February 13, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
381 
altogether, should have as much of the old material 
as possible carefully removed and replaced with new. 
For the large-growing kinds pots are the more con¬ 
venient, and these should he crocked nearly one- 
third of the way up, and the plants, with the 
roots carefully separated, placed thereon, and filled- 
in with living sphagnum moss, some of the larger 
having a few good open pieces of crock worked-in with 
the moss in order to keep it open. 
Some speak very highly of charcoal for this purpose, 
and where that material can he obtained of good quality 
I have found it useful ; but I fancy that in the prepara¬ 
tion it is liable sometimes to become of such a nature 
as to be objectionable to the roots of the plants. Where 
charcoal is used, if very dry, it should be immersed in 
water previously, and afterwards allowed to drain 
before using. There is no doubt that where properly 
burnt Oak-wood charcoal, which has been kept sweet 
by storing it in the open air, can be ensured, it may 
safely be used. Where any of the plants have long 
bare stems, as much of the lower part of it as is decayed 
should be removed, the remaining base of the stem 
being inserted in the pot before crocking, thus allowing 
the naked stem to' be hidden but not sacrificed, and 
the plant to assume a more presentable appearance. 
The smaller and more frail plants—and in particular 
the Phalfenopsis—do best in baskets for several reasons, 
and those which require shifting, and those which 
require new material, should now get it, those yet 
flowering being allowed to remain until the flowers are 
over. It is the practice of some to top-dress by putting 
a thin layer of nerv over the old stuff ; but so applied it 
frequently does not incorporate with the old, and there¬ 
fore it is better to work out a fair quantity of the old stuff 
before applying new. After re-potting, those which re¬ 
quire support should be staked, and any of the leaves 
which exhibit a tendency to grow out of their proper 
course should be lightly tied to guide them into form. 
For this class of Orchids I recommend baskets, rafts, or 
cylinders, wherever convenient, and for a time after 
shifting care must be taken not to over-water. The 
sphagnum moss, when used, should neither be dry nor 
wet enough to squeeze water out of, but moist.— James 
O'Brien. 
Orchids on Dead Trees.—I have to thank 
“M. W.” for his information, but I am sorry to say 
that I am not the wiser for it. In that woodland dell, 
where every tree was covered with beautiful Orchids, 
one of these trees happened to die. Of course, the 
Orchids remained alive ; but did they germinate on a 
dead tree ? A dead tree on the ground must absorb 
moisture, especially in a locality where it is not un¬ 
usual for 7 ins. of rain fall in twenty-four hours. Of 
course, such Orchids are living under the same con¬ 
ditions as those we are growing at home. To this day 
I thought that the only Orchid that grew and thrived 
on dead and rotten trees was Angrsecum sesquipedale. 
—A. F. L. 
Odontoglossum crispum. —If “B. I). K.” 
will refer to my letter on this in which he secs the 
denial he mentions he will find his query on page 349 
answered therein as fully as I can do so at present. 
When my old roseum varieties open this season I will 
write more on them. — Dc B. Craivshay. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural. —February 9th. —Not¬ 
withstanding the severe frost and heavy fog 
experienced on Tuesday, there was a bright little 
show of flowers in the conservatory, and several 
extensive collections of Apples for the inspection of 
the members of the committee, of whom a smaller 
number than usual was present. The new plants 
certificated were a large rich red single Chinese 
Primula named Improvement, from Messrs. H. Cannell 
and Sons; Elwes’ Giant Snowdrop, Galanthus El- 
wesii, a large and noble species, shown by Mr. T. S. 
Ware, and Messrs. Barr and Son; Iris reticulata 
cyanea, a dwarf form, growing only 3 ins. or 4 ins. 
high, of one of the prettiest spring flowers in cultiva¬ 
tion, and distinguished besides by its paler colour ; 
and Primula floribunda, a dwarf-growing species with 
small yellow blossoms, doubtfully hardy, but pro¬ 
mising to become a useful decorative plant, as it comes 
true from seed, and flowers freely the season after 
sowing ; both of these good things also came from 
Mr. Ware. Cattleya Triame Ernestii, a fine form with 
a richly coloured lip, and rosy purple blotches on the 
ends of the petals, from R. J. Measures, Esq., Camber¬ 
well. Cattleya Triame Schroderiana, one of the grand¬ 
est varieties we have ever seen, being much larger than 
usual in all its parts, of a lovely tint of colour in the 
sepals and petals, and a noble lip with a large rich 
orange blotch in the throat ; this was shown by Mr. 
Ballantine, gardener to Baron Schroder. 
ilr. T. S. Ware contributed a charming group of 
hardy plants, mainly composed of Cyclamens, Irises, 
and Snowdrops, and was awarded a bronze Banksian 
medal. A similar award was also made to Messrs. 
Collins Brothers & Gabriel, for a very attractive assort¬ 
ment of early Daffodils, which are commented on in 
another column. Messrs. Barr & Son were also to the 
front with hardy flowers, principally Hellebores and 
Snowdrops, conspicuous among the former being a 
variety of H. orientalis, named Mrs. Tyerman, a rose- 
ground flower, very prettily spotted. From G. Nevile 
Wyatt, Esq., Lake House, Cheltenham (Mr. Simcoe 
gardener), came a very pretty variety of Cattleya Per- 
civalliana ; and Messrs. Heath & Son at the same time 
received a silver Banksian medal for a capital group of 
varieties of Odontoglossum Roezlii. The same firm had 
also a species of Ficus, with a free, branching, pendulous 
habit. Mr. J. James sent from Farnham Royal two 
good Chinese Primulas in Mary James and Purity, the 
latter white, the former a rich rose-pink, and both 
Fern-leaved ; and a couple of beautiful rich-coloured 
and finely-flowered Cinerarias. Messrs. H. Cannell & 
Sons sent two nice trays of blooms of single and double 
Primulas ; and a rich rosy purple flower with dark 
coloured leaf-stalks, named Mrs. Palmer came from Mr. 
Woolford, gardener to H. Palmer, Esq., East Thorpe, 
Reading. An exceeding pretty collection of single 
and double Camellias, cut blooms, was staged by C. 
Scrase Dickens, Esq., Coolhurst, Horsham, who has a 
fine collection, especially rich in seedling single varie¬ 
ties, many of which were shown and greatly admired. 
For making wreaths these seem to be far more suitable 
than the heavy double flowers, and we should like to 
see their cultivation become general. Mr. Ross, gar¬ 
dener to Sir George Macleay, Pendel Court, contributed 
an exceedingly well-grown specimen of Bromelia mac- 
rodora, and Mr. Turner, Slough, showed an admirable 
group of white Cyclamens of the giganteum type. The 
St. George’s Nursery Company, Han well, also exhibited 
a fine collection of Cyclamen persicum, and received a 
silver Banksian Medal. Mr. James Douglas had a 
cultural commendation for a very fine five branched 
spike of Odontoglossum cirrosum. The chairman, 
Mr. G. F. Wilson, also received a similar award for a 
spike of twelve flowers of the pretty and not often 
seen Phaius tuberculosus, the plant which bore it 
having also another spike of eleven flowers. Mr. H. 
M. Pollett showed Odontoglossum Schillerianum and 
Cattleya bicolor Measuresiana, both of which are com¬ 
mented upon in another column. Dr. Duke, the Glen, 
Lewisham, exhibited in flower for the first time in this 
country the new Cattleya Lawrenceana. The flowers 
which were not equal to the dried specimens, resembled 
a small C. Triame with lilac petals and trumpet-shaped, 
maroon-coloured lip. 
For the Fruit Committees judgment, Messrs. G. 
Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, staged 102 dishes, Messrs. 
Clieal & Sons, Crawley, seventy-three dishes, and 
Messrs. Rivers & Son, 147 dishes of Apples, all in a 
fine state of preservation. Silver Banksian Medals 
were awarded to each. Mr. J. Wells, Fern Hill, 
Windsor Forest, sent two bunches of Cooper’s Black 
Grape from canes, grafted on Trentham Black, to 
show its good keeping qualities ; and Mr. R. Draper, 
Sealiam Hall, sent examples of a seedling Kale. 
Manchester Horticultural Improvement. 
—February ith .—At the usual fortnightly meeting of 
this association, held on the above date, the President, 
Mr. Bruce Findlay, in the chair, Mr. W. Swan, the 
ex-secretary of the society, read a paper on Orchids and 
Orchid culture. He said that he had given this class 
of plants considerable attention. He described to the 
meeting the mode of growth, structure, form of the 
flowers, and organs of fertilisation of Orchids, and then 
rvent on to speak of the process of hybridisation, giving 
some of the results obtained by a persistent course of 
such interesting labour. In looking over some state¬ 
ments and memoranda which he hail made at various 
times, he found that there were no less than 100 named 
hybrids in various collections at the present time. 
The greater number of these have come from the 
famous Chelsea establishment of Messrs. Veitch & Sons, 
but, at the same time, many good things have sprung 
from other sources, the raisers of which, in his judg¬ 
ment, deserve much credit for attempting such labour, 
which, in so many instances, have been rewarded with 
marked success. He mentioned three distinct batches 
of Dendrobiums which have appeared in this neigh¬ 
bourhood. The first, Ainsworthii, is now known to 
most people as a most beautiful and desirable as well 
as a valuable Orchid. Of the second batch, Leeehia- 
num, perhaps he ought to say little, but when it has 
been sufficiently increased, so that it may be sent out 
by those who have it now, it will prove itself to be far 
in advance of anything that has yet appeared, and will 
be eagerly sought after. He had had the pleasure of 
more than once seeing another batch of Dendrobium 
seedlings which have been raised in this district. He 
had no permission to speak of them further than this, 
but his heartiest congratulations were now given to 
the fortunate raiser, and he trusted that that gentleman 
may have the pleasure of watching and growing them 
for some time to come, so that by and bye he may have 
the intense delight of gazing upon a new and beautiful 
addition to this already rich and beautiful class of 
plants. 
But whether one is fortunate in raising and growing 
seedlings, whether one has a collection of plants that 
are established, grow in their regular season, and 
expand their glorious blooms, or should one have to 
deal with newly imported plants, the course of treat¬ 
ment pursued is in a certain sense pretty much the 
same all round. Not that little seedlings must have 
the same treatment that should be given to newly- 
imported Cattlcyas, or that a collection of Phalfenopsis 
should be treated as one managed a batch of Den¬ 
drobiums. But still there is a sense in which cultivators 
must pursue a treatment somewhat similar to each 
other. People often spoke of the months of December, 
January, and February as the resting season, as though 
a cessation of growth and activity came over the 
whole or greater part of the collection. This he 
considered to be a mistake ; true, a few plants appear 
to be at rest, seem to be dormant, but be assured that 
activity and development are ever present, and progress 
in bud and advance in bloom are surely taking place, 
although the changes being less rapid and marked do 
not strike us so forcibly as the more quickly-formed 
leaves and bulbs of the summer months. It is possible 
to have blooms of Dendrobiums always present in our 
houses, and where cut flowers are much in demand 
there is no class of plants that will give such variety 
and beauty as a select and well-grown group of Den- 
drobes. Of course, to bring about this happy result 
much care and attention are necessary. His object in 
reading the paper would be attained if a habit is 
formed of treating the plants more as separate in¬ 
dividuals. An interest should be taken in each 
separate plant, rather than that they should be treated 
as a whole, and taking it for granted that the method 
adopted for one will of necessity suit another. 
Mr. Swan gave some practical hints as to the culti¬ 
vation of Orchids. He was sure of this, that many 
grand specimens, and useful and hardy plants, had 
been grown on the old-fashioned method, namely, 
simply cutting out old and useless bulbs. He was 
quite willing to admit that good plants had, in some 
instances, been grown where severe pruning has been 
practised. He advised cultivators to be cautious of the 
use of the pruning knife, He did not advise an indis¬ 
criminate use of it, but on the other hand he did not 
set himself entirely against it. He also recommended 
a discriminate use of the syringe. He impressed upon 
the meeting the absolute necessity of considerable care 
and discernment in the composts procured for the 
plants. The moss should be living, free from litter, 
and such as will be most likely to grow when used 
amongst the plants. The best peat should be obtained, 
such as is full of Fern rhizomes and roots. The pots 
should be always clean when potting, and if they are 
quite new they should be dipped or watered once or 
twice before using them. The crocks also must be 
quite clean and free from any green that may have 
adhered to them. But with every possible care and 
treatment some plants do not make the desired pro¬ 
gress, nor are such favourable results obtained as the 
treatment given would lead one to hope would be the 
case. This probably arises from the fact that the con¬ 
ditions under which they grow in their native habitat 
are so imperfectly known to us that we often attempt 
to ensure success by adopting methods which are en¬ 
tirely opposite to the requirement of the plants. When 
this is the case, change the position of the plant in the 
house. 
Some discussion has taken place quite recently in the 
gardening papers as the desirability of forming an 
Orchid society. Such an association might do much 
to bring growers and those who have a special fondness 
for Orchids occasionally into the company of each 
other. It might perhaps put a definate value on 
various plants when placed on an exhibition stage ; he 
meant value from an exhibiting point of view. He, 
however, was not anxious to express very decided views 
upon the matter further than this : that if such a 
society be lormed it should have a very broad basis. 
A fair number of growers from this district should be 
found among its members and also on the committee. 
He should hope also that as much as possible would be 
done to prevent such a society being ruled altogether 
by those residing in the Metropolitan counties, and 
that the opinion of country members should be accepted 
as readily as those in the south. 
The chairman, Messrs. Griffiths Hughes, Lunt, 
Butterworth, Atkinson, aud Upjohn took part in the 
brief discussion which followed the reading of the 
paper. 
The National Chrysanthemum.— Sth Feb¬ 
ruary, 1886.—A meeting of the general committee 
of this society was held at the Old Four Swans, 
Bishopsgate Street, on Monday evening, the president, 
Mr. E. Sanderson occupied the chair. There were up¬ 
wards of thirty members of this committee present out 
of a total of thirty-six, and as many of them have to 
travel a long distance, it speaks well for the interest 
taken in the work, and it is highly gratifying to the 
officers to have such an enthusiastic body of workers 
upon their general committee. Mr. Holmes the honorary 
secretary, reported at some length upon the result of 
the negotiations with the Royal Aquarium Company, 
with reference to holding three shows of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums during the ensuing season, and it was resolved 
to accept the terms offered by the Aquarium Company, 
which are that the society shall hold a show of early 
Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, &e., in September, to which 
the company have promised to contribute £75 towards 
