378 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ May IX, 1837. 
18-inch pot, Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons’ hybrid C. Roezlii x caudatum, 
from Messrs. Veitch ; this plant was exhibited at the Orchid Con¬ 
ference ; £68 5s. Cattleya Skinneri alba, twenty-eight bulbs, seven 
leads, fine plant, and pure white var., without any trace of colour ; 
£33 12s. Cypripedium tessellatum porphyreum, Messrs. J. Veitch and 
Sons’ selected best variety, hybrid barbatum x concolor, figured in 
■“ Lindenia,” vol. i., plate 41, very scarce, bought from Messrs. J. Veitch 
and Sons ; £78 15s. Cymbidium Lowianum, grand specimen ; £21. 
Angnecum caudatum, four fine growths. This is one of the finest speci¬ 
mens, and is in splendid condition ; figured in “ Botanical Magazine,” 
vol. lxxiv., t. 437° ; £37 16s. Laelia elegans Turneri, twenty-three bulbs, 
three leads, fine variety ; £31 10s. Oilontoglossum Hrubyanum, three 
breaks, flowered this year with a spike of fifty-one of its fine white 
flowers. R.H.S. certificate to Mr. Lee, February 10th, 1885. A very 
rare plant ; £29 8s. Cypripedium Harrisianum superbum, four growths, 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ grand variety ; bought from Messrs. Veitch ; 
£27 6s. Masdevallia Harryana rugosa, flowers deeply furrowed ; a very 
grand flower, crimson-blue, in shades of colour probably in no other col¬ 
lection ; fine plant, in 13-inch pot ; £48 6s. Masdevallia Harryana 
Kusselliana, in pan over 2 feet in diameter, very fine specimen and very 
grand variety, has borne 130 expanded flowers at one time ; £52 10s. 
Cattleya Amesiana, eight bulbs, one lead, Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ 
hybrid crispa x maxima. A splendid rival to Cattleya exoniensis, 
figured in “Album,” vol. vi., plate 253 ; bought from Messrs. J. Veitch 
and Sons ; £94 10s. Cypripedium selligerum majus, true, twelve 
growths ; Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ fine var. hybrid C. barbatum x 
C. hevigatum, figured in “Lindenia,” vol. i., plate 49, bought from 
Messrs. Veitch ; £44 2s. Vanda suavis, splendid specimen, and best 
variety, six growths, the tallest with twenty pairs of leaves ; £21. 
Cattleya Trianas alba, eighteen bulbs, three leads, fine and true ; £21. 
Cattleya Trianae Osmani, seven bulbs, one lead, part of Mr. Dodgson’s 
celebrated plant ; £105. Trianae Emilise, ten bulbs ; £24 3s. Laelia 
elegans var. marginata, fine specimen, seventy bulbs, twelve leads, from 
Mr. F. Sander ; fine variety ; £35 14s. Laelia elegans Turneri, twenty- 
seven bulbs, five leads, grand variety from Messrs. Low; £33 12s. 
Saccolabium Heathi, the white Blumei majus, five growths, forty leaves, 
strong healthy plant in grand condition, in basket. This is said to be 
the only plant ever found, though the forest where it was discovered has 
been carefully searched ; £157 10s. Cymbidium Parishi, six bulbs and 
growths, a very fine plant, figured in “ Album,” vol. i., plate 25 ; 52s. 10s. 
Cattleya exoniensis, seventeen bulbs, two leads, very strong plant, and 
the very finest variety ; from Mr. B. S. Williams, 1878 ; £105. Cypri¬ 
pedium marmorophyilum, nine growths, this plant was exhibited by Mr. 
Lee at the Orchid Conference, and was much admired as being a very 
fine variety ; Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ hybrid Hookerae x barbatum ; 
£21. Cypripedium Leeanum superbum, nine growths, Messrs. J. Veitch 
and Sons’ hybrid, insigne Maulei X Spicerianum, part of the original 
plant as figured in “Album,” vol. v., plate 223; £32 11s.; Cypripe¬ 
dium Stonei platytaenium, four growths, from Mr. Day’s collection, 
figured in “ Warner’s Third Series,” plate 14. This plant was exhibited 
in flower at the Orchid Conference, and is flowering now. It was 
bought after a spirited competition by Baron Schroder for £325 10s., 
the highest price yet paid for an Orchid. Laelia purpurata var. 
Wiiliamsi, twenty-seven bulbs, five leads, figured in “Album,” vol i., 
plate 9 and 10. A grand variety ; £67 4s. Cattleya Trianse, Exoniensis 
lip variety, thirty bulbs, six leads ; a splendid variety, bought from 
Messrs. J. Veitch &; Sons ; £21. Laelia grandis, large specimen, perhaps 
the finest in the country, eighty-six bulbs, fourteen leads ; bought from 
Mr. F. Sander, figured in “Album,” vol. 3, plate 123; £94 10s. 
Cattleya Mardeli, nine bulbs, one lead, Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ hybrid 
speciosissima x Devoniensis, fine healthy plant, received R.H.S. Certi¬ 
ficate, May 13th, 1884, bought from Messrs. Veitch ; £44 2s. Odontoglossum 
Jenningsianum (Reichenbach) described in Messrs. Veitch’s Manual, 
page 26 ; £21. 
JUSTICIA FLAVICOMA. 
The fashion for flowers has called into recognition all free-flowering 
useful, durable plants, but, unfortunately, this is still neglected, being 
seldom seen in gardens in quantity, but more frequently as a solitary 
specimen in the stove struggling between life and death. This is 
regretable, for it is easy of culture, durable for decoration either in the 
stove, intermediate house, or conservatory. It can be had in bloom by 
the middle of December, and a succession can be maintained until the 
end of May or beginning of June. Its plumes of the brightesc of 
yellow flowers just above the darkest of green foliage render it one of 
the most telling plants that can be employed for decoration. The 
Celosia with its golden plume is, strikingly effective, but this Justicia 
surpasses it both for beauty and usefulness. To have fine plumes the 
former grows moderately tall, and is only useful for certain arrangements 
and positions, while the last can be produced any height from 6 to 
18 inches clothed with foliage down to the rim of the pot, and therefore 
suitable for any place, even for standing singly in vases,}n the dwelling 
room. It may here be mentioned that after the first plumes fade the 
plants must not be thrown away or the faded plume removed. The 
-decaying flowers should be removed, and in a few weeks the old plume 
will prodmce fresh flowers and again be in full beauty ; it will do this 
even a third time, and each time the plume will be larger and finer than 
the first. It will therefore be seen that with a few plants a long suc¬ 
cession can be produced. The yellow heads of this plant have a 
charming appearance rising above the flowers of Zonal Pelargoniums, 
Cyclamens, Primulas, Heaths, and such like plants. An arrangement 
casually made struck me as very effective the other day, and which has 
been admired by several. In a small house some fifty or sixty of these 
plants were being forced into bloom, and some Calanthe Veitchi were 
dropped in amongst them and elevate 1 in pots ; the rose-coloured flowers 
of the latter rising above the groundwork of dark green and yellow 
were very ornamental. 
Old plants can be retained for growing on for another year, but for 
many purposes they are not so good as young stock raised annually 
from cuttings. Old plants lose their foliage at the base, in fact to the 
place where the young shoots start from. They do not attain the same 
vigour as young plants, and therefore produce less flowers, and are more 
susceptible to the attacks of insects during the growing season. After 
flowering old plants should be cut back, and when they have broken 
into growth the roots may be partially reduced and the plants placed 
into the same «ize pots or those of a slightly larger size. Subsequent 
treatment is the same as will be advised for young plants. 
After flowering the plants grow rapidly in a temperature of 60° to 
65°. They will do in much cooler quarters, but are longer before they 
start, and then grow more slowly. When the young shoots are a few 
inches long they are suitable for cuttings. These should be cut clean 
below a joint and the lower pair of leaves inserted. They may either be 
inserted singly or a number together in 5 and 6-inch pots in sandy soil; 
the last is invariably practised here, but the cuttings as soon as they are 
rooted must be placed singly into 3-inch pots. The cuttings root quickly 
and freely under bellglasses, as in the propagating frame, where the 
temperature ranges about the same as advised for starting them. Those 
who do not possess these conveniences can root cuttings in a hotbed 
prepared for Cucumbers and Melons. After insertion give a good 
watering, keep the cuttings close and shaded from strong sun until they 
are rooted. Cuttings may be inserted as early as they can be obtained, 
and in succession until the end of June. 
This plant does not naturally branch freely—that is, in its early 
stages of growth, and to induce it to do so pinch the young plants when 
well established in their first pots, and only a few inches high. The 
majority will not make more than two shoots, but pinching is not 
advised a second time ; indeed, it is only recommended for those plants 
that are rooted during the months of March, April, and the early part 
of May. The later cuttings should not be stopped, and often from these 
—in fact, generally—the largest plumes are produced. If larger plants 
are required than can be produced by growing them singly, five cuttings 
may be inserted in a 3-inch pot, and then grown together after¬ 
wards. 
After the young plants are established in their first pots and pinched 
they will break into growth again by the time they are ready for placing 
into 5-inch pots, which is large enough for single plants. If five are 
grown together 7-inch pots should be employed ; for late-struck plants 
3 and 4-inch may be used, only potting the plants once—that is, from 
the cutting pots, or they may be inserted in the pots in which they are 
to be grown. The pots should be moderately drained, and the soil, 
especially for the last potting, pressed firmly in. They succeed well in 
a compost of fibry loam three parts, the other part being composed of 
leaf mould; to this may be added one-sjxth of decayed manure and 
sufficient sand to keep the whole porous. 
From the time they are established in their first pots they may be 
grown in a night temperature of 60°, with a rise by day of 5° or 10°, 
principally from sun heat, until they are placed in their largest pots. 
They will do very well plunged in a hotbed such as has been mentioned, 
in a heated pit, or even in a light position in a vinery. For ten days or 
a fortnight after potting keep them perfectly close until the roots have 
taken possession of the new soil, when the night temperature may be 
gradually reduced. By the end of June or beginning of the following 
month they can be placed in cold frames if the heated pit is required 
for other plants ; if not, they can be grown in it with the heat shut off. 
Later plants must be gradually hardened, and afterwards subjected to 
the same treatment as those rooted earlier. 
The treatment in cold frames is simple. Arrange the plants mode¬ 
rately close to the glass, the pots standing upon ashes or other moisture¬ 
holding material. For two or three weeks no air need be admitted by 
tilting the lights, for sufficient will enter by opening the frame for 
watering and syringing twice daily. Light shade must be applied 
during bright days for a few hours only. Under this treatment the 
plants will grow rapidly and sturdily, but from this time a little air 
may lie admitted daily, except on very bright drying occasions. By the 
end of August very little shade need be employed, and it can be dis¬ 
pensed with by the end of the month. Throughout the following month 
the plants may be exposed during the day to more ventilation to harden 
them and bring growth to a standstill. By the end of September they 
should be dwarf sturdy plants with large bold foliage, nearly black, 
overhanging the rim of the pots. 
When housing them provide.a light position where the night tempe¬ 
rature will not fall below 55° ; no harm will really result if the tempe¬ 
rature falls 5° lower. If wanted in flower by the middle of December 
place them in a temperature of 60° from the time they have completed 
their growth ; by the hooler system of treatment they will flower about 
the middle of the following month. Those who cannot give so much 
heat need not despair of cultivating this plant, for it will remain in 
good condition in a house that is kept close where the temperature on 
cold occasions does not fall below. 45°, but with this treatment they will 
be much later before they flower. 
