THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, November 11, 1856. 97 
Fig. 3 is a section of the flow-pipe, showing how the 
inch tube is retained by stays in its place within it. 
On the form of boilers for this purpose, and to show the 
actual small cost, I will, if requirod, give some further 
directions.— Vincent Litchfield, 
PLE UROTHALLIS SMITHIANA. 
Received from R. A. Gray, Esq., F.H.S., in 1845. 
This Orchid deserves to be recorded as exhibiting a material 
departure from the structure originally observed in it. The 
lip is distinctly 3-lobed, with the two lateral lobes consider¬ 
ably prolonged; while in the original the lip was nearly 
ehtire, the lateral lobes being hardly distinguishable. In 
all other respects the plants appear to be identical. 
The accompanying figure represents the plant of its 
natural size, with the column, lip, and petals (a) magnified. 
This little plant requires to be grown in the Orchid-house, 
and is best kept in a well-drained pot, and planted in fibre 
formed out of peat and half-decayed leaves. It requires 
plenty of light and moisture when growing, but afterwards 
to be kept rather dry and cool. 
It has no beauty, but is very curious and neat in ap¬ 
pearance .—(Horticultural Society's Journal.) 
PLUNGING FRUIT-TREES IN POTS. 
In thanking Mr. Rivers for his polite estimate of my 
opinions (p. 61), permit me to say that I spoke not of trees 
when in-doors, but simply those in a rest-state out of doors. 
I have known so much mischief accrue through having their 
roots exposed, that I feel it a duty to urge the plunging (on 
high and dry ground) to all within my reach. I not only 
consider it requisite in winter, but in summer, albeit for 
different reasons; and even in-doors I feel persuaded of the 
benefits derivable. 
Mr. Rivers points to the advantages obtained by allowing 
the heated air to come in contact with the roots; but, sup¬ 
posing he were correct in that assertion, does he not admit, 
at the same time, that the roots are liable to those extreme 
depressions of temperature to which even closed houses are 
subject on many nights through the year? Surely we may 
not take the liberty of ignoringorrunning counter to Nature 
without a sound reason for so doing. What good gardener 
would not prefer a permanent bottom, or root-heat, of 83° to 
his Pines, Melons, and Cucumbers also, to one fluctuating 
between 55° and 85° ? 
Thus much by way of comparison, and as referring to 
what takes place in Nature. But Mr. Rivers builds his 
argument on a basis which, if generally admitted in all 
sublunary things, would prove a most serious barrier to 
progress. He says, speaking of not plunging Peach-pots, 
“And I fully believe that I shall not again. My trees un¬ 
plunged give fine crops, and are now in the finest of health,” 
&c. Again, further down in his paper, “ My success is quite 
perfect, and so, in spite of the doctors (who are they?) 
recommending their specifics, I am more than ever inclined 
to leave well alone.” Now, one man may affirm that he has 
capital success in Hamburgh Grape growing, and that, feel¬ 
ing safe in his isolated opinion, he will let well alone; in 
other words, will never more attempt progress; whilst, at the 
same time, the crops of some other growers might fairly 
astonish him could he witness them, and shake his former 
opinions to their very foundation. This settling down in 
opinions, not of a surety based on principles, is not whole¬ 
some; but it is an error to which men of middle age are 
rather liable, especially if they have devoted a great portion 
of their life to a close observation and investigation of facts 
bearing on any given point. The latter is Mr. Rivers’ case, 
and I should have passed by the matter, probably, as trivial 
in other hands. I hope Mr. Rivers will take these remarks 
in a courteous spirit, as intended; for, although courtesy 
should not be permitted to warp truth, it ought, at least, to 
accompany the enunciation of it, especially when, of ne¬ 
cessity, it clashes against tlie^opinions of men of high 
standing in their profession.— Robert Errington. 
GOLD FISH, THEIR HABITS AND AILMENTS. 
In The Cottage Gardener for the 7th of October I saw 
a note from “ Z. Z. Z.,” requesting information concerning 
Gold Fish, and followed by one from yourself asking a reply. 
Now, I imagine I understand his case, having observed one 
which appears to me somewhat parallel. I have the charge of 
the aquatic-house here (Dalkeith Palace),in the tank of which 
are kept some of these fish, and have had an opportunity of 
watching them during the summer. On the 1st of April the 
tank, which is twenty feet by sixteen feet, was filled with 
water, and five fishes were put in, three black and two yellow 
(the black ones have since become yellow). There were, 
at the same time, a few Nymplueas planted in it, and other 
plants were placed in the water in pots, such as Caladiums, 
Papyrus, &c. In the centre was put a mound of earth for 
a Victoria , and covered over with very rough white sand. 
About the end of May or 1st of June I observed the fish 
often chasing each other furiously through the tank, and 
this continued for at least a month. About the same time 
were observed numbers of diminutive fishes, no longer 
than a quarter of an inch, swarming in every part of the 
tank, which showed that the fish had spawned, and, as I i 
believed, were continuing to spawn; and, although I did ! 
not see the spawn, I believe that the sand-bank in the centre 
was the place where it was deposited. [ 
I attribute the attacks of the fish on each other at this ' 
