732 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 16, 1887. 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar.—Ventilation 
in Hot Weather. —I find in some collections that 
much mischief is caused to the plants by opening the 
ventilators top and bottom too wide, and thus causing 
excessive aeration, and a too frequent alternation 
between a moist and a dry state of the atmosphere in 
the houses, caused by the rapid evaporation of the 
moisture frequently distributed on the floors and stages 
in the attempt to keep down the temperature. A 
moment’s thought will soon convince one that at times 
when the air outside the houses is hot and dry, and 
especially during the periods when thereare light breezes, 
the temperature of the houses, and the necessary moist 
state of the atmosphere in them, is better arranged 
when the ventilators top and bottom are only opened 
sufficiently to allow the air in the houses being 
renewed without a current being set up. For this pur¬ 
pose, in hot weather, it is best to evenly balance top 
and bottom ventilation by opening each ventilator 1? 
in. or 2 ins. only at the same time, carefully shading 
and damping down the houses ; and if the shading can 
be arranged so that it runs on supports, which keep it 
off the glass, a further benefit will be experienced. 
Carefully managed, our Orchid houses should feel in 
summer much cooler and more comfortable than it is 
outside, and those who arrange their houses so that this 
is attained fail not to get good results .—James O'Brien. 
Orchids from Southampton. —A box of 
Orchids from H. J. Buchan, Esq., Southampton, both 
from their size, richness of colour, and general excel¬ 
lence, bespeak a high state of cultivation on the one 
hand and careful selection on the other. These are no 
botanical curiosities ; but all are popular garden species 
or varieties, and with one exception they are Odonto- 
glossums. Oncidium macranthum is a grand plant, 
and the blooms sent measured over 3 ins. across 
the petals, while individually they were more than 
1 in. across, and of a fine yellow colour. The labellum, 
not only in this species but in all the others belonging 
to the section Microchila, is the least conspicuous, 
although very curious organ of the flower. The forms 
of Odontoglossum crispum exhibited great substance of 
petal, even after being cut for several days, and were 
notable both for their size and the fineness of their 
blotches, characterising them as of superior merit for 
general decorative purposes, and creditable to the 
grower. The same might be said of the numerous 
excellent forms of 0. luteo-purpureum, forms that 
circulate in gardens under the names of 0. radiatum, 
0. hystrix, and others. Their size and the depth of 
their markings deserve all praise. The charming 
0. tripudians is comparable to the latter, but is smaller 
and furnished with a large violet blotch on the lip. 
There is no denying the beauty of 0. hastilabium, but 
we can scarcely be reconciled to the peculiar odour 
emitted by it at certain stages of its flowering. The 
blooms of 0. cordatum, but more especially those of 
0. Uro-Skinneri are noticeable for their size and the 
depth of their spotting, and a third might be added, 
namely, 0. cirrosum, making a trio of charming 
flowers, whose beauty and usefulness cannot be over¬ 
looked. 
Oncidium macranthum. —What a grand old 
thing is this ! At present a great number of plants in 
flower may be seen in Mr. William Bull’s Orchid show- 
house at Chelsea. Notwithstanding the heat and the 
drought, the Orchids in general have lasted in ex¬ 
cellent condition, but none of them better than that 
under notice. The massive flowers, which are of a 
wax-like consistency, look as if they would endure for 
weeks to come. The petals are golden yellow, heavily 
suffused with purplish brown, and the sepals, which 
are of a clear golden yellow, with a few spots at the 
base, contrast finely with the former. The hastate 
fleshy lip has rich purple lateral lobes, and the upper 
part yellow or suffused with brown. Good pseudo¬ 
bulbs flower grandly every year. 
Epidendrum macrochilum roseum. —This 
is to be seen in fine form in Mr. William Bull’s show- 
house at Chelsea. The large, obovate, wedge-shaped 
lip is wholly of a deep rose colour, whereas in the 
ordinary form there is only a blotch of the same colour 
on the lip. There is also a handsome white-lipped 
form. The sepals and petals are deep rich purple, 
incurved at the tips, and of great firmness of texture. 
The 'flowers are borne on arching stems arising from 
plump egg-shaped pseudo-bulbs, and at certain stages 
are deliciously scented. The species is generally grown 
on a block, with a little sphagnum moss at the roots, 
and is so treated at Chelsea. It is also known as 
E. atropurpureum roseum. 
Cypripedium Pearcei. —Under this name is 
grown in gardens an elegant and graceful little species, 
more correctly and botanically named Selenipedium 
caricinum from the sedge-like appearance of its narrow, 
arching, deep green leaves. It is one of the parents of 
C. Dominianum, and there is considerable resemblance 
between the flowers of the two, but they differ in size. 
The sepals and petals are pale green, with a conspicuous 
white margin, and the latter are very slender and much 
twisted. The pale yellow labellum is pouch-shaped, 
lined with green veins, and furnished with two lines of 
brown spots on the claw-like base. The flower-scape 
stands erect, bearing four to seven flowers, which thus 
hang clear above the grassy foliage. It has been 
flowering for some time at Gunnersbury Park, Acton. 
Odontoglossum Harryanum.- We under¬ 
stand that Messrs. F. Sander & Co. have this fine new 
Odontoglot in flower at the present time in their 
nursery at St. Albans. It is described as having a 
large and very conspicuous blue and white labellum ; 
while the sepals and petals are brown, blue and yellow, 
very prettily blended. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Cyclamens. —It is now time to look over the last 
season’s stock of Cyclamen, as they should now be 
making signs of new growth ; if this is so, let them 
be at once re-potted or they will be seriously injured, 
in fact, they scarcely ever recover if neglected early in 
the season. Carefully shake all the old soil from the 
roots, and, before re-potting, dip the roots into a can or 
bucket of clean soft water ; this dipping will greatly 
assist in the roots re-starting. All old half-decayed 
roots must, of course, be removed ; much depends on 
the condition of the roots as to the size of pot required, 
but, generally speaking, a 6-in. is large enough for any 
of the bulbs. Over-potting of these plants is at all times 
to be deprecated ; in the case of old tubers, too, they 
should, like Gloxinias, never be subject to a shift, but 
should at once be placed in their blooming pots, and if 
well filled with healthy roots they can be fed with 
liquid manure. The seedlings now require potting on; 
they will be given, according to their root condition, 
small and full-sized 48’s. In this size pot we find them 
succeed best for the first season, and they are extremely 
useful for the facing up of staging and also for room 
decoration, for which they are admirably adapted. 
Begonias. —We have given a shift to the small 
plants of Laing’s Begonias. The early lot are now 
flowering, and amongst them are some really good 
things worth propagating. They will, for the 
greater part, be kept growing on in the intermediate 
house, but some few of them will be spared to decorate 
the greenhouse, as preparation must now be made for a 
general exodus from “ town.” Celosias we have placed 
in a single line along the back of a heated pit in which 
Cucumbers are growing, so that they may be kept 
turned round and fully develop. As the plumes come 
up they will be much benefited by a dose of liquid 
cow-manure ; when once the plumes are full they must 
not be syringed, as damp causes them to discolour. 
Balsams, too, will be found most useful for staging 
purposes ; as required, they may be allowed to flower, 
reserving some as succession, but at all stages treat 
liberally. If at all subject to neglect, they become 
quickly infested with red-spider, and in such a season 
as the present it is difficult enough to keep clear of 
this pest ; in fact, the rule generally applicable just 
now will be ventilate freely, shade judiciously, and 
water, syringe, and damp down abundantly. 
Chrysanthemums. —Be careful that the Chrysan¬ 
themums are subject to a damping overhead both 
morning and evening, as there is such an absence of 
dew ; and with the fierce heat prevailing, they suffer 
very much, and are apt to lose much of their foliage, 
which greatly disfigures them. The summer-flowering 
varieties we have removed to the stage in the green¬ 
house ; the flowers are not at all satisfactory if left to 
open out of doors. Keep Fuchsias neatly staked and 
looped, so as to form perfect specimens. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
The Succession Peach-houses in which the fruit 
is swelling off need constant attention in the way of 
keeping all lateral growths closely stopped, and tying 
the foliage back to thoroughly expose the fruit, so 
that the deepest colouring may be attained. The 
borders must, if properly drained, be well supplied 
with water, and manure of some kind given at each 
watering. As the fruit approaches ripeness, manure 
must not be given ; in fact, to ensure good flavoured 
fruit, a much cooler atmosphere must be given, the 
house very freely ventilated, and the syringing of the 
trees discontinued, particularly in the case of Nectarines, 
which are liable to crack. Through the late cold 
spring our house is nearly a fortnight behind, and to 
hasten on the fruit we have started the fire, so as to 
give extra warmth to the house at closing time, and 
also the first thing in the morning. About 9 p.m. air 
is put on, and allowed to remain all night. 
Figs. —Where the second crop of Figs is swelling 
the border must receive copious supplies of liquid 
manure. The syringe should also be freely employed, 
lest red-spider establish itself, and the house be now 
closed early in the afternoon, while the temperature 
may be allowed to run as high as 95° with sun-heat 
alone. Let the Strawberry layers be well attended to 
with regard to watering. The earliest ones should 
now be ready to sever ; in which case let them be 
removed to the cold pit, kept close for a day or two, 
and frequently sprinkled overhead, so that they may 
not receive any check, which it is at all times desirable 
to avoid. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Watering. —It is difficult indeed to determine what 
is to be done in this department. One thing is abso¬ 
lutely necessary: the continuing the watering of all 
crops, taking care to give a thorough soaking. We 
have waited in vain for rain to put in another sowing of 
French Beans, so have drawn the drills, giving a good 
soaking of water before sowing, and covering the seed 
with waste soil from the potting bench. Our late 
sowing of Peas we treated in the same manner. Wherever 
crops are watered it is better to scuffle the ground next 
day to prevent the surface baking. 
Lettuce and Endive. —We have pricked out a good 
bed of Lettuce, afterwards thickly shading with Laurel 
boughs. At the same time frequent waterings must be 
given, or they will bolt; good salading will indeed be 
difficult to obtain unless the weather changes. The 
principal sowing of Endive should now be made ; the 
kinds we find the most serviceable are Improved 
Batavian and Picpus. We shall also make another 
sowing of Lettuce, using for one kind the Brown Cos, 
which is invaluable in the autumn. 
The Planting of Green Crops must not be 
longer delayed, so follow the directions lately given. 
Now will be found a good time to make a sowing of 
Spinach for winter and early spring pickings, but 
another sowing must be made later on, as if the weather 
be very severe, in all probability this early sowing will 
be killed, as it is too sappy to stand any great amount 
of frost.— Walter Child, Croome Court. 
-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural. —July 12th.— The meet¬ 
ing on this occasion presented a gay appearance from 
the several exhibits of hardy plants, chiefly herbaceous, 
and from a magnificent collection of tuberous-rooted 
Begonias from Forest Hill. Mr. T. S. Ware, Messrs. 
Carter & Co., and Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons were the 
principal exhibitors of hardy plants. Fruits and 
vegetables also contributed to the interest of the meet¬ 
ing, especially as far as the exhibits of Peas, Straw¬ 
berries, and Melons are concerned. Special prizes for 
the Peas were offered by Messrs. Carter & Co., Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, and Messrs. Webb & Sons. 
Messrs. J. Laiug & Co., Forest Hill, were awarded a 
Silver Gilt Banksian Medal for a large and handsome 
collection of tuberous-rooted Begonias, mostly new 
varieties. The greater proportion of them were double, 
and a considerable number received First Class Cer¬ 
tificates, and are described in another column. Of 
previously certificated single varieties Duke of 
Edinburgh, deep velvety maroon, and Princess of 
Wales, deep rosy pink, were very conspicuous. 
Charmer, deep rose with white centre, and Guardsman, 
