6 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGHST. 
[January, 
An excellent potting material for Calanthes is turfy loam, with a little rotted 
manure, and sufficient sand to keep the compost open. If potsherds are used for 
drainage, they must be quite clean, and a little fibre, free from the finer particles, 
or some sphagnum moss, must be placed oyer them, to prevent the compost from 
mixing with the drainage. Perfect drainage is quite essential to the well-being 
of the plants, as they require to be freely watered during the growing season, and 
if the superfluous water does not escape readily, the plants will not give satisfac¬ 
tion. But little water is required during the flowering period ; and when the 
flower-spikes are cut, not any until the young growths show signs of starting 
from the base, early in February, or later according to the time of flowering. 
This is also the time to repot, the old and exhausted earth being shaken from 
the bulbs before doing so. 
These remarks apply to the deciduous species represented by CcilantJie Veitchii , 
and the different varieties of Calanthe vestita. Of the first named there are many 
varieties, the colours ranging from very pale rose to reddish-crimson, the darker 
shades being most esteemed, and commercially speaking, of the greatest value. A 
strong plant of the best variety will throw spikes from 3 ft. to 6 ft. long, and is 
truly a noble object. 
Calanthe verciirifolia should be grown more frequently than it is. The 
flowers are of the very purest white, and abundantly produced on a strong erect 
spike, and like those of the rest of the species, they remain long in beauty ; although 
it usually expands its flowers in the dog-days, they will continue unchanged for 
two months. I find this species succeeds best if some very fibry peat is mixed 
with the compost. 
Calanthe Masuca is another very distinct summer-flowering species, and like 
C. veratrifolia , is evergreen. The flowers are freely produced, and the spike is 
upright, as in the other. The sepals and petals are of a lilac-purple colour, the 
lip deep purple. The flowers of this plant are easily damaged by damp. I have 
removed the plants from the stove to a cooler house when they have been in 
flower, but they did not last longer in beauty on that account.—J. Douglas, 
Loxford Hall , Ilford. 
EARLY PEAS. 
other among all the vegetables we possess commands or deserves so much 
VV of the attention of the cultivator as Early Peas. When employed under 
our lamented friend, the late Mr. G. McEwen, at Arundel, I well remember 
him paying a Christmas visit to Scotland. On meeting him at the station 
on his return, after asking how all was going on, he turned half round, and with 
such a look as I never shall forget, said :—“ A mon, speak of Peas ! they fairly 
beat us in Scotland, having fine rows fully two inches high, green and stubby, 
while ours are lying in the press.” I asked if the frost did not hurt them ? 
u Not a bit! Now, ever since that time I have sown early Peas in November, 
from the 9th to the 15th, and for six successive years they haye done me good 
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