October 22, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
125 
according’to’the’state'of the'weather outside. In very 
cold and wintry weather, the top ventilators should he 
quite closed, for a certain amount of air is provided 
by the laps in the glass and other small openings, 
and these, with the aid of carefully regulated bottom- 
ventilation, sufficiently provides for a pure air in the 
house ; indeed, in winter months the bottom ventila¬ 
tors are the chief ones to rely on, as they effect the 
desired object without causing cold currents of air or 
excessive dryness—demanding frequent waterings to 
counteract its influence. Excessive heat and careless 
ventilation should be carefully guarded against and 
checked by the thermometer and the judgment of the 
grower, who will always find his plants do well in 
houses in which he feels comfortable himself. Heat, 
after it gets beyond the proper limit, in place of 
nourishing the plants, demands to be fed itself; and 
while consuming the moisture in the house also extracts 
a certain proportion from the plants, the result being 
shrivelled bulbs and leaves, and poor or no flowers. 
In arranging the plants thought should be given as 
to the proper-place for each, as in most houses one part 
is slightly warmer and less airy than another. Eor 
example, in the Cattleyahouse C. Dowiana, C. D. aurea, 
C. Eldorado and its varieties, C. superba, C. splendens, 
and C. gigas and its varieties should be in the warmest 
part, and the varieties of C. Brian* in the coolest. A 
want of attention to this matter often causes plants to 
be in bad condition, while a proper arrangement of 
them in more suitable positions in the same house 
would have kept all in health. As a rule, the dwarfer 
and weaker growing the plants are the nearer they 
should be brought to the glass of the roof, always 
taking care to allow 1 ft. or so as a protection against 
the influence of excessive cold outside .—James O'Brien. 
Lselia Turneri Nyleptha. —Under this name, 
a very handsome and distinct L*lia is flowering in the 
collection of R. H. Measures, Esq., The Woodlands, 
Streatham. It is of the true Turneri form—L. elegans 
Turneri of some gardens—but differs mainly in having 
white sepals and petals very slightly suffused with pale 
rose at the tips, a few crimson dots being also irregu¬ 
larly distributed on them. With this, as with most of 
the genus, the labellum forms the principal attraction. 
L. T. Nyleptha has a pure white tube, the erect tips of 
the lateral lobes being crimson, a veining of the same 
colour also extending up the inside of the tube. The 
middle lobe, which is like an enlarged form of Cattleya 
amethystoglossa—doubtless, one of its ancestors—is 
broad, flat, beautifully rounded, and bright rosy carmine. 
The spike has ten flowers, displaying a plant of great 
beauty and still greater promise. A fine piece of the 
white L. Perrinii nivea, Odontoglossum Bictonense 
album, Angraecum Chailluianum, and many Cypri- 
pediums, Masdevallias, &c., are flowering here under 
the skilful care of Mr. E. C. Fraser. — J. B. 
Angraecum Scottianum. — With regard to 
other species, the flowers of this are only of medium 
size, but exceedingly choice, on account of their pure 
white colour and delicate refined appearance. They 
are also interesting because of the spur, which is 3 ins. 
or 4 ins. long, and, as we should consider, out of all 
proportion to the size of the flower. In most of the 
species the leaves are of the ordinary flat type, but in 
this case they are terete, as in Vanda teres or many 
kinds of Brassavola, to a variety of which it bears 
considerable external resemblance. The great duration 
and continued succession of its flowers for weeks 
together is another feature of this by no means common 
Orchid that should be taken into account. The 
labeEum, which is upside down in this case, is the 
largest, and, together with its spur, the most con¬ 
spicuous feature of the flower. Coming as it does from 
the Comoro Islands it requires the temperature of the 
East Indian house, and should be fastened on a block 
of wood with a little sphagnum and hung up near the 
light. 
Oncidium Lanceanum Louvrexianum.— 
In this variety we have one of the most handsome 
forms of an Orchid which in its ordinary state is 
considered by some growers as the best of the genus. 
The sepals and petals are richly spotted with purplish 
brown on a yellow ground, whereas in the type all 
these colours are greatly obscured by green colouring 
matter. The basal part of the labellum is violet- 
purple, fading upwards into rose, which finally gives 
place to a white tip. This variety is generally con¬ 
sidered difficult to cultivate—a fact to be accounted 
for probably by the habit being so different to that of 
most species. It possesses no pseudo-bulbs, while its 
reserve energy is stored up in the rigid coriaceous 
leaves, similar to that which occurs in 0. luridum, 
0. Cavendishianum and 0. Carthaginense, although in 
general appearance it is widely distinct from either. 
The difficulty formerly experienced in growing this 
species seems to be disappearing, as we have recently 
seen some very good examples of cultivation ; and the 
variety under notice we saw lately in the fine collection 
at Oswald House, Oswald Eoad, Edinburgh, under the 
care of Mr. Grossart. 
Curious Growth of Calanthe Veitchii.— 
At Gunnersbury Park, Acton, the flower-spikes of the 
different kinds of Calanthe grown have been developing 
rapidly for some time, and C. vestita has even com¬ 
menced flowering. The specimens of C. Veitchii are 
particularly strong, the pseudo-bulbs being about 1 ft. 
or more in length ; but the special point is that the 
bracts at the base of the flower-stems have become so 
large and green, that they strongly resemble leaves 
of the ordinary kind, although not quite so large. 
Another peculiarity is that in one very strong specimen 
healthy vigorous roots are being produced from the 
base of the flower-spike as from a pseudo-bulb. What 
they may develop into ultimately remains to be seen ; 
but at present the flower-stems are progressing very 
favourably, as if they meant flowering in the usual 
way, in spite of the large and leafy development of the 
basal bracts. Several specimens are behaving in this 
manner, while the leaves on the old pseudo-bulbs still 
persist, but are likely to drop some weeks hence. 
Odontoglossum grande. — With autumn 
comes a renewal of activity amongst the Orchids, and 
growers of this class of plants have now to look forward 
to a busy and anxious time, lest unpropitious or foggy 
weather should frustrate their labour, and the harvest 
of flowers for which they have been labouring in¬ 
cessantly since last flowering season. The species 
under notice is now flowering finely at Sudbury House, 
Hammersmith, where there is a batch of healthy 
vigorous specimens. This is one of the grandest of 
Orchids, and the wonder is, it is not more common in 
collections, not merely as an isolated specimen, but in 
considerable quantity. Its comparative infrequency, 
and especially the few specimens to be met with in 
most collections, is all the more noticeable when we 
take into consideration the size of the flowers, their 
conspicuous appearance, and the ease with which the 
species may be cultivated. Its companion plants are 
0. Insleayi, and 0. Schlieperianum, and the three form 
a very natural botanical group, flowering at different 
seasons of course, therefore, all desirable species. That 
under notice excels the others in magnitude, and the 
specimens at Sudbury House measure fully 5 ins. across 
the petals. The sepals are transversely barred with 
rich shining chestnut-brown on a clear yellow ground ; 
while the chestnut-brown is confined to the basal half 
of the petals. On the other hand the sub-orbicular 
labellum is creamy white, with pale brown transverse 
blotches at the base, and a few scattered irregular-sized 
ones at the margin. 
Vanda Lowii. —This beautiful species is just now 
in perfection at Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, and its 
flowering at this dull season makes it all the more 
welcome. The plant referred to is only a young one, 
about 2 ft. high, and bears but one spike ; but that has 
over two dozen most lovely flowers expanded. 
-►XCc-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Half-hardy Plants. —Following the advice given, 
we have placed in safety all half-hardy subjects, and 
not a moment too soon, for the sharp frosts we have 
lately experienced would have played sad havoc with 
them. But knowing how much depends upon the 
successful wintering of so ft-wooded plants generally, 
let me once again impress upon all the great necessity 
of absolute cleanliness at this season of the year, more 
particularly by the daily looking over and removal of 
decaying foliage, and also by judicious ventilation of 
the houses and pits in which they may be placed. 
Verbenas for bedding purposes are not, as a rule, 
now propagated, being so readily raised from seed, 
unless in the event of a particular colour being desired, 
such as a white or scarlet. In case of store pots they 
will be found to keep much better if placed in an in¬ 
termediate temperature, and then at the turn of the 
days a full supply of cuttings can be obtained, and the 
old plants relegated to the rubbish heap. 
The Early-flowering Pelargoniums are now 
quite ready for potting on, and must be attended to 
forthwith, so that they may become well established. 
Generally speaking, a full-sized 6-in. pot is quite large 
enough for this section, as if over-potted, they will not 
flower satisfactorily; the house in which they are 
growing must be very freely ventilated, for if at all 
coddled they become infested with green-fly. After 
potting for a few days, if the weather be very bright, in 
preference to shading, damp the plants overhead in the 
morning (but not in the afternoon), which will greatly 
assist them. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias. —We have potted up 
a good batch of herbaceous Calceolarias, placing them 
on a shelf in a cool house quite close to the glass, 
so that they may be kept as sturdy as possible. 
Should green-fly make its appearance fumigate at once, 
repeating the application upon alternate nights, which 
will, generally speaking, be found to clear out the pest. 
The Stoves. —We have turned out the stoves and 
re-arranged all through. Many things can now well 
be spared, such as Alocasias, Marantas and similar 
foliage plants, but some care is necessary in their 
storing, or when potting time arrives, many of them 
will be found rotten. Where the width of the front 
stages admit, room can generally be found for them 
behind the general collection of plants ; and where, in 
their dormant condition, they are not an eyesore. 
Caladiums, as they ripen off, should be placed on their 
sides underneath the stages, remembering that they 
will not safely winter in a temperature below 50°. 
Tuberous Begonias, too, should be stored away as they 
ripen off, but may be kept in a lower temperature, as 
they are so easily excited, particularly if the soil in the 
pots becomes at all moist. Some of the strongest 
Gloxinias are starting, and will be shaken out and re¬ 
potted at once ; they should then be plunged in a mild 
bottom-heat (where they grow rapidly), after which 
place them on a shelf in the stove, and they will throw 
up a quantity of bloom, which will be found most 
useful for cutting for home purposes. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Vineries. —Take the precaution of going over the 
houses containing Grapes at least twice a week, to 
remove any berries that may show signs of decay ; but 
while the weather continues so fine and the houses can 
be so freely ventilated, very few should be found, 
unless, perhaps, where Hamburghs are still left. It is, 
however, very necessary that the front sashes should 
be closed in good time in the afternoon, so as to exclude 
damp ; but unless frosty weather prevail, little heat 
must be given—simply enough to clear the fires. 
Wasps having disappeared, we have removed the 
netting from the roof and fronts of all the vineries, 
doing so when it was quite dry, and storing for next 
season’s use. 
It will now be advisable to dress the early Vines— 
that is, if Grapes are required early next May—so that 
the house may be closed, letting them feel that a start 
has been made as gently as possible. If the Vines are 
of long standing, let as much as possible of the top soil 
be forked up, removed, and replaced by a mixture of 
the best loam and raw bones obtainable. A couple of 
inches or so of this new material is of the greatest 
benefit annually to old Vines. Many growers prefer to 
place a thick coating of farmyard manure over the 
borders, both inside and out ; but we do not agree with 
this method, as it has such a tendency to make the 
borders sour, and then shanking is certain to show 
itself. 
The rods must be kept syringed once a-day, about 
noon, for a fortnight, so that they may be induced to 
break freely ; but no heat given to the pipes until, 
say, the 1st of November, when the pipes should be 
warmed in the morning only, unless severe weather 
sets in. We have also dispensed with the tying down 
of the canes, finding that by allowing the upper half to 
hang loose they break quite as regularly, and much 
trouble is avoided in tying into position. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Storing Roots. —The weather continuing so favour¬ 
able we have pushed on with the lifting and storing of 
our roots, and now all are safely housed, leaving the 
ground in first-rate condition. The roots lifted are 
particularly clean, and the work has been done more 
expeditiously than if left until wet weather sets in. 
Taken all round, the crops secured are much better 
than anticipated some time since. Potatos have given 
a remarkably good yield, although as many as three 
distinct growths may be observed in some of the tubers 
of Magnum Bonum ; these will be allowed to remain 
in heaps on a hard bottom for a fortnight before being 
pitted. All other roots are stored as directed in last 
week’s calendar. 
