THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
- i 
i February 20. ] 
32-5 
D. 1 -iMimiATUM (Fringed D.); Nepal.—Tlie wliole 
flower is of a clear pale yellow, with the lip elegantly 
hinged. This, when well grown, and freely bloomed, 
is a truly beautiful species. 21s. Whilst we had the 
management of the orchids belonging to T. llrocklehurst, 
Esq , we had the good fortune to grow and bloom a very 
line specimen, it measured three feet high, and as much 
through, and had upwards of two thousand flowers upon 
if. It was exhibited at Manchester, at the Botanic 
Garden exhibition, and obtained a premier prize. 
D. formosum (Handsome D.); Ivhoosea Hills.—Sepals 
and petals ivory white, and very transparent; the lip is 
the same colour, but has a diamond-shaped pale yellow 
spot in the centre. The flowers are very large and 
handsome, and the plant itself is very ornamental. Till 
lately, this species was very scarce, but a large importa¬ 
tion was received by Messrs. Veitch and Son, from their 
indefatigable collector, Mr. Lobh, the greater part of 
which were brought to the hammer in Mr. Stevens’s 
rooms, in Iving-street, where they were sold at moderate 
prices,—so that now, instead of ten guineas a plant, a 
very fair plant may be had for 31s. 6d., and a small one 
for 2 Is. 
D. Gihsonii (Mr. Gibson’s D.); Ivhoosea Hills.— 
Sepals and petals dark orange; lip bright yellow, with 
two dark purple spots on it. Mr. Gibson says, ho 
“ found this plant growing on rocks, but so situated, 
that during the rainy season the mountain stream 
washed completely over the tops of the plants.” This 
shows the necessity of frequently and plentifully syring¬ 
ing over the plant when it is growing. It is a line 
species. 42s. 
D. heterocaiipum (Various-podded D.) ; Ivhoosea 
Hills.—The flowers are pale yellow, with faint pink 
stripes. It is very fragrant. 31s. 6d. 
D. Heyneanum (Mrs. Heyne’s) ; Bombay.—The 
flowers are produced on long, drooping racemes; they 
are pure white. There is a variety with a shade of pink 
in the bloom. It is a pretty species. 42s. 
D. ionosmum (Sweet-scented D.); E. Indies.—Sepals 
and petals purplish lilac, beautifully veined with dark 
purple. It is very fragrant. This is a rare and splendid 
species. 210s. 
D. monilifobme (Bracelet-formed D.); China.—Sepals, 
petals, and lip of the most beautiful rose colour on the 
upper part, shading down to the centre into a pure 
white. Nothing can exceed the beauty and delicacy of 
these flowers. They are freely produced on bracelet- 
formed pseudo-bulbs, in two’s and three’s. Like D. den- 
si/lorum, the season of their flowering may be lengthened, 
by keeping the plants in a very cool house through 
winter and the early months of spring. By this treat¬ 
ment, they may be successfully prevented from flowering 
till the May exhibitions take place, though the usual 
season is March and April. Every grower of orchids 
ought to possess this charming species. 21s. 
1). jioscuatuji (Musk-scented D.) ; Pegu.— Sepals 
and petals are yellow, striped with cream ; the lip is 
egg-shaped, of the same colour, but richly striped with 
dark crimson in the inside. A strong-growing, fine 
species. The flowers are very large—nearly four inches 
across—and smell strongly, like musk. There is not a 
very great difference between this species and D. calceo¬ 
laria, and D. cupreum. Where there is plenty of room, 
this plant is very desirable. 21s. 
D. nobtt.e (Noble D.); China.—Sepals and petals 
j blush white, tipped with bright rosy pink ; lip large, 
; nearly round, not pointed like that of D. crcrulescens, 
\ yellowish at the base, with a dark purple blotch at the 
end, edged with pink. These are quite sufficient cha¬ 
racteristics to distinguish this fine species from any 
other. The colours may be much heightened by a full 
exposure to the light, near to the glass. This effect was 
proved by Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Autrobns. 
Two or throe years ago, he exhibited a well-grown speci¬ 
men, so highly coloured as even to deceive the judges, 
who thought it a splendid new variety ; hut lie assured 
us, that it was the real species, only subjected to a high 
degree of light. There are, however, several varieties 
of this truly noble species. One, named D. vnbilc 
major, has flowers full one-third larger; another, named 
I). Wallichiana, is of a more dwarf and stouter habit; 
but the differences between them all are very slight. 
Every grower of orchids must have this fine, easily- 
grown species in his collection, especially when he con¬ 
siders its comparative cheapness: a good plant showing 
bloom may be had for a guinea, and a small healthy 
one, that will flower tho next year, for half the money. 
T. ArPLEBY. 
(To be continued.) 
FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 
The Tulip. —This mild weather is bringing up the 
tulips very fast; and, as we may reasonably fear frosts 
will yet come pretty strong, the florist must keep wide 
awake, and bo ready to protect them quite securely from 
its dire effects. 11 may often happen, during this month, 
that a wet evening will be succeeded by a sharp frosty 
morning ; and it is such sudden changes that do much 
mischief. The leaves of the tulip, as is well known, 
come up in pairs, and form a kind of cup, which in rainy 
weather retains the water. Now, if this becomes frozen, 
the tissue of tho tender leaves will be irreparably injured, 
will turn yellow, and tho bloom will be ruined. Against 
such evil we lift our warning voice ; because, if tho 
freezing occurs, there is no cure for this season, at least. 
Therefore, we say, cover up every night; and, if tho 
morning is fine, uncover early, and no harm is done; 
but,if frost intervenes then, how pleasant it is to reflect, 
that we have saved our bloom by a little care, foresight, 
and trouble. T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
The season is now advancing, and it is very possible 
that, with those who did not get well forward with their 
gardening operations previous to the late continual rains, 
some matters may be getting rather behind. With us, 
in Devonshire, a great quantity of rain fell in January; 
it rained, indeed, every day, little or much, throughout 
the month. Should the weather now continue more 
favourable for a few weeks to come, much will bo re¬ 
quired to be done, and due advantage must be taken of 
the opportunity for applying manure, trenching, ridging, 
surface scarifying, and hoeing the surface of the earth 
amongst every kind of crop, and forking over the ridged, 
trenched, and dug ground; it cannot be too often per 
formed, if the weather be only favourable for the ope¬ 
ration. We have many times attended to such work by 
moonlight, or very early in the morning, in order to keep 1 
pace with the season’s operations; for wo always con¬ 
sider that where there is a will there is a way, and a 
time for doing all things; and a little extra exertion in 
such preparation of the soil is amply repaid: first, by 
securing a kindly friable, seed-bed, wherein the seed, if 
a fine day is chosen for sowing, is sure to germinate 
quickly, and send forth strong plants, that will grow 
quickly and luxuriantly, if after encouragement is also 
well attended to, by surface-stirring, hoeing, and duly 
thinning; no matter what the season may be, the pro¬ 
duce of crops thus kept in order will be abundant, and 
of the best quality; as to slugs, grubs, snails, or wire- 
worm, they would be nearly eradicated; and if such 
culture were continued from year to year, these pests 
would become scarce; weeds, too, would never be seen 
at any season. We are always vexed to hear people 
talk of hoeing down weeds, because, if the soil is pro- 
