144 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
therefore, recommend Notylia bicolor to be grown in 
a similar way with regard to heat and moisture. 
We trust we have now given full and explicit direc¬ 
tions how to manage orchids that require blocks to 
grow upon. As the space allotted to us this week is 
nearly tilled we shall not now commence with the 
third head or division of orchid culture, but will take 
this opportunity to fulfil our promise to give a few 
hints on the culture of exotic terrestrial (earth-grow¬ 
ing) orchids. 
Terrestrial Orchidace.®.— Amongst these occur 
the beautiful Weristeria data (Tall Dove Plant), and 
the no less elegant Ancectochilus setaoeus (Fringed 
Ancectochilus), remarkable for its lovely variegated 
leaves. In this place wo shall give the generic or 
family names by which they are known :—Acantho- 
phippium, Arundina, Anoectochilus, Bletia, Brom- 
headia, Calanthe, Coelia, Gymbidium, Cypripedium, 
Cyrtopodium, Eulophia, Goodyera, Govenia, Grobya, 
Isochilus, Lissochilus, Neoltia, Paxtonia, Peristeria, 
Pliaius, Sobralia, Stenorhynchus, and Warrea. It is 
evident, therefore, that this section of orchids is large 
and important. There are some few more, but they 
are either small species or have insignificant flowers, 
and, consequently, are not worth cultivating. 
Soil. —These plants require a light, rich compost. 
Turfy loam, half-decayed leaves, and sandy peat, in 
equal parts, will suit the most of them, if some 
charcoal, broken into small pieces, be added, it will be 
useful. Let the pots be rather deeper than those for 
epiphytal orchids; and be careful to drain them well, 
by putting at the bottom of each pot from 1 inch to 3 
inches of broken potsherds, according to its size. The 
season of potting ought to be in early spring, and in 
order that that may be a right time, they ought to be 
at rest by the end of October, and kept dry till the 
right potting time. After potting they should have 
more heat and moderate supplies of water, and as they 
advance in growth more water should be given. 
Heat. —The Indian species require the same heat 
as the E. Indian house, and the others as the Mexican. 
If a tan bark bed is convenient, they will all thrive 
the better for being half plunged in it. Plenty of 
air must be given them during the season of growth 
on all suitable occasions, therefore it would be better 
if a house could be devoted to them alone; as, how¬ 
ever, one cannot have separate houses for every sec¬ 
tion of plants, these terrestrials may be placed at 
one end of the house, and air given to that end more 
abundantly. 
Rest. —All these plants require a perfect cessation 
ol growth. It is best to accomplish this during 
winter, excepting such as flower during that season, 
ol which Stenorhynchus speciosus is an instance. 
Some, too, have no bulbs to hold a reservoir of life 
while the plant is at rest; we may mention the beau¬ 
tiful Ancectochilus as an example. Such plants must 
have a small quantity of water given to them during 
winter. The plant last mentioned is such a beautiful 
and desirable one that we must refer to it again at 
an early opportunity. 
FLORIST FLOWERS. 
We have not left much room for remarks on these, 
but at this time of the year there is not much work 
to do beyond the ordinary routine of conserving the 
objects of the florist’s care. Protect from frost effec¬ 
tually ; give air whenever the weather will permit; 
shelter the tulip bed from heavy rains ; do not forget 
the ranunculus bed, but turn it over once every three 
weeks or a month, doing this in dry weather. Now 
December 13. 
is a good time to plant roses ; next week we hope to 
be able to give a list of such new ones as are worth 
cultivating, and have been proved during the last 
year. T, Adpleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Asparagus, when taken up and forced, requires 
some attention with regard to the just regulation of 
the bottom-heat, which should be kept moderate, and, 
if the slight hot bed on which the roots are placed is 
likely to become too warm, it is an easy remedy to 
bore a few holes with a stake along the middle of 
the bed, and pour down a few pots of water. The 
plants on thoir being first placed on the old decayed 
dung, leaf-mould, or tan, of which the hot-bed is com¬ 
posed, should be covered very shallow at first, and as 
soon as the shoots begin to make their appearance 
they should be covered over two or three inches 
deeper. Whilst in full cut, the asparagus may be 
much improved by an occasional application of tepid 
liquid manure, with a small portion of salt added 
to it. 
Celery. —When frost is likely to set in, the most 
forward of the sticks of celery should be slightly pro¬ 
tected. Mulch, or fern, or pea and bean haulm, will 
serve for this purpose, and should always be pre¬ 
pared in readiness for any sudden emergency; stakes, 
crooks, and small poles, the sticks of peas and scar¬ 
let-runners, are all good articles for pegging over such 
protections to prevent their being blown away. 
Kidney Beans. —Those who have the convenience 
for forcing this vegetable will find it a good plan, for 
the next six or eight weeks, to raise the plants first 
in light healthy soil placed in pans at the hottest end 
of the structure, removing them as soon as they are up 
close to the glass and light, and planting them as soon 
as their young stems are erect, and whilst the plants 
are young and sturdy, into the pots, pans, or boxes, 
where they are to remain, and produce their crop. 
These pots, pans, or boxes, with the soil (which 
should be light and open) in them, must of course 
at this season be placed in the house to warm a day 
or two previously to planting out; and, the principal 
point to attend to at this time of the year, is to keep 
th e plants high and in the middle of the pots, leaving 
a cavity next the pot and all round it, so that water 
may be applied without wetting the stem of the 
beans. Careless watering in the middle of winter 
often proves injurious by producing canker and 
shanking. A quantity of good, well pulverised soil 
should always be kept under protection at this season 
for potting and framing purposes. 
Cucumbers will now require great care. A mode¬ 
rate heat must be maintained, and air must be ad¬ 
mitted with judgment, or the requisite health and 
strength of the plants cannot be maintained. Seed 
of the best varieties should be sown in succession, 
and the seedling plants early pricked off singly into 
small pots, lightly plunged and kept close to the 
glass. Water must be applied very sparingly and 
with judgment. 
Potatoes. —The walnut-leaved kidney and other 
early varieties should be potted singly, and placed 
in heat to commence their growth in readiness for 
turning out under glass or on slight liot-beds. 
Mushroom-beds should be made in succession as 
previously - directed, and those in bearing carefully 
attended to, and kept clear from rubbish. Where 
necessary, the beds should be covered with litter, but 
the short mulch should always at gathering time be 
