200 
THE COTTAGE GARDENERS 
Decembeh 18. 
be covered, but allowed to stand above the compost, 
which sliould, in composition, be exactly like that 
described for the preceding species. * 
CATTLEYA. : 
I am sorry to have to report that there are no Cattleyas , 
that will do well in a low heat. I have, however, some 
notion tliat C. Skinnerii, a native of Guatimala would; 
for Mr. Skinner himself informed me, once, that he has i 
found it in situations where he sometimes saw unmis- 
takeable signs of frost. I would recommend the grower 
of Orchids in a cool house to try this showy, handsome 
species of Catlleya. 
CQLLIA MACEOSTACHYA (Large-spiked CfEi-iA), 
The climate of Guatimala must be very temperate, for 
that country furnishes us with many handsome Orchids 
that will grow here in a low temperature, and this Ccelia 
is one of them. I have seen large plants of it grown in 
great heat that never flowered, whereas, in moderate 
heat even small plants flower freely. It has large 
pseudo-bulbs, and the leaves are evergreen, frequently 
from one-and-a-half to two feet long. The flower-stems 
spring up from the centre of the leaves, and the flowers 
are produced on a spike sometimes two feet long ; they 
are of an orange-red colour, and though each flower is 
small, individually, yet the spike makes a gay show. 
They do best in pots, in a rich, light compost, much the 
same as that for Calanthe. Plenty of water is required 
when growing, but a less supply when they are com¬ 
paratively at rest. 
CYPRIPEDIUM BARBATUM, lYSIGNE, AND 
A'ENUSTUM. 
These handsome Ladies’ Slipper plants do exceedingly 
well in a low temperature ; much better than in an 
uniform high one. In the former they grow stouter and 
stronger, and, consequently, flower better and more 
regularly. The flowers have a considerable resemblance 
to a fanciful Chinese slipper. The foliage of the first 
and the last is beautifully spotted. They are evergreen, 
with long, thick, woolly roots. They must be kept 
constantly moist, but, of course, more so when growing 
freely in summer than in winter. Peat, loam, and leaf- 
mould, in equal parts, is the best compost for them, 
kept open with pieces of charcoal; the pots to be well 
drained. They thrive best in a full light, and should, 
therefore, be placed near the glass. Repot in March or 
April, and, if large plants are desired, never divide them 
unless they become unwieldy. I have had plants of 
C. insigni, in 12-inch pots, with upwards of twenty flowers 
open at once. It was then a truly splendid object, but 
it requires many years’ care and attention to produce 
such splendid specimens. 
CYRTOPODIUM ANDERSONII AND PUKCTATUM. 
When these two plants are well-grown and finely 
bloomed they are really noble objects; but though 
plentiful in collection they are seldom well flowered. 
'The reason, I am satisfied, is because they are grown, 
generally, in too great heat. Treat them as greenhouse 
plants, they will grow stronger, have shorter, stouter 
pseudo-bulbs, and flower as certainly as a 'lulip. 
Supposing a plant of each has passed through the 
winter safely in a state of rest, it will be seen they are 
without leaves, with firm, long, pseudo-bulbs, the last 
made of which will have a prominent bud at its base. 
By the time the days begin to have the warmth of a 
spring suu, these buds will begin to swell; then is the 
time to think about potting them. A quantity of green 
turf should then be procured, together with some half- 
decayed leaves, and some broken bones and charcoal. 
Chop the turf into small squares and mix the other 
materials with it, in the proportion of two-parts turf. 
two-parts leaves, and an eighth-part bone and charcoal. 
Place this compost in some place where it will become 
partially dry and warm Then turn the plants with 
their balls out of their pots, and shake gently all the 
old soil away from them. Examine the roots, and cut 
away all that are quite dead, carefully preserving all that 
are alive. 'Then drain the pots well, using a large size, 
for these plants have many long, thick, fleshy roots. 
Place the plant in the middle of the pot, and fill in 
the compost around and amongst the roots till the pot is 
nearly, but not quite full, keeping the plant steady, and 
leaving the buds just out of the soil. Press it firmly 
down, and then thrust in close to the plants a strong stick 
or two. 'Tie the last made bulbs to these sticks. They are 
so heavy, that if not securely tied to and supported by 
the sticks they would fall over. The plants may then be 
placed in the house. No water must be given till the 
new shoots have made some growth and begun to push 
forth roots. Then, with a knife, cut off just within the 
surface any grass plants that may be growing, place a 
thin covering of fresh loam over the compost, and give 
a gentle watering. If the bulbs have been well-grown 
the previous season, and properly rested through the 
winter, the flowering-shoots will be perceived growing 
conjointly with the young pseudo-bulbs. If they are not 
visible, then the plants will not flower that year. As the 
plants advance in growth increase the quantity of water, 
and when in full vigour, treat with a good feed of liquid- 
manure ; but do not force them into weak, long growth, 
by too great heat and short supplies of pure air. If the 
growths have gone ou well, and are short, stout, and 
healthy, then, in August and September, gradually re¬ 
duce the quantity of water. By October all the leaves 
should have fallen, and the pseudo-bulbs should be of 
a clean bright colour, and as firm as a w'alking-stick. 
Then give no more water, but place them ou a high 
shelf, in the full light and sun, keeping them quite dry, 
and not allowing a single drop of water to fall upon 
them. Then, in spring, repot them, and I will warrant 
they will flower well. I have been particular, almost 
to tediousness, in describing the culture of these Orchids ; 
but they are so handsome when well bloomed, that they 
will amply repay the cultivator for his trouble and care. 
T. Appleby. 
{To be continued.) 
I 
PLANTING LARGE OR SMALL TREES AND 
SHRUBS. 
Since the transplanting of large trees has become 
so fashionable of late, the next enquiry will be, what 
description of tree is most deserving of such an expen¬ 
sive operation? Many, if not most, trees bear trans¬ 
planting when large pretty well when they have been 
prepared for it; but every tree that undergoes the 
operation is not always prepared. 
We all know that the best fruit-trees are now taken-up 
every year while in the nurseryman’s hands, and trans¬ 
planted again; the long, straggling roots are all shortened 
in, and the deep tap-rooted ones cut away; so that what 
would otherwise have been a naked, long-rooted tree, in 
all probability much injured in the taking up, is at 
length oflered to the customer with beautiful tufts of 
librous roots, extending a uniform distance all around ; 
and, at the proper time of lifting, that operation is done 
with little labour and no sacrifice. Contrast tliis with 
another state of things, wherein a tree has been growing, 
for a number of years, in a rich, ojien soil, undisturbed by 
anything; unchecked in its natural tendency to send 
its long, fibreless roots out to a great distance from its 
collar, to act as a brace to it, as well as cater its food ;— 
this tree Las but a poor chance to succeed, when its very 
limited number of roots are cut through at a very 
