THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[July 11. 
226 
it. The plant was now dried for a month, then re-potted 
and placed as before in a strong bottom-heat; about the 
first week in April it had made two move bulbs; the 
process of drying was again gone through, and the plant 
placed in a strong heat. It has on it now nine bulbs, 
made in the short space of 15 months. The plant was 
cultivated with some others of a similar size in a house 
that could be kept very hot.” 
Such is the very clear account of a mode of culture 
by which a small plant may in a very short time be made 
into a large one. Mr. P. does not state whether the plant 
so treated flowered during the period, neither is it neces¬ 
sary he should; sufficient it is, that a plant can bear such 
a treatment to induce the cultivator to practise it as nearly 
as possible. If the plant makes fine strong pseudo¬ 
bulbs the flowering follows of course, as surely as any 
effect follows a cause. When a plant has become strong 
enough to flower, there will be no necessity for such 
strong and frequent forcing into growth; once a year for 
growth and rest will be quite sufficient. 
Vanda Batemanniana (Bateman’s V.).—•This is a truly 
noble plant, of exquisite beauty. It was sent home by 
Mr. Cummings, several years ago, from the Phillipine 
Islands ; and flowered first at J. Bateman’s, Esq., Kny- 
persly, and was named in honour of that distinguished 
cultivator. It has since been flowered by Mr. Mylam, 
the successful gardener to S. Rucker, Esq., Wandsworth. 
The beauty of the plant and the grandeur of its flowers 
render it an object of great interest to the lover of 
orchids. Unfortunately for its general distribution it is 
very scarce, there beiDg not above five or six plants in 
the country; and the plant being very shy in sending 
out offsets necessarily keeps it scarce. Messrs. Rollison, 
Tooting, sent out their collector last autumn to the place 
where Mr. Cummings found it, with express instructions 
to search it out and collect a quantity of it, if possible, 
and send them home. If he is successful, of course they 
will be more plentiful, and cheaper. 
V. cristata (Crested V.); Nepal. — This is a very 
splendid plant, producing its flowers at the axils of the 
leaves. They are of medium size, and are produced on 
long peduncles (flower-stalks). The sepals and petals 
are whitish; the lip is large, and spotted and striped 
thickly with dark brown. They continue in hloom a 
longtime; very desirable, but rare. 210s. 
Mr. Rucker’s plant is nearly three feet high; the stem 
is stout and robust; the leaves are about 15 inches 
long, arranged in a flat manner on each side of the 
stem ; the flower-stems are produced out of the axils of 
the leaves, rising nearly upright to the height of three 
feet; the flowers are produced on the stem at regular 
intervals, but rather thinly; they are large, measuring 2£ 
inches in diameter; the underside of the sepals and 
petals is of the most brilliant crimson, and the upper 
side is white, streaked with crimson; the labellum is 
similarly marked; altogether rendering it a truly gor¬ 
geous, and lovely flower. Add to which, it lasts a long 
time in bloom, and has a faint, though very agree¬ 
able fragrance. We are almost afraid to mention th e price. 
Very lately wo sold a small plant with three roots and 
four small leaves for fifteen guineas. A good strong 
plant would fetch at least double that price. Such 
a price will give our readers some idea of the value set 
upon this truly aristocratic plant by its present pos- 
sors. 
(To be continued.) 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Carnations and Picotees. —These July flowers will 
now be unfolding their beauties to please the cultivator, 
and reward him for his twelve months assiduity and 
care. The grand points to attend to now, are shading, 
watering, and tying both the stems and buds. To enjoy 
their beauty fully, and to the greatest advantage, a 
regular carnation-stage with a roof of canvass sufficiently 
high to walk under comfortably, and made impervious 
to rain, is indispensable. Such a stage, and so covered, 
we described in the 1st volume of The Cottage Gar¬ 
dener, and we beg our readers to refer to it. The 
shade will preserve the flowers from the exhausting rays 
of the sun, as well as from wet, besides protecting the 
cultivator and his visitors. Watering is still necessary, 
especially now that the natural showers from the clouds 
are prevented from falling upon the earth in the pots. 
To prevent the buds from bursting on one side more 
than another, place round each a ring of India-rubber. 
These lings may be procured of the proper size at any 
India-rubber manufactory at moderate prices, or if they 
cannot be had in country places, tie round each bud a 
strip of bass matting, so as to allow the bud to expand. 
With a sharp knife slit open such sides of the calyx, or 
flower-cup, as will not open naturally. Picotees generally 
do not burst on one side, because they have fewer petals 
than Carnations. To show each flower to advantage, 
procure some stoutish brass or copper wire, form a ring 
at one end, slip it under the flower, and thrust the othei 
end into the stick to which the flower-stems are tied. 
This will bring the flower into such a position as to 
show it to the best advantage to the eye. Cards of 
pasteboard also should be placed under each flower to 
keep up the under petals. This will give them a firm¬ 
ness for the exhibition table, but ought to be removed 
previously to being exhibited. We are amongst those 
who strongly disapprove of any artificial means to 
support a flower on the stands on an exhibition day. 
All these minute points, trivial as they may seem, must 
be attended to by the florist that desires to bring his 
flowers to the highest point of perfection. 
T. ApfLEBY. 
THE KITCHEN-GAKDEN. 
Preparation of the Son.. — Every opportunity 
should be taken, whilst we have length of days, with 
the heat of a powerful sun, to ridge-trench all spare 
pieces of ground immediately they are cleared of any 
crop, exposing the surface in as rough and open a man¬ 
ner as possible to its influence. Between crops of all 
kinds where there is sufficient room for forking and sur¬ 
face scarifying, it should be done as often as possible ; 
for this not only assists the present growing crops, but 
also prepares the ground for their successors. 
If showery weather prevails, continue to apply sprink¬ 
lings of salt to the asparagus plantations; Globe arti¬ 
chokes should be examined, as sometimes, after a dry 
hot time, they will produce a quantity of spurious 
suckers, which will exhaust and rob the principal 
suckers that are producing their heads, if not duly 
thinned. Sow also borage now ; and all winter cropping 
should be well attended to this month ; such as the 
borecoles , brocolis, Gape brocolis,cauliflowers , and coleuoi ts, 
should bo put out plentifully, as well as Brussels sprouts 
and savoys. Another liberal sowing should be made of 
some of the best and dwarfest kinds of cabbage for plant¬ 
ing out, for coleworts or winter greens ; and a good piece 
of ground should be well prepared for sowing the first 
cabbage crop, about the middle of the month. The 
Matchless, Nonpareil, Shilling’s Queen, and the York, are 
all known to be good and compact varieties, when pro¬ 
cured true to their kinds. There are also many other | 
good varieties; indeed, in almost every locality some i 
favourite varioty may bo found. Those who may have . 
ground to spare, may plant a lew more garden beans of 
any early sort; dwarf kidney beans and scarlet runners j 
may also be planted; any of the early varieties may j 
also still be sown. The American dwarf and Dwarf 1‘ an I 
