JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 13, 1394. 
244 
aide, only they were superior in other ways. The first week in 
August is early to show Muscats, and if wanted at that time every 
year I should advise fruiting of a few canes in pots or with their 
roots confined in brick pits, this admitting of a much earlier start 
being made, and perfect colouring brought about in a natural 
manner. I gave my own experience, Mr. Molyneux gave his, and 
DOW others perhaps will state their convictions. 
With regard to the shrivelling of berries, I very much question 
if anyone yet knows the way out of this difficulty. A dozen or more 
reasons for the misfortune might be and have been given, such as too 
much and not enough heat, inside borders, outside borders, too much 
or not enough water, too much moisture, and not enough of it in 
the atmosphere, want of a little temporary shade at times, soil too 
heavy and not heavy enough, late ripening, extra early ripening, red 
spider, faulty root-action, and such like, have all been variously stated 
as the cause of shrivelling, and an anxious inquirer who once con¬ 
sulted all the oracles known to him will not readily forget the 
bewildering round of replies and presumably sound advice he was 
favoured with. None of them met his case, however, and to this 
day his bunches of Muscat of Alexandria would be highly satis¬ 
factory if only shrivelling could be prevented. 
With me shrivelling was least noticeable in the case of Yines 
in a house started early in February, and worst in another 
started one month later. The former were in an outside border, 
the latter in an inside border, and I used to think not enough 
water was given those with their roots wholly inside. Then came 
a time when the roots found their way outside and into very 
good quarters too—viz., an Asparagus bed, but still shrivelling 
took place more or less as of old. The problem is yet unsolved. 
—W. I. 
Eveegreen Calanthes. 
There are probably many persons desirous of growing a few 
Orchids not having a house to set apart entirely for them, but who 
wish to grow them in a structure devoted to miscellaneous plants. 
To any such I would recommend the evergreen section of Calanthes 
as represented by 0. Masuca and C. veratrifolia as suitable plants 
for a warm greenhouse or stove. The former species produces 
flowers of a deep purple shade, while the blossoms of the latter 
kind are pure white. Both species are of the easiest culture, and 
if good healthy specimens are grown they cannot fail to please, as 
i^hey are very free flowering and last for months in good condition 
if care is taken not to wet the flowers. 
The plants should be grown in rather large pots in a substantial 
compost; good loam, chopped sphagnum, and charcoal, with a little 
half-decayed leaf soil, used in the proportion of one part of each 
of the latter materials to three of the loam will be found suitable. 
Thorough drainage must be provided, for as these Orchids require 
to be kept moist all through the year, more water being of course 
required while growing than during the winter months. A rather 
dense shade is advisable during the summer, as if growing in too 
much light the blossoms of 0. Masuca are apt to lose their colour 
and tuin to a dingy undecided hue. 
Miltonia spectabilis. 
This grand old Orchid still finds numerous admirers, and this is 
aot to be wondered at, as in its best forms it is one of the most 
beautiful Miltonias in cultivation, while the poorest varieties are 
well worth growing. The flowers are produced singly on the spikes, 
and in the type are creamy white, with the exception of the lip, 
which is purplish crimson with streaks of a deeper hue. The 
colour of the lip varies a good deal in the several varieties, and in 
the M. Moreliana the sepals and petals also are rich purple. In 
good forms the flowers are from 4 to 5 inches across, and they last 
Ibng in good condition. The pseudo-bulbs are produced about an 
inch apart upon the rhizome. These are from 2 to 3 inches in 
length, and bear one or two leaves at the apex ; there are also a 
pair of small sheathing leaves at the base. 
This Orchid is invariably of a pale yellow tinge both in the 
leaves and pseudo-bulbs, and no attempt of the cultivator can 
alter this ; nor is it necessary to do so, as the paleness seems to be 
natural to the species, and is certainly not a sign of ill-health. 
M. spectabilis should be grown in the Cattleya house, and pre¬ 
ferably in shallow baskets or on rafts, as it dislikes much material 
about its roots. A light position shaded from the midday sun, 
and not far from the glass, is the most suitable for this species. 
Abundance of water is required while growing, and in winter the 
roots must not be dried. The usual mixture of peat and sphagnum 
will be found a suitable compost.—H. R. R. 
Yanda Hookeriana. 
This plant is not so generally grown as most of the other 
species of the genus. In growth it somewhat resembles Y. teres, 
but is smaller in all its parts, the flower alone excepted. Like 
that species it delights in ample sunshine, stroug heat, and a humid 
atmosphere, and requires no rest. I believe that the species is 
indigenous to Borneo, where it is found luxuriating in swampy 
ground, creeping over low bushes of a semi-aquatic nature, fully 
exposed to the sun, and flowering almost perpetually. 
Under artificial conditions in this country it cannot be called a 
perpetual flowerer, being more erratic in this particular than any 
other species that I am acquainted with. It is useless to attempt 
to grow it unless conditions similar to the above can be afforded. 
The fortunate possessors of those conditions and a few plants will 
be well repaid for all outlay and trouble when flowering is effected, 
this Yanda being a glorious flower, with its noble lip, amethyst- 
purple on opening, dewed with moisture, and glistening in the 
tropical-like summer sun, which even our fickle climate can 
occasionally afford, given good glass and a suitable structure. 
It has been grown for some years by Mr. J. F. Hall at Shar- 
combe. Wells, Somerset, but although Y. teres by its side has been 
annually flowered in abundance, this desirable species obstinately 
refused to emulate its example. A happy thought occurred to 
Mr. Hall one day, which was no sooner conceived than effected. 
The plants were removed to the Croton house, where, grouped 
with a few trial plants of Y. teres, it soon proved by its more 
vigorous growth that the Croton house treatment was what it 
required. Six months are gone since its removal from the Y. teres 
quarters, and for the past six weeks the cultivator has been 
rewarded with its charming blossoms. 
The temperature of this house is not allowed to fall below 
75° in the depth of winter, the plants receive all sunshine available, 
direct and otherwise, no ventilation is given, and the humidity 
nearly reaches saturation point through the summer, the syringe or 
hose being almost constantly in use. 
The flowers, as I have mentioned, last fully six weeks without 
spot or blemish of any kind other than a gradual loss of colour, the 
lip at the end of that time becoming as pale as the sepals, and 
nearly transparent. I enclose a bloom for your inspection which 
has been open for quite six weeks under the above conditions.— 
W. R. W. 
[The flower is exactly as described—spotless and clear. We 
are obliged to our correspondent for his communication.] 
MELONS AT WOBURN ABBEY. 
I MUST confess to having been greatly surprised at Mr. McKay’s 
rejoinder (page 221) to what I stated, on page 130, about the Melons so 
well grown by Mr. Calvert at Woburn Abbey. When I penned those 
notes it never occurred to me that there was such an individual in 
existence as Mr. McKay. Mr. Calvert is an honourable man, and does 
not attempt to gain credit at the expense of his predecessor. I hope on 
some future occasion to be allowed to chronicle some more notable 
achievements at Woburn Abbey, but before doing so shall be glad to 
know the exact time and date when Mr. McKay ceases to claim the 
right to share in the unexhausted improvements. To me his interference 
seems uncalled for, and I think the Editor has been generous in giving 
him an excellent advertisement.—W. I. 
In the interests of peace allow me to say that I read the article in 
question on page 130, August 9th, when it first appeared, and saw 
nothing therein which reflected in the slightest degree upon Mr. 
Calvert’s predecessor. I have again read it, and am still of the same 
opinion. As I am not acquainted with any of the parties concerned, I 
have no interest in defending any of them, but simply give my opinion, 
in order to prevent a useless discussion which cannot possibly do good 
to anyone. Simple records of difficulties successfully contended with 
are of great lvalue to many readers, who are thereby encouraged 
to try and co likewise ; and I am sure our worthy friends at 
the fountain head are too wide awake to allow any reflections on other 
persons.—W. H. Divers, Belvoir Castle Gardens, Grantham, 
In your issue of the 6th (page 221) you request readers of the Journal 
who are interested and not prejudiced in the above matter (and which is a 
very simple one indeed) to see if they can find any legitimate grounds for 
Mr. McKay’s complaint that appears in your issue of the same date. I 
have gone carefully through “ W. I.’s” article of the 9th August, and I am 
quite satisfied that there was not the slightest intention on his part 
when writing about the Woburn Melons, of casting any reflection on 
Mr. McKay. So far as I am able to see there is not the least cause for your 
correspondent’s uneasiness.' “W, I.” did not allude to anything which 
