November 20; 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER; 
115 
have done. I do not say that all plants are alike* There 
are plants, that in the consuming of garbage seem quite 
as much at home as animals, whose province it seems 
to be to clear the earth of animal impurity. Let philo¬ 
sophers say what they will, facts would incline me to 
suppose, that small dusty charcoal undergoes decom¬ 
position when used for such purposes. There is some¬ 
thing about it that stimulates cuttings to root quickly, 
but for the generality of the plants we cultivate, the 
allowing favourite cuttings to remain long in such a 
medium, would appear to me as wise as allowing a 
young infant to suck nothing but a piece of pork or 
salmon, though old women, and sages too, will contrive 
at times, clandestinely, to put a piece of such things in 
their sweet mouths, to be conveyed thence to their 
tender stomachs, and that they contend, too, for their 
good. The continued application of the pork and the 
charcoal, would, in most instances, produce similar un¬ 
fortunate results. R. Fish. 
To be continued. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
EXOTIC ORCHIDACEiE. 
plants that thrive well in pots (Continued from 
page 87). 
Trichosma suavis (Sweet T.) ; E. Indies.—Sepals and 
petals pure white; the lip is white also, with a deep 1 
yellow blotch in the centre, and a few radiating stripes 
of purplish-red. This is a very fragrant flower, of con¬ 
siderable beauty. The Indian belles admire it very 
much, and ornament their head-dresses with it. It is as 
yet very rare in this country. 84s. 
Culture. —This choice plant covets a rather stronger 
Compost than the generality of epiphytal orchids. Of 
good turfy peat two-thirds, and one-third of broken pots, 
with charcoal and half-rotten leaf-mould in equal parts. 
Let the peat be used as rough as possible, in pieces 
about the size of a hen’s egg; sift out all the fine earthy 
particles. This will leave the compost perfectly open 
and porous. Stagnant water, or soured peat, would rot 
the roots almost directly. 
Potting. —Like all other orchids this species must be 
potted just when it begins to grow, and before it puts 
forth new roots. These in their young state are so 
brittle that the least touch almost will break off the 
young and tender ends, and so render abortive, or, at 
least, imperfect, the new pseudo-bulbs. This would be 
fatal to the chance of blooming the succeeding year. 
It is better, therefore, to repot early, as soon as the 
tendency to grow is perceived. Previously to potting, 
see that a goodly lot of potsherds are broken into three 
sizes, and all ready some time before the potting season 
arrives. Drain heavily for this plant, for it is impatient 
of too much wet. Fill the pot nearly full of the com¬ 
post, then shake the plants out of the pots; cleanse 
thoroughly both their leaves and pseudo-bulbs; then 
place them in the centre of the pot, or, at least, place 
them so that the new shoots when made will be near the 
centre. Lift up the plant as the compost is filled in and 
around it, so as finally to leave it upon a little hillock 
in the centre, and press the sides down a little within 
the rim of the pot; this will allow the superfluous water 
to sink down at the sides and escape through the 
drainage, and thus prevent its lodging about the young 
growths. During the growing season keep up a brisk 
temperature and a moist atmosphere ; being an Indian 
plant, it requires a strong heat and plenty of moisture, 
m order to assimilate the climate in our artificial treat¬ 
ment to something like its native country. When the 
new bulbs are fully formed (they should he larger than 
the old ones), reduce the heat and moisture, and so 
induce a state of rest. With this care and attention 
this beautiful plant may be grown well and satisfactorily, 
Trigonidium acutum (Sharp-pointed T.); Demerara. ! 
—Flowers deep chocolate colour, about one inch across; ' 
leaves short and stout; pseudo-bulbs very smooth, 
bright green, and a medium size. Pretty, and easily 
grown. 21s. 
T. obtusum (Blunt-petaled T.) ; Demerara.—Sepals [ 
and petals brownish yellow ; lip short and obscure ; in 
the centre of the flower there are two bright shining 
brown spots, giving the flower the appearance of being 
eyed. Worth cultivating on account of its free growth 
and long season of bloom. 15s. 
Culture. —There are several more species of Trigo¬ 
nidium , but they do not possess beauty enough to render 
them worth the room they would occupy. The above 
two species are all we are acquainted with that are worth , 
keeping. Pot them in a compost similar to the preced- j 
ing genus, raise them high up above the rims of the 
pots, give them plenty of water at the root when growing, 
and abundance of moisture in the air. When at rest 
give but little of either water at the root or atmospheric 
moisture,—reduce the heat also simultaneously. No 
orchids are easier to grow than Trigonidiums, hence 
they are fit subjects for the amateur to try his skill and 
care upon. 
Vanda. —This genus we have already written largely 
upon under the head “ Plants requiring baskets,” but 
several species might be grown successfully in pots full 
of holes or slits at the sides. The species that would 
answer with this treatment are Vanda fusco-viridis, V. 
multijiora, V. Iloxburghii and its varieties, and V. ; 
unicolor. All these may be grown in pots well-drained 
and filled with open sphagnum; that is, sphagnum put 
iuto them just as it comes from the bog, only dried a 
little; and put in lightly, or only just pressed down firm 
enough to keep the plants upright when tied to a stoutish I 
stick. The only extra care they will require, will be not 
to give too much water, especially during the dark days 
of winter. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
MR. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS 
London Floricultural Society. —After the general busi¬ 
ness of the Society had been gone through, the attention 
of the meeting was engrossed by the alleged charge of j 
exhibiting other people’s flowers, of which an individual j 
had been convicted by the leading Tulip Society of the j 
metrojiolis, if not of the whole kingdom. Without 
attempting to report the discussion which involved so 
serious a charge against an individual who has been 
conspicuous as a winner for some three or four years at 
various Societies, the opinion that the party, charged 
openly, and by name, with these practices by the Gar¬ 
deners Journal, was bound to proceed against the ! 
paper, or retire from the floricultural arena, was , 
unanimous. Chrysanthemums were the only flowers 
shown; and of these there appears to be only one j 
cultivator who raises seedlings in this country from 
seed saved for him in the south of France and Italy; 
but the sight of old favourites is refreshing. This 
Society has been very prudently rather backward at 
giving certificates of merit the present year. 
The original Chrysanthemum Society, established at 
Stoke Newington, held its annual meeting on the 20th 
instant, the day this reaches the country readers, and if 
there be a hundred societies hereafter, to that society 
alone will the credit belong of first encouraging this noble 
autumnal favourite. Chrysanthemums will be produced, 
then, full six inches in diameter, and double to the 
centre. The Higligate Chrysanthemum Society will 
meet on the 26th instant; and as many of the best 
