November 8. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
77 
sweepings of grass and leaves from the lawn; turn 
the bed thus from end to end, keeping the old manure 
at the top, and it will answer admirably. Without 
the old bed, a layer of grass, and then a layer of fresh 
leaves, would answer just as well, and better if blended 
together, and a layer of rotten dung, earth, or coal- 
aslies, put on the surface for plunging in. For these 
temporary purposes, nothing beats green grass; it 
heats immediately, and then the heat is easily modi¬ 
fied and retained by blending and covering with 
other substances, the object of the latter being to 
keep down everything like steam. Even where 
there is no lawn, it must be a small garden indeed 
that could not furnish materials for such a bed in 
weeds, leaves, bean and pea haulm, and prunings. 
Shrubby calceolarias, and other hardy things, where 
no such conveniences exist, may be taken up with as 
much earth as will adhere to them, and set in dry 
soil in any place where they can have a fair portion 
of light and be safe from much frost; but then, of 
course, they could only be used for planting out 
hgain, and, therefore, do not come under our depart¬ 
ment. 
Scarlet Geraniums. —Of these I can add nothing 
to what has been said about keeping them in gar¬ 
rets and hay-lofts, farther than that, if I could find 
room and light to set a few six-inch pots, each of 
which would hold a dozen of rooted cuttings, I 
would not trouble myself with taking many up out 
of the borders. They are in a very different state 
from those grown in pots or boxes during the sum¬ 
mer, which may be kept in such places with the 
greatest ease. In the one case, the wood is soft and 
succulent, and the roots are ruptured and broken; in 
the other, the stem is comparatively hard and well- 
ripened, and the roots are unmutilated. To approach 
Harry Moore next season, from plants still growing 
in the open ground, you must lose no time in set¬ 
ting your plants into something like a similar posi¬ 
tion to his now, and that, we believe, you can only 
accomplish by giving them bottom-heat, as we have 
advised for other things. Fine single specimens 
may be potted unmutilated, but, for all the smaller 
ones, the stems may be reduced, cutting back to 
where it is somewhat firm, and then, where new 
roots are formed, you may remove them to their 
quarters for the winter, just where they can have a 
little light, and be preserved from severe frost. When 
once the buds begin to break in spring, there will be 
roots ready to support them, and thus they will an¬ 
swer well for pots or boxes. It. Fish. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
EXOTIC ORCHIDACEtE. 
Cistern. —In our last we mentioned this useful 
auxiliary ; it is almost indispensable. The one in the 
orchid house here is formed with slate one inch thick. 
Mr. Reck, of Isleworth, puts them up in a capital 
style. The one here has been up for seven years, 
and has never leaked at all. The great use is the 
heating the water for syringing and watering pur¬ 
poses. Another use, and an important one too, is for 
dipping the blocks with the plants on them; also to dip 
the Stanhopeas, Gongorcis and other plants in baskets. 
When those plants begin to grow in the spring they 
require a good steeping, and the cistern offers a 
proper place for that purpose. Two or three hours 
will not be too much to steep them. The jieat during 
the time of rest becomes dry and hard, and requires 
this wetting to soften it, especially if the plants are 
to be shifted into new baskets. 
As orchids require frequent syringing, sometimes 
twice or thrice a day, we have made use of pots—gar¬ 
den pots, in fact, without holes. These are placed 
round the house near the hot water pipes, at a small 
distance, about six or nine feet apart. Our readers 
that are in the habit of syringing will immediately 
perceive the great saving of time and labour by 
having these pots so handy. Instead of having the 
water to carry in garden watering-pans, these pots 
being kept constantly full of warm water are always 
ready. Having found great benefit and convenience 
from this arrangement we seriously recommend its 
adoption, not only to every orchid grower, but also 
to the cultivators of plants generally. Plant-houses 
of every description ought to have a number of them 
placed in convenient places, both for syringing and 
watering. In walking round the houses the operator 
observes a plant requiring water: the watering pots 
are in their proper place: there is no water near ; the 
plant is passed by until the usual time of watering, 
when it receives, probably, only the usual quantity ; 
the ball inside continues dry, the plant languishes, 
becomes diseased and dies. This is the history of 
the causes of death to many a fine heath and other 
well rooted plants, and though orchids, owing to their 
peculiar conformation, would not thus be killed, yet 
they suffer much from the privation of water when 
they are growing. If pots of water are placed as we 
have mentioned, the manager, on observing a plant 
drooping, would instantly take it and dip it into one 
of them, and thus at once refresh it. 
Syringes. —These are necessary implements, espe¬ 
cially for the orchid cultivator. The best we know 
are those manufactured by Reid. The cost of a com¬ 
plete one, with three roses of different degrees of 
fineness, is 21s. The coarsest rose may be used 
when the plants require the most moisture, that is, 
during the growing months. The finest rose is to 
syringe the plants on blocks only during the rest of 
the year. The manner of using syringes requires 
some notice. The water should not be forced out 
with great force, like a heavy shower driven by a 
strong wind, but should fall upon the plants gently, 
something like dew, or more like the shower often 
called “ a Scotch mist.” This mode will effectually 
wet the logs, and keep the plants clean, and their 
leaves bright and healthy. We have alluded to sy¬ 
ringing the plants on blocks in winter. This is ne¬ 
cessary, because from the increased application of 
artificial heat to keep out the cold, the logs dry 
quickly, however moist the atmosphere may be, and 
the roots and the pseudo bulbs belonging to the 
small plants will shrink too much if left without 
syringing for so many weeks. As a general rule, let 
them be syringed gently with the finest syringe early 
every morning when the sun is likely to sliiue. This 
moisture will sustain them during the day, and pre¬ 
vent the too great evaporation from the leaves of the 
plants. 
Shading. —Wo slightly mentioned this in describ¬ 
ing the aspect of the houses. We will now enter 
more fully upon the subject, as we consider it ot 
great importance. Mr. Bateman, in his splendid 
work on the Orcliidese of Mexico, gives this as a rule, 
“ let the plants have all the light possible, but do 
not let the sun in spring and summer shine upon 
them.” Taking it, then, for granted that they must 
be shaded, we next must consider what kind ol shade 
is the best for them. We use a kind of canvass 
