 
(1823), “ Flora Historica ” (1824), “ Companion to the Orchard ” (1831)- 
William Cobbett wrote “The American Gardener” (1821), “The 
Woodlands,” a good book (182(1), “ The English Gardener ” (1833), which 
are distinguished by the strong common sense and clear style of this 
author. Other writers of this time are Patrick Neill, Morris, Harrison, 
Chandler, Billington, and Loddiges. 
Harrison commenced “The Floricultural Cabinet” in 1833, a useful 
and elegant work, which was published monthly, and extended to twenty- 
seven volumes. Loddiges began “ The Botanical Cabinet,” a high-class- 
work, in 1817, which stopped in 1833; it contains coloured plates of 
2000 different plants. “ The Botanical Register,” also a high-class 
periodical, commenced in 1815, and stopped in 1847 with the thirty- 
third volume. The later volumes of this periodical were edited by 
Dr. Bindley. “ Maund’s Botanic Garden,” my copy of which, in 
thirteen volumes, is not dated, is also a beautiful book, the illustrations 
numerous, artistic, and life-like. “ The Horticultural Register,” edited 
