636 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 5, 1886. 
purpurata alba tempted us, a week ago, to go miles out 
of our way wlien on a business journey ; and we felt 
well repaid by the sight. At the entrance to the Orchid 
range this fine example of high cultural skill is stood, 
free from the encumbrance of smaller and less attractive 
plants, which are too often crammed round specimen 
plants. The large Lielia was at its best, in robust 
health, and showing thirty well developed blooms, all 
open. In the same structure are a group of, perhaps a 
score of plants, Vandas, which are among the finest 
plants of their class in the country. It was sometimes 
a source of much enjoyment in years gone by to look 
upon the fine specimen Vandas at Chatsworth, and we 
think this choice lot of Mr. Buchannan’s is not a whit 
behind them ; V. suavis, tricolor, coerulea, insignis, and 
planilabris were conspicuous as well-grown specimens. 
In the house adjoining were some fine examples of the 
useful Cattleya Mossiae (one plant in bloom was said 
to be one of the finest varieties extant) and Mendelii, 
Cypripedium Stonei, and C. caudatum roseum were 
among the most attractive plants in flower in this 
structure. A yellow Anguloa had five blooms, which 
were attractive. Aerides Fieldingii, a fine exhibition 
plant, wasin good condition, flowering freely—a species 
of much value during early summer. 
Regretting the want of time to note more closely the 
numerous well-grown plants in this range of Orchid- 
houses, one thing worthy of note was the robust health 
of many plants growing in brown glazed pots. We 
have observed the same at Drumlanrig ; and whatever 
may induce cultivators to avoid the use of glazed pots, 
cannot be from practical observation or experience. 
We have had none of the latter, but really intend to. 
The argument in favour of cleanliness and economy of 
labour is a strong one. Whether there is stronger 
evidence of the value of such pots we are not aware ; 
or whether the glazed surfaces are conducive to the 
health of plant life we do not intend to discuss ; but 
the plants referred to, and many others—especially a 
collection of Dracaenas—were as healthy as plants well 
could be. Mr. Grossart showed us other structures, 
in which were many plants worthy of note—Palms 
especially ; but the Orchids grown at this snug and 
pleasantly situated suburban residence were the fea¬ 
tures of the establishment which attracted us thither, 
and which afforded us much pleasure.— M. T. 
Orchid Peat.—I have more than once in my 
Orchid notes, lamented the seeming impossibility of 
getting this of the quality we used to get—the thick 
spongy reddish brown turf of bracken root and with 
little earth in it. I despaired of ever seeing it again, 
but I find that that energetic caterer for horticultural 
soils and sundries, Mr. H. G. Smyth, 21, Goldsmith 
Street, Drury Lane, W. C., has secured a large quantity 
of the real thing, and equal to the very best Orchid 
peat I ever saw. I mention this, as in growing 
Cattleyas, Lselias, and indeed most Orchids, the use of 
such Orchid peat gives the grower an incalculable 
advantage, and I am sure many will be glad to hear of 
a real good sample.— J. O'B. 
- ->X<~ - 
P2EONIES. 
These charming plants are most worthily receiving 
public attention now, and we may expect that they 
will soon be much more generally seen in gardens than 
at present. It is true that the old and beautiful P. 
officinalis may be found in numerous old establishments 
where they have long been prized for their annual 
displays of richly coloured massive blooms, but the 
Tree Pseonies, varieties of P. moutan, are much more 
diversified, and form grand companions for the others. 
At South Kensington and other exhibitions lately, 
some charming collections of these plants have been 
shown, and many persons have for the first time 
become acquainted with their beauty. The varied 
tints of rose, blush, pale crimson, and purple are 
delightful, the blooms are of remarkable size, and 
mostly possess a very agreeable fragrance. Add to 
these recommendations that the plants will grow in 
any ordinarily good soil with very little trouble, and 
nothing more need be said in their favour. It may be 
remarked with regard to P. officinalis, that we have 
had it in capital condition in a damp and shaded 
border, where little else would thrive satisfactorily, and 
it has been undisturbed for many years, the only 
attention needed being an annual top-dressing of old 
manure,— S. 
A POWDER DISTRIBUTOR. 
Mr. Benjamin Field, Swan Place, Old Kent Road, 
S.E., has brought under our notice a new form’ of 
powder distributor, or rather, we should say, an old 
idea adapted to modern garden uses. As will be seen 
by the accompanying illustration, it is in the form of 
a hollow globe of stout rubber, with a perfectly fitting 
funnel and nozzle of box-wood, the latter portion of 
which is easily removed to allow of the bellows or globe 
being charged with snuff, tobacco-powder or other in¬ 
secticides in a powdered form. It is a very handy 
little contrivance for use in small gardens. 
-- 
THE PROGRESS OP ORCHID 
CULTURE IN AMERICA. 
As comparatively few persons have a knowledge of 
the structure and habits of the wonderfully varied 
plants known as Orchids, it will be proper at the out¬ 
set to state as briefly as possible some of their peculiar 
characteristics. The more marked and beautiful forms 
are chiefly centred in a belt of territory embracing the 
tropics, with scattering examples in the .temperate 
zones. While the various species and vaireties are 
marked by the strongest peculiarities of growth, form 
and colour, its botanical classification is due to the 
peculiar formation of the reproductive organs, thus 
described by Lindley : First, the pistil, stamens, etc., 
are consolidated into one common mass called the 
column ; second, all the anthers except one in the mass 
of the order, or two in the Cypripediae, are suppressed ; 
third, the pollen is in a peculiar condition, taking the 
form—instead of the typical powder—of (in most cases) 
A New Powder Distributor. 
a waxy mass ; fourth, one of the petals is very generally 
developed to an excessive degree, or in an unusual form, 
as in the gay lip of the Cattleya, or the upright banner 
of the Cypripedium. Another notable fact connected 
with this family is the singular inability of the flowers 
to fertilise each other. Owing to their peculiar con¬ 
struction, they depend on the agency of insects for 
the transfer of pollen, and in some species, like the 
Coryanthes, the insect has a strange process to go 
through before he can be liberated with the pollen. 
With the exception of some species, like certain of 
the Cypripediums, Phaius, and others which grow' in the 
ground, or on rocks near the ground, a large proportion 
of the Orchids are epiphytal—that is, they grow upon 
the stems or branches of trees. The popular impression 
that Orchids are parasites is, however, incorrect, for 
they take no life from the trees on which they grow, 
but draw their sustenance from the air and surrounding 
moisture, taking some slight nourishment from the 
vegetable dtbris w'hieh generally accumulates upon the 
limbs of trees in the tropics, where decav is rapid. 
In the tropics the finest Orchids are often found in 
the tops of the highest trees, at such an elevation that 
they can only be reached by cutting down the tree ; 
while few' are seen in the low'er shades of the forest, 
which are singularly bare of bloom. Perched high in 
air, and shaded by the foliage of the tree upon which 
it grows, the Orchid makes its home, and the perilous 
experiences of collectors in their attempts to find some 
new and rare species would fill volumes. Instances 
are not uncommon of expert collectors having been 
sent thousands of miles across the ocean to some remote 
part of South America, India, or the Malayan Archi¬ 
pelago to secure some Orchid of which a specimen or 
two may have been previously brought home. Most of 
these expeditions have proved successful, while others 
have failed, and many valuable lives have been sacri¬ 
ficed in the unhealthy climates of the tropics. In 
addition to these perils, millions of plants have been 
lost in the efforts to bring them from the far-distant 
interior to the seaboard, and thence to their destina¬ 
tion. Many localities in South America have been so 
thoroughly stripped of choice Orchids that few are now 
to be found in those places, though the supply of other 
species from other localities is not exhausted. Orchids 
fortunately form vast quantities of seed in their homes, 
and these germinate freely and produce a new supply, 
if the process of collection is not carried on too severely 
year after year in the same localities. In some portions 
of South America an export tax is hereafter to be levied 
upon all shipments of Orchids, and it remains to be 
seen whether this will in any way effect their indiscri¬ 
minate destruction or their value. 
The process of raising Orchids from seed in our glass¬ 
houses is too uncertain and tedious, and requires too 
great skill and patience, to warrant the belief that any 
large supply will result from it. When the flowers 
have been successfully hybridised it is a very delicate 
process to sow the seed and raise plants, for the seed is 
as fine as dust. The time required to raise flowering 
plants from seed varies from three to four years ; in the 
case of Dendrobiums to from ten to fourteen years, or 
even longer with Lrelias and Cattleyas. The first 
attempt at the artificial hybridisation of Orchids was 
made at Exeter, Eng., by John Dominy, in 1853. He 
continued his efforts for a long time, and produced some 
very remarkable hybrids, all bearing the characteristics 
of the parents in an improved degree, and marked by 
increased vigour. Twenty-six of them were deemed 
worthy of name. The first that flowered was Calanthe 
Dominii. Mr. Dominy closed his work some years ago, 
and it was taken up by Mr. Seden, who has produced 
some wonderfully fine forms. A few seedlings have 
been raised in this country, but were never perpetuated. 
The hybrid Orchids, which have been produced by arti¬ 
ficial fecundation, and which have been named or 
put into commerce, thus far number about seventy- 
seven. One of the reasons given for failure to get good 
seed in England is the absence of strong sunlight, and 
as we have almost tropical sunlight in this country I see 
no reason why hybridisers on this side of the water 
should not succeed in making crosses which have 
hitherto not been obtained. It is doubtful whether 
Orchid-raising from seed will ever prove, in a popular 
sense, a profitable undertaking; and we must depend 
for our supplies on Nature’s work in the forests of the 
tropics. 
It is but a few years since the great family of Oichids 
were comparatively unknown among the flower-growers 
and flower-lovers of the United States, and even at the 
present time the great mass of intelligent people have 
but a vague and indefinite idea of their habits and 
wonderful variations, and their eccentricities of form 
and flower. This is not more remarkable, however, 
than the superficial knowledge of the mass of people 
concerning the more common flowers, which, indigenious 
to their own state or county, and springing up under 
their very feet, are not known by name or regarded 
with more than passing interest. It is pleasing to note 
an increased desire among intelligent and refined 
persons to know more about the names and habits of 
our native flowers, which may be accepted as one of 
the best evidences of growing civilization. It is only 
among the oldest as well as the most progressive 
nations that the highest type of horticultural taste 
may be found. 
This growth of interest has extended to the Orchid 
family, and it is noticeable that crowds of persons are 
invariablj' attracted to the brilliant displays of these 
plants in flower at the various exhibitions of this 
society, to the neglect, it must be confessed, of many 
more common plants which have the advantage of at 
least being more graceful in leaf and stem, for, with a 
few exceptions, such as the stately Angimcums, Vandas, 
Cymbidiums and a few others, the Orchids are not 
attractive when out of flower, except to the connoisseur 
or expert. To these the Orchids are objects of fascina¬ 
tion and deep interest, whether in flower or not, and 
immense sums of money are spent in forming collections 
of the rarest varieties obtainable. An example of this 
may be noted in the alleged sum of $3000 paid for a 
single plant of Vanda Sanderiana by the late Mrs. 
Mary Morgan of New York. There is some doubt 
expressed as to the truth of this, but if so, it was an 
exceptional case of what may be called extravagant 
expenditure, as Mrs. Morgan never hesitated to pay 
the price for any special Orchid which she desired to 
possess ; but though her collection contained many 
magnificent specimens, her purchases were not marked 
