January 16, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
317 
a little extreme in his sweeping condemnation of a most 
useful implement. The good or the bad exists in the 
user, and not in the syringe. —F. W. Burbidgc. 
I have been much perplexed with the question of 
watering Orchids. I was induced by a nurseryman, 
who shall be nameless, to water freely overhead in 
order to imitate nature, but I had to give it up. The 
Odontoglossum house, I must admit, did not appear to 
suffer, and as the plants are now thriving, I continue to 
syringe or dew lightly overhead with a fine rose 
twice daily. But the Cattleyas and Phakenopsis ! 
Of 300 plants I had in the latter, only one-third survived 
the treatment at the end of a year. The roots remained 
sound, but the leaves grew spotted, changed colour, 
dropped, and the plants died. In the Cattleya house I 
was not so unfortunate, but many kinds, especially 
Dowiana, evidently did not relish the process. A few 
months ago I gave up watering overhead, and began to 
syringe only between the pots, giving occasionally water 
to the roots, and now the Phalmnopsis and Cattleyas 
are growing freely, the leaves are shining bright, and 
I have no doubt that they will continue to thrive as 
they did before I attempted to imitate nature. 
It is all very well to say that Orchids in their native 
climes are exposed to violent storms with a tremendous 
pressure of wind, but I should like to know a little 
more about that. If I found in England an Orchid 
invariably growing on the south-west side of trees, I 
should say that this Orchid requires rain, but are 
Orchids invariably found growing and thriving on the 
part of the trunk or branches that faces the prevailing 
wind and rain of the district ? Iam told, but I do not 
know better, that they are found growing in everv 
direction of the compass, and I entertain the idea that 
they derive their moisture from the sap of living trees 
and the vapour of the atmosphere. By-the-bve, can 
any of your correspondents tell me if in nature Orchids 
are found thriving on dead trees ? If they are not it 
will tend to show that they do not depend on rains for 
their moisture, but on the sap of the living support.— 
A. F. L. __ 
Mr. O’Brien’s practical advice to Orchid-growers to 
discontinue syringing their Orchids overhead was both 
good and sound, and in doing this he gave not only 
his own experiences, but he echoed what has been the 
practice of the best and most successful cultivators for 
many years past, viz., do not syringe the foliage of 
your Orchids, for it serves no useful purpose ; on the 
contrary, it induces a soft sappy growth, rendering 
them liable to a running spot, and in some genera the 
pseudo-bulbs rot away entirely. The evil resulting 
from syringing does not in all cases show itself at once ; 
Orchids will stand all sorts of treatment for a time 
after their first introduction, provided they are received 
in good condition, but from practical experience of 
many years in the culture of Orchids, and an intimate 
acquaintance of the method pursued in the best trade 
collections in the country, I am positive that syringing 
Orchids is not only unnecessary, but that in the long 
run will prove very injurious. 
Surely nothing remains to be said on this point, as 
Mr. O’Brien’s advice has not been challenged, so far as 
I know, by anyone having extensive practice and a 
large collection under their care. Mr. T. Challis’ 
communication in The Gardening World of January 
9th is literally, as far as it teaches, as much against 
syringing as it is in favour of it. For instance, he 
says : 1 ‘ Some excellent examples of cultivation can be 
seen where it is occasionally and judiciously used.” 
Perhaps he may instance Odontoglossum Roezlii and 
some of the Cypripediums ; but even these moisture- 
loving plants may be better cultivated by properly 
regulating the almospheric moisture of the house 
wherein they are grown. I think, as far as I can 
gather, Mr. Challis wishes to find out something by 
which moisture may be given in sufficient quantities in 
the atmosphere by evaporation—a most important 
element in Orchid growing ; indeed liberal dampings 
should be given to every available space in an Orchid- 
house to counteract the dry, parching atmosphere of 
ill-constructed houses. 
We have too much tile flooring and dry surfaces in 
many Orchid-houses to admit of the plants being cul¬ 
tivated in the best manner, and syringing the plants is 
often resorted to as a remedy until practice proves the 
evil. I think that nurserymen or gardeners should 
always supervise the building of plant houses ; then 
the requirements of the plants would be met, and their 
cultivation rendered more certain and easy. Great ad¬ 
vantages may be secured in orchid cultivation by 
atmospheric feeding, abundance of air whenever prac¬ 
ticable, and care in keeping the plants clean by dipping 
and sponging. Rain water is also a very great boon to 
the cultivator, as every practical gardener knows, but 
more especially so for Orchids ; and care should be 
taken to secure, if possible, as much as is necessary.— 
Leo Gordon. 
I should like to add my testimony to the fact that 
syringing Orchids is not by any means necessary for 
their healthy and robust growth. In consequence of 
conversations with Mr. O’Brien on the subject, I was 
induced some, years since to abandon the practice of 
syringing my Orchids, and my experience is, that they 
have improved and not deteriorated in consequence. 
My Cattleyas, especially, can hardly be surpassed for 
strength and vigour, although a syringe has not been 
used in the house for years. 
It may be, no doubt, quite possible to syringe the 
plants in such a manner as to benefit them thereby ; 
but considering the admitted danger of indiscriminate 
syringing, it is satisfactory to know that the practice 
can be entirely abandoned without any evil resulting. — 
S. Courtauld, Bocking Place, Braintree. 
I have read Mr. Challis’s somewhat lengthy 
communication with interest, expecting (as I dare say 
most of your other readers did) that he would at the 
end thereof give us a short sketch of his manner of 
using the syringe, the months in which he used it, and 
the plants which he used it on, or some other sign by 
which his advocacy of it could be measured, but I failed 
to find anything which could be of the slightest use as 
a direction for the amateur whom we seek to instruct. 
All the others who have written on this subject have 
thoughtfully kept this object in view by stating their 
practice. So far as we have seen yet the syringe 
has come off second best, and by the exceedingly mild 
and wavering advocacy displayed by your correspon¬ 
dent who has not yet got further than to speak for an 
occasional use of it (which might mean three times a 
year), I think we shall find his views are not much 
opposed to mine, if he will read my communications 
in a kindly spirit and not imagine anything not stated. 
Let all remember that these are friendly and scientific 
discussions for the good of a common cause ; I want 
the proper uses of the syringe on Orchids defined. With 
respect to any use which may be made of it other 
than on the plants themselves, I am content to let 
every one use their own judgment.— James O'Brien. 
-->X<-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
. ♦ - 
♦ 
Royal Horticultural. — January 12 th. —The 
first meeting of the season of the fruit and floral com¬ 
mittees, held on Tuesday, was, owing to the unfavour¬ 
able state of the weather for bringing plants out, a very 
small one, a fact, however, which was not much 
regretted by any one present, as the labours of the 
members being light, there was more time available for 
paying seasonable compliments, or discussing the 
probabilities of the coming season. Messrs. James 
Yeitch & Sons’ were the only contributors of a group 
of flowers—a pretty bank of Chinese Primulas—which 
gained a bronze medal. The varieties exhibited were, 
The Queen, white, an Improved white, selected from 
the former, and a first-rate strain of the ordinary white, 
which, except as regards the size and shape of the 
blooms, was superior to the others as decorative plants, 
the trusses being thrown well up above the foliage. 
Chiswick Red was very bright; and Improved Blue, as 
blue as they have been got at present. The same 
firm also showed a novelty in P. sinensis cristata 
fiore pleno, a variety with pale green foliage of the 
crispifolia type, wdth semi-double white flo'wers. Mr. 
N. Blandford, gardener to Mrs. Haslefoot, Moor 
Hill, West End, Southampton, received a cultural 
commendation for a good plant of Lfelia an ceps 
with some forty strong bulbs with healthy deep 
green leaves, and ten spikes with twenty-eight 
flowers, which, however, had suffered considerable 
damage in travelling. It was stated in a note accom¬ 
panying the specimen that the plant had been sub¬ 
jected to pruning, that is to say, the old pseudo-bulbs 
had been regularly cut away when the leaves faded 
since 1873 ; and that it had been in the same pot for 
five years. It was certainly a neat, well-grown speci¬ 
men, but we could hardly make up our minds that any 
benefit had been derived from the process, except the 
improved appearance gained by the absence of the old 
bulbs. 
The only new plant certificated was Odontoglossum 
tripudians superbum, shown by C. Dorman, Esq. It 
is a remarkably fine variety, -with flowers over 3 ins. 
in diameter, sepals and petals rich brown tipped 
with yellow, and the lip broadly margined with 
white, fringed, and prettily blotched with bright 
rosy purple. A very good form of 0. Insleayi 
splendens came with a few other nice things from 
the same exhibitor. Mr. Cook, gardener to De B. 
Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Sevanoaks, contributed 
a good variety of Sophronitis grandiflora, and cut 
blooms of Laelia Crawshayena, several varieties of 
Lfelia anceps, and Odontogbssum Alexandras, &c. A 
cut bloom of Cattleya Trim® Measuresiana, a richly 
coloured variety with the purple of the lip running well 
up into the throat, cane from Mr. H. James. Mr. 
James had also a fine cJne of Macrozamia Dennisoni. 
Mr. Ballantine, gardener to Baron Schroder, The Dell. 
Egham, sent a fine dsplay of cut blooms of the leading 
varieties of Lfelia a.ceps, and the best types that are 
known. Messrs. Paul & Son, the Old Nurseries, 
Cheshunt, showed some beautiful cut blooms of the new 
Tea Rose Sunset to show its free growing and equally 
free winter flowjring habit. The buds were of a pretty 
shade of bronzy yellow, and deliciously fragrant. Mr. 
John Walkei, Thame, brought up a pretty box of 
Chrysanthenum blooms, very fresh and bright for the 
season. 
At the neeting of The Fruit Committee, Mr. Barron 
made a v<ry interesting display of stewing Pears, fifty- 
one varieties in all, saved from the Pear Congress at 
Chiswici. A considerable proportion of them were 
small and shrivelled ; but of the following varieties the 
collection contained fine and perfectly sound specimens : 
Uvedale’s St. Germain, Directeur Alphand, Bellisime 
d’Hiver, Catillac, Leon le Clerc l’Hiver, Excellente de 
Coloma, Duchesse d’Hiver, Chaumontelle, Black Pear 
of Worcester, Besi de Mai, Yerulam, and Bicolore 
d’Hiver. Mr. Allan, Gunton Hall, Norfolk, sent 
specimens of a medium-sized yellow Apple, stated to 
be a good and regular cropper, and which it was pro¬ 
posed to call Lady Suffield ; but as a culinary variety 
it was generally considered to be too small and too 
dry. Mr. Mitchell, gardener to Sir George Elliott, 
Aberdare, sent a nice smooth Cayenne Pine; and 
Mr. Walker, of Thame, had numerous examples of an 
excellent strain of the white Spanish Onion. 
National Chrysanthemum. —January ISth. 
—It was a happy idea on the part of the committee of 
this society to inaugurate an exhibition of late Chry¬ 
santhemums, and judging by the highly satisfactory 
results of the first attempt, there is every reason to 
believe that it will become an established event of 
much importance. Both exhibitors and exhibits 
were far more numerous than the most sanguine 
had expected, and the unanimous verdict of the visitors 
was that a very pretty display had been provided. 
There was a large preponderance of Japanese varie¬ 
ties, and it is evident that other classes could be well 
devoted to them, and with substantial prizes an 
imposing show might easily be obtained. The society 
and their energetic honorary secretary, Mr. Wm. 
Holmes, deserve the congratulations of all who are 
interested in the Chrysanthemum, and who desire to 
see its season extended into the early spring months. 
The show just held has given an indication of the 
capacity of advancement which will result in a most 
valuable increase of floral treasures at a time when they 
will be most appreciated, namely, for several months 
after Christmas, the gathering had therefore a practical 
importance which has not been surpassed by any 
previous show this season. 
The first of the six classes in which prizes were 
offered was for twelve incurved varieties, and the second 
was for six varieties of the same type, but only 2nd 
prizes were awarded in each case, a sufficient proof that 
the blooms were not so satisfactory as the Japanese in 
the other classes. They were mostly small and 
diminutive ; incurved blooms have a much less pleasing 
appearance than Japanese varieties of similar size. 
Mr. Bettisworth, gardener to R. Ewing, Esq., Burton 
Grange, Cheshunt, and Mr. J. Walker, Thame, Oxon, 
