444 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Norember 15,1891. 
this “ run ” condition is termed, it is best to discard the bulb that 
pioduced it if of a variety that is plentiful, as although instances 
occur of such bulbs returning to their old quality, it may be many 
years before this happens. If the bulb that has gone wrong be of 
a scarce variety it may be wise to keep it for a few years, and by 
planting it extra deeply in poorer soil hope, by giving it more work 
and less food, to cause it to turn from the error of its ways. 
This inconstancy of marking may seem to some to constitute a 
grave defect in the Tulip, but really it is one of the flower’s chief 
charms in the eyes of the grower. As blooming time approaches 
his eager glance from early morn to dewy eve roves over his bed 
with the keen delight of anticipation ; and when the bloom is oil 
what recks he, though many of his flowers are mis-marked, if he 
can find a few only exquisitely perfect in their markings. 
Correct culture has great influence on marking, and an intelli¬ 
gent and careful grower will produce flowers far better marked 
than those of his ignorant or indolent rival, and it is surprising 
how many excellent flowers can be produced from a very moderate 
stock of bulbs, provided the varieties and strains are good and 
the culture suitable. 
It will now be readily understood that one variety may exist in 
three states—as a breeder, as a feathered flower, and as a flamed 
flower. Some varieties, like Sir Joseph Paxton, which is our most 
prominent bizarre, are equally valuable in all three states ; other 
varieties are good feathered, and valueless in either breeder or 
flamed state ; others are of no value when feathered, and only good 
flamed ; whilst, lastly, others are worthless altogether when broken, 
and are only esteemed as breeders. 
A variety must have a combination of qualities before it can 
make any considerable mark in the Tulip world. It must have a 
good constitution and increase freely : it must break well 
and be fairly constant when broken. Such a combination of 
qualities is not too common. Still, a good number of varieties 
possess it, and these constitute the bulk of our collections. 
Many otherwise fine varieties are little seen or heard of in con¬ 
sequence of their want of vigour. In every collection, I suppose, 
there is some shy sort that blooms perhaps once in two or three years 
and never favours its owner with a particle of increase. I well 
remember the late Mr. Samuel Barlow of Stakehill (who for many 
years was looked up to as the father of the Tulip growers, and 
whose death last year was a severe blow to the fancy), had a 
seedling of Hep worth’s called “ Hope Deferred.” It was a lovely 
feathered bybloemen when it condescended to bloom, which was 
seldom ; it never made an offset, and one season it gave up the 
task of coming up at all, and died. Other varieties are very incon¬ 
stant, and make a kind of meteoric reputation one year and then 
sulk in a muddled condition, as it were, for many years, only to 
blaze out once again in brilliance and beauty. Every grower has kinds 
like these, varieties that have delighted him by their perfections in 
years gone by, which he is growing on through years of disappoint¬ 
ment in the hope of seeing again in their former style. 
(To be continued.) 
settle this. After potting place near the glass, and give no more 
water until the young growth is well advanced. A suitable com¬ 
post for Pleiones is fibry loam and peat in equal proportions, with 
a little chopped sphagnum and finely broken crocks. While 
making their growth Pleiones are best in the cool end of the 
Cattleya house, or rather warmer than the Odontoglossums. 
When this is finished, and the foliage begins to lose colour, they 
may be placed in a light position in a cooler structure to ripen the 
pseudo-bulbs. _ 
The first to flower is P. lagenaria, which makes a brilliant show 
during November, followed by P. maculata and P. Wallichiana. 
P. humilis flowers in February or March. The lip of this species is 
one of the most beautiful combinations of colour imaginable. 
P. Hookeriana is found growing at a greater elevation than the 
others named, and should be kept in the Odontoglossum house all 
through the season. This species blossoms in April, and does not 
require any loam in the compost. It is the rarest among those 
named, and also the most difficult of cultivation.—H. R. R. 
RIPENED WOOD. 
s 
September 
October 
1893. 
hours. 
„ 129 
Pleiones. 
From a botanical point of view this genus is almost identical 
with Coelogyne, but the totally different habit and manner of 
flowering render them quite distinct as garden plants. Pleiones 
are all deciduous, while the leaves of Coelogynes are persistent; 
the pseudo-bulbs also of the former are only of annual duration, 
while those of the latter keep fresh and green for several years. 
Pleiones are all found high up on the Himalayan and other 
mountains in India, several of them in localities where frost and 
snow are of frequent occurrence in winter. Many growers prefer 
large pans a foot or more in diameter for these Orchids, but if 
grown in pans half this size they are more useful for decoration, 
and thrive equally well. _ 
The plants after flowering should be pulled apart, and each 
pseudo-bulb shaken clear of its neighbour. A little of the old root 
should be left on, as this is of advantage in holding the pseudo-bulbs 
in position until new roots are formed. In repotting form a 
convex mound, on which place the pseudo-bulbs, as the flowers are 
shown to greater advantage than when kept flat. Dibble the soil 
firmly about the roots, and give a light sprinkling of water to 
For the information of Mr. Clark (page 422), who is either a 
novice or feigns ignorance, I may observe that when people speak of 
“ a range ” of houses, they refer solely to the structures, and not to the 
contents thereof. “A Judge” sums up with truly judicial ponderosity, 
but includes some very unjudicial backhanders. As, however, I am 
always seeking information—which I do not obtain—from these ripe 
wood men, I would inquire of “A Judge ” how he explains the fall of 
Apples before the frost, which was the real and main cause of the 
scarcity of this crop ? He informs us that the foliage protected Pears, 
but not Apples; yet, strange to say, the frost affected both in an 
identical manner—viz., by cracking them. This correspondent refers to 
the self-evident fact that there was a glut in the fruit market this 
summer ; but he forgets that this is largely due to the lavish amount of 
fruit tree planting undertaken in all directions during the past few 
years. He also forgets that it is the nature of both Pears and Plums to 
give heavy crops at rare intervals—a habit which even the highest 
culture is unable to control entirely. For several years past there have 
been deficiencies in the return of both Pears and Plums, consequently 
an abnormal crop was due, and had it been prevented this year by 
unseasonable weather in spring it would have come next, or at any rate 
on the first favourable opportunity. 
I wish “A Judge” could have been with me recently when going 
over a large estate, and shown numbers of forest trees dead and dying, 
owing, as those on the spot considered, to the evil effects of the summer 
of 1893. Why has no reference been made to the high flavour of Pears 
this year? Can “A Judge” explain the cause ? Even such third-rate 
kinds as Magnate and Beurr6 d’Aremberg were quite delicious, while 
Fondante d’Automne, Thompson’s, Marie Louise, Doyenn6 du Comice, 
and other first-rate varieties were never more exquisitely flavoured, nor 
their flesh more rich and melting. Beurrd Bose too, usually supposed to 
require a wall, has been most excellent from a pyramid. Again, how 
do the ripe wood men explain the ripening of all Pears several weeks 
sooner than this occurred in 1893 ? Why, too, are the leaves of all 
deciduous trees falling so exceptionally early this autumn, although we 
have had no frost ? Are we to regard these facts as evidence of sufficient 
or insufficient ripening of the wood ? 
It may not be out of place here to compare the Greenwich records of 
autumnal sunshine now that the figures for October are available. 
1894. 
September 
October 
hours. 
58 
37 
making a total for the two months of 1397 hours in 1893 and 972 hours 
in 1894, or a difference of 425 hours ! 
I wish “E. M.” had chosen a more interesting class than Conifers to 
draw his illustration from, but though I have not noticed any excessive 
seeding of Cupressus Lawsoniana I am willing to accept his view, which, 
however, amounts to nothing more than that this tree belongs to the 
very limited number of sun-loving plants — Geraniums, Gardenias, 
Stephanotis, and others. The mention of this floriferous climber 
reminds me of one correspondent who claimed it as an example, showing 
the paramount necessity of ripening wood—a remarkably bad shot con¬ 
sidering that Stephanotis floribunda blooms on the young growth ! 
I notice “ Azoto ” has become converted and turned sceptic, for he 
does not believe in the sun’s “luminous enve ope.” Really, and he a 
scientific man too 1 Perhaps, however, he will nevertheless condescend 
to talk about Sachs, in whom he does believe. How long ago were 
these experiments made ? Also, is this authority not considered a trifle 
out of date by modern investigators ? 
“ E. K.” cannot perceive any difference between “ Azoto’s ” and 
“ J. A.’s ” treatment of the same subject. Well, that is unfortunate, 
because others can and do. I did not condemn scientific opinions 
“ made in Germany,” and the lines from a well-known poem sufficiently 
showed that, but I do disapprove of the way the English gardening 
fraternity are becoming more and more dependent upon “ intelligent 
foreigners” for supplying them with fruit, flowers, bulbs, seeds, and 
