1872. ] 
FRUIT CULTURE. — NOVEMBER. 
253 
often months at a time ; indeed, when well managed they will keep on growing 
and flowering nearly all the year. 
A compost of fresh and fibrous peat, having a small addition of dried horse- 
droppings and turfy loam, suits them admirably; and it will be found best in 
practice to pot them in small pots, thoroughly well drained, for like most other 
orchids, they require liberally supplying with moisture when growing, both at 
the roots and in the atmosphere; but if the compost becomes sour or stagnant 
through bad drainage, they will speedily succumb. Mix a fair proportion of 
coarse river-sand with the compost above recommended, and cover the surface of 
the pots with living sphagnum. I would here remark that living sphagnum is 
one of the best natural tests that can be used to ascertain the humidity of the 
atmosphere. I never saw it grow freely in any hot-house that was not well 
adapted for the requirements of orchids ; it soon dries up and dies in a hot, arid 
atmosphere, but will luxuriate in almost any heat, providing that the atmosphere 
is constantly humid. 
Some Masdevallicis , though interesting, are scarcely worth cultivating for their 
blossoms ; such as M. civilis , a green-flowered kind, while another dingy species, 
large masses of which have recently been imported and sold at Stevens’, also 
has greenish flowers, and is about as fragrant as a dead rat, (M. caudata ?). All 
the Masdevallias are remarkable for having minute petals and lip, the latter often 
concealed in the tubular portion of the flower formed by the large connate sepals, 
which last, as a rule, are furnished with caudate elongations or tails. The best 
species in cultivation are the following:— 
M. Veitchii; glowing orange-scarlet, tinged with purple hairs. 
M. tovarensis; flowers of the purest white, 2-6 on a scape. 
M. Lindenii; one of the best; flowers of a soft silvery lake. 
M. ignect; orange-yellow, or scarlet glowing like a hot iron, the upper sepal 
bent over between the two lower ones. 
M. Harryana ; a large-flowered species ; flowers of a uniform soft purple or 
lake-colour; certainly one of the very finest in cultivation (see figure). 
M. coccinea; a rare old species; flowers red, or orange-scarlet.—F. W. 
Burbidge, Fairfield Nurseries , near Manchester. 
FRUIT CULTURE.—NOVEMBER. 
® HE planting of Fruit trees may be continued during the month in mild 
weather, but the sooner it is completed the better. Commence pruning 
f as soon as the leaves are off the trees; it is much better in every respect 
to do it at this season than to leave it until spring. Where summer 
pruning has been properly attended to, there will not be much winter pruning 
necessary. Go over all the standard trees, and cut away all unfruitful, ill-placed 
branches ; also all old spurs. The proper thinning of the buds and spurs is a 
matter of great importance, and is too often altogether neglected. Keep the 
centre of the trees open. The majority of Orchard trees in this country are 
