October 23, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
125 
or where beds of them exist, the simplest way will be 
to cover them with tiffany, or some such material. In 
Rhododendron beds they are quite at home, but here I 
must be explicit, or my observations will not be clear 
to your readers. Associated with the name of Rhodo¬ 
dendrons is that somewhat expensive article in many 
provincial localities, peat, and in saying the forms 
of L. speciosum are perfectly at home in the Rhodo¬ 
dendron beds, I do not wish to contradict what I have 
previously stated, that these delight in rich loam, for 
peat, after all, is not absolutely essential in the cultiva¬ 
tion of the Rhododendron. I have, in my mind’s eye, 
two opposing instances of these delightful shrubs, the 
one where they are growing most luxuriously in a heavy 
and greasy cla}', and where they have bloomed 
splendidly for years ; the other case to which I refer is 
a locality where they refuse to grow in any soil out-of- 
doors, peat not excepted. But I am running from my 
subject ; though, as these thoughts cross one’s mind in 
passing, it may not be altogether lost to refer to them, 
as showing that soil is not the sole agent in the suc¬ 
cessful culture of plants generally ; other agencies, such 
as atmosphere, elevation, situation, shade or sun, dry or 
moist, must all play their part harmoniously with that 
of soil to bring about a successful issue. 
Theprincipal varietiesof this important late-flowering 
group are as follows:—Lilium speciosum roseum, 
which has white flowers stained and spotted with rose ; 
L. speciosum roseum punctatum, which is beautifully 
spotted with pink on a white ground ; L. speciosum 
roseum album Kratzeri, splendid pure white variety of 
great substance, and a free continuous bloomer of sterling 
merit ; L. speciosum rubrum, white, suffused and 
spotted with crimson ; L. speciosum rubrum album, large 
pure white flowers ; L. speciosum rubrum Melpomene, 
one of the darkest of the rubrums, and a very scarce 
Lily of American origin ; L. speciosum rubrum multi- 
florum, white, stained and spotted with rose, and 
an early bloomer ; L. speciosum rubrum purpureum, 
large reddish purple flowers, heavily studded with 
purplish crimson spots—this is a most effective Lily, 
and should be possessed by all ; L. speciosum rubrum 
atro-purpureum, also called Schrynmffikersi, which has 
flowers of the darkest purple-crimson richly spotted 
and margined with white, and most handsome form. 
These, then, are the leading forms, made up, as will be 
seen, from L. speciosum roseum and rubrum, all of 
which are distinguishable by their stems ; those of 
the roseum type having greenish stems sometimes 
tinged with purple, while those of rubrum are invariably 
of a brownish hue merging into blackish purple. 
At no time in the whole year do these transplant 
better than in the month of October ; they have now 
ceased flowering, the stems are decayed, and ere new 
roots are emitted they should be transferred to their 
new quarters. I have this day (October 18th) been 
lifting a quantity of the forms of speciosum ; con¬ 
sequently I have been enabled to give my observations 
from a practical standpoint, and I consider them in the 
best possible condition for removal. Work in plenty of 
well-rotted manure, and plant them at 6 ins. deep 
from the summit of the bulb. The genus Lilium, as a 
whole, is not subject to the attacks of a great variety 
of insects—a» rather fortunate circumstance ; in soils, 
however, where wire-worms are prevalent, they play 
great havoc among the bulbs, and many are irre¬ 
coverably lost in consequence, since they bore right 
into the very heart of t'he bulbs, and so do all the 
mischief unobserved. They can easily be trapped, 
however, by sinking a few Potatos here and there on a 
level with the bulbs, and marking their places with 
sticks ; examine them occasionally, and destroy the 
worms that will be sure to be boring into the Potato ; 
by this means their numbers may soon be reduced, and 
the owner can once more breathe with freedom and 
smoke the pipe of peace. 
Thus do I conclude a series of notes in which I have 
endeavoured feebly to bring into prominence the most 
showy and useful kinds of this magnificent genus of 
hardy bulbs—a genus remarkable for its almost endless 
species, and forms all more or less beautiful and 
interesting, and embracing a flowering period of fully 
five months; and this coupled with their highly 
decorative properties as well as their elegant forms and 
richly coloured or chaste and fragrant flowers should 
need no further recommendation from the writer, other 
than that in the majority of cases they are to be had 
remarkably cheap, and consequently should be grown 
by all. — J. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Treatment of Orchids when at Rest.— 
In the Cattleya or intermediate house many plants, 
by their fully made up pseudo-bulbs, tell that their 
season of rest has arrived, and that a less amount of 
water is required by them ; they should, therefore, only 
have sufficient given them to keep them in a plump 
state. A restricted supply of water, together with a 
free admission of air and light, is necessary to harden 
the tissues of the finished growths, of Cattleyas, Ladias, 
Oncidiums, &c., at whatever season they may finish their 
growth, and also to further the object of all good growers 
viz., to keep them healthily inactive until the proper 
growing season arrives, so that they may do their year’s 
work at the proper periods and enjoy the full amount 
of rest required. 
But some growers are apt to err too much on the 
side of what is called “drying off,” and injuriously 
starve their plants during the resting season ; they 
should remember that most of the Cattleyas, Ladias 
and other occupants of the intermediate house are, 
strictly speaking, evergreen plants, and not open to be 
classed with such things as Dendrobium Wardianum, 
&c., in the matter of “ drying off,” but require enough 
moisture to keep all their parts plump, in order to 
push with vigour the new growths when the resting 
season has passed. 
One of the most important matters in the Orchid 
houses at all times, is the regulation of the temperature, 
but more especially in winter. Year by year we get 
more fixed in our notions of the benefit of cool treat¬ 
ment, and soon, I believe, most growers will ignore the 
desirability of what is called the East India House, 
except for the purpose of growing plants in which are 
to be taken out as soon as their growths are finished. 
If so used, a downright good hot-steaming house would 
be of inestimable benefit, as all Orchids can stand a 
very high temperature when growing, and some of 
them show marvellous results, but, as soon as their 
growths are made they must be taken into a cool house. 
To so work a hot-house, is using it, but to allot to it 
its class of plants, such as Pliakenopsis, &c., leaving 
them in it all the year, is to abuse it; and a costly 
form of abuse it is, too. The sooner growers perceive 
that there are no all-the-year-round liot-house Orchids 
the better for them and their stock .—James O'Brien. 
Odontogdossum Harryanum.- This grand 
cool Orchid of Messrs. Veitch’s, the first notice of which 
appeared in our columns at p. 45, in addition to being 
the charming plant we then described it, is a curious 
Orchidic puzzle, and growers, and especially importers, 
are much perplexed about it. Eager questions, such as 
Where does it come from ? How does it happen that 
such a lovely thing has never been even reported by 
travellers ? Is it really an Odontoglossum ? and such 
like questions being freely asked. One thing, however, 
it proves, and that is that the store of showy new 
Orchids is not exhausted as some would have us 
believe. 
Angrsecum arcuatum. —A drawing of a spray 
of this pretty cool Orchid shown us by Mr. Wm. Gordon, 
of the Orchid and Lily Nurseries, Twickenham, 
represents it as a very charming white flower, with a 
curiously recurved spur. There are nine flowers on a 
spike, and it is said to be delightfully fragrant, 
especially in the evening. 
Prices of Orchids. —Those who have been 
in the habit of giving long prices for Orchids may be 
interested to know that there is no sign of any deprecia¬ 
tion in their value, if we may judge from some prices 
obtained at Stevens’ rooms on Thursday. A small 
plant of the hybrid Cypripedium Arthurianum, with 
two growths, realised 15 guineas ; a small plant, with 
three bulbs, of Coelogyne cristata alba fetched 10 
guineas ; and a plant of Cypripedium Spiceranum, with 
150 leaves and ten flower spikes, realised 9 guineas. 
Among the Orchids in flower there were also some well- 
bloomed Phalsenopsis amabilis, Odontoglossum insleaya 
leopardinum and splendens, some fine Dendrobium 
formosum giganteum, one of which had seventeen 
grand white flowers. The varieties of Ladia Perrinii 
and Cattleya Dormanii were very bright and showy, 
and the large golden Oncidium tigrinum and 0. vari- 
cosum well exhibited their usefulness at this dull 
season. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Now that all the houses are filled to their utmost 
capacity, it will be necessary that care is taken in the 
ventilating, so that the atmosphere may be as buoyant 
as possible, and where plants are required to be kept in 
flower the pipes should be nicely warmed each morning, 
particularly as the weather has of late been so wet and 
stormy. Let no more water be used in the structures 
than is absolutely necessary, especially in the green¬ 
houses, and all decaying foliage be removed as it appears. 
We have completed our storing, and more time can 
now be given to the occupants of the stoves. 
Crotons and Dracamas are particularly liable to the 
attack of thrips, which make sad havoc with them. 
Let these be gone over with a small sponge and soapy 
water, taking care that the underside of the foliage is 
cleansed. Those required for table decoration should 
be placed as near the glass as possible, to bring out 
the colour ; so also Pandanus Yeitchii, the finer kinds 
of Aralias— in fact, all plants to be well furnished at 
this season must have special attention given them. 
The Hedycliiums are giving us some splendid spikes of 
flower ; some we cut last week measuring 15 ins. long, 
and 2 ft. in circumference. After flowering, water will 
be gradually withheld to induce them to go to rest. 
All roots, such as Gloxinias, the early tuberous 
Begonias, Achimenes, &c., which were placed in the 
cold pit to ripen off, may at once be stored under the 
stages for the winter. If at all damp let them be 
stacked on their sides, or probably many will be found 
rotten when required to start next spring. 
The Begonias which may have been kept flowering 
later on must be given a little warmth to thoroughly 
ripen off. We have removed our main stock of Roman 
Plyacinths from the plunging-bed into cold frames, as 
they are well advanced. According to the required 
supply, a few pots must be introduced to the forcing- 
pit, giving them a position as near the glass as 
possible to prevent drawing, removing them to cool 
quarters before the flowers expiand, or they are quickly 
over. Our main batch of Primulas we have placed on 
shelves in the Peach-houses which are generally devoted 
to forcing Strawberries. Being near the glass, with 
abundant ventilation, they will be kept sturdy, and 
the flowers will be of better colour. An occasional 
pinch of Clay’s Fertiliser greatly strengthens them. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Let the collecting of droppings for making up 
successional Mushroom-beds be followed up, so that 
in the season there may be no break in the supply ; 
and if only ordinary care is exercised this may be 
readily avoided. As the weather has been so unfavour¬ 
able, we have warmed the pipes each day in our house 
to keep it comfortable, so that the beds made up may 
retain their heat as long as possible. The early batch 
of Sea Kale may be introduced at any time. Should 
the foliage not be dried off, it may be cut off close to 
the crowns, and will not in any way interfere. If the 
material in which the crowns are placed is moist, no 
water should be given until a start is perceived, when 
warm water should be given ; but to prevent the crowns 
becoming dry, damp them with the syringe once or 
twice a day. 
A pit must at once be prepared for the early planting 
of Potatos, where required very early, growing them 
in pots is decidedly preferable, as they are so much 
more under control and more amenable to special treat¬ 
ment. The early batch of Asparagus should also be 
put in, the beds having been mown over some days 
before. We have proved again and again, that nothing 
so much delights in a strong bottom-lieat as this plant; 
the “grass ” too, is much more tender than when cool 
treatment is adopted. For the making of the hot-bed 
we use good strong manure, with a liberal mixture of 
new leaves ; we always place 2 ins. or 3 ins. of leaf 
mould on the.surface of the' bed, on which the roots 
are placed, covering with 4 ins. or 5 ins. of the same 
material, giving also an abundance of water ; our 
supply never fails us. 
The early planted Cucumbers are making a good 
growth ; the succession batch are also coming on, so 
that we have cleared out and painted the house ready 
for them ; the pots in which they are to grow will be 
placed on piers, and the liot-bed made to them, so that 
there may be no check, a very particular matter at this 
