382 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. [September 19. 
have had the latter, some years ago, when some of the 
finer large kinds were a favourite hobby, so large in 
size that it required two men to move them, and yet no 
stakes were seen as, witli the exception of one in the 
centre and six round the side, the whole of which were 
hid by the stems; the flowers were kept in their places 
by hasping with thread and fastening to fine wire or 
thread, which was crossed and recrossed from the 
different stakes to each other, and all of which was con¬ 
cealed by the heads of bloom. When in the case of 
geraniums, a more pyramidal shape becomes fashion¬ 
able, the tying down to a wire at the rim of the pot, and 
the hasping by thread of the alternate branches to keep 
them in their place, will render a multitude of stakes 
wholly unnecessary. Until that takes place, and also 
for all other little things that require neat little stakes or 
twigs, I may mention, that I have found nothing more 
useful or more easily procured than the shoots of 
fuchsias. Independently of their beauty, Fuchsia 
Thompsoniana or Coccinea are as much, if not more 
profitable for this purpose than a plantation of willows. 
After being cut down at the commencement of winter, 
after being frosted, they may be stripped and tied up 
into bundles of different sizes in the worst weather. 
R. Fish. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
EXOTIC ORCHIDACEjE. 
plants requiring blocks (Continued from page 318J. 
Lcelia accuminata (Pointed-tipped L.); Guatimala.— 
Sepals and petals delicate blush colour; the lip is of the 
same colour with a blotch of rich brownish purple ; the 
flowers are produced on a spike, four or five in number. 
It is a free-growing desirable species. 15s. 
Lcelia albida (Whitish L.); Oaxaca. — Sepals and 
petals white, tinged with yellow; lip of the same colour, 
with a reddish-purple streak or spot. It has a scent 
like the primrose ; very pretty. 21s. 
Lcelia. anceps (Two-edged L.); Mexico.—A splendid 
species that ought to be in every collection. Sepals 
and petals of a rich rosy lilac colour; the lip is of a rich 
velvetty purple outside; the inside is marked with crim¬ 
son and yellow veins, and has on the broadest part a 
deep purple spot. The flowers are large, measuring 
when well grown four inches across. They are pro¬ 
duced on long footstalks, gracefully bending with the 
weight of the flowers. 21s. 
Jjcelia autumnalis (Autumnal-flowering L.); Mexico 
and Guatimala.—Sepals and petals pale blush, shaded 
with rose. The lip is nearly white, with a deep rich 
purple spot at the end. Equally handsome, and in one 
respect superior, to L. anceps, which seldom has more 
than three liowers on each stem, whilst L. autumnalis 
will, when strongly grown, produce on each flower scape 
eight or twelve of its splendid flowers. 15s. 
Lcelia furfuracea (Scurfy-stalked L.); Oaxaca.—-Very 
like L. autumnalis, but slenderer in all its parts. A 
beautiful delicate species, well worth growing. Rather 
scarce. 42s. 
Lcelia majalis (May-flowering L.); Oaxaca.—A very 
handsome dwarf growing plant. It is the Flor de Maya, 
or May-flower, of the natives; and is much esteemed 
even there. The flowers are produced singly on short 
footstalks; they are very large, being nearly six inches 
across. Sepals and petals blush, beautifully spotted 
and veined with pale purple, The lip is of the same 
colour, but the spots and veins much more numerous. 
It is rather difficult to flower, but may be successfully 
bloomed by growing it upon a log, without moss, in the 
coolest part of the Mexican house, where it can have a 
long rest in winter. In the spring, when it begins to 
grow, syringe it freely till it has completed its annual 
growth, which ought to be effected by the end of August; ; 
then refrain from syringing by degrees, and keep it dry 
and cool till March. By this simple treatment it will 
produce its magnificent flowers in May or June. 21s. 
Ladia rubescens (Blushing L.); Mexico.—Sepals and 
petals cream colour, delicately shaded with pink, 
tinged with green at the edges; the lip is of the same i 
colour, with a yellow blotch in the centre, and a rich 
plum coloured one at the base. A very pretty desirable 
species. 31s. fid. 
Lcelia superbiens (Most superb L.); Guatimala. This 
is indeed a truly magnificent plant. We have in a 
former volume described the noble plant of this kind in | 
the gardens of the London Horticultural Society, at I 
Chiswick, as it appeared when in bloom last year. Like 
most Loelias, it is found in the higher altitudes of the 
western hemisphere, consequently, docs not require a 
high temperature. It will thrive well in a common 
stove, but will not flower till the pseudo-bulbs acquire a 
considerable size. Great care must be taken in syring¬ 
ing it, so as not to allow water to lodge in the sheaths 
of the young growing pseudo-bulbs, or it will be apt to 
cause them to rot, and thus destroy the growth for that 
year. The young roots, too, are liable to decay if kept 
always wet; syringe, therefore, in the morning, and the 
moisture will be dried up before the evening. Give 
plenty of air during the day, even in the growing season, 
and keep the plant dry and cool after the growths are 
complete in the autumn. It flowers at a time of the year 
when flowers are most welcome, namely, in winter and 
early spring. The temperature of Chautla, in the pro¬ 
vince of Guatimala, averages from 55° to 65° generally. 
The flowers are produced on long stems, in clusters at 
the end, and frequently number 14 to lfi on each stem. 
The sepals and petals are rich rosy pink; the lip is light 
crimson and yellow striped with dark crimson, each 
flower measuring from four to five inches across. Small 
plants may be purchased for 42s., but strong flowering 
ones cannot be had under 105s. On account of its great 
beauty and easy culture, it ought to be in every col¬ 
lection, however small. Although all the species of this 
beautiful genus may be grown well on blocks, we have 
reserved a few that we find grow more finely in pots. 
These we shall mention and describe hereafter. 
Culture. —All the species of Loelia do best in the 
Mexican house. Mr. Bateman says, “ being found at a 
considerable elevation they all thrive best in a moderate 
temperature, and require to be kept high potted, as by 
this means the roots are more likely to be retained in a 
healthy state; during the winter they should be sparingly 
watered and kept in an almost dormant state.” This is 
sound advice, but we have found the placing of the 
greater part on logs a much safer plan to preserve the 
roots in winter. The kind of log we need not dwell upon, 
that which lasts the longqst is the best. Use no moss, as 
it retains too much moisture. The size of the blocks 
must be proportioned to the size of the plants. The 
plants should be suspended from the roof of the house, 
but not far from the glass; a foot to 18 inches will be a 
proper distance, excepting when in flower. The stems 
of some species then rise to such a height as to make it 
necessary to lower the blocks, which may be easily done 
by longer or shorter wire hooks, as each plant may 
require. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Tulips. —The beds for these must now be attended to. 
Old ones should have some fresh loam added, and fresh 
dung at the bottom next the drainage. Look over the 
roots and remove all decayed ones; separate also the j 
young bulbs and plant them immediately, so as to enable ! 
them to make plenty of roots to strengthen the spring i 
