348 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 28,1888. 
The Powdery Cotyledon. 
Old specimens of this plant seem hardly entitled to 
the distinction of powdery, as the whitish material 
suggesting the specific name of Cotyledon pulverulenta 
gets rubbed off or falls away in course of time to such 
an extent that the plant ceases to possess any charm in 
this respect. Old specimens of this nature, however, 
are fit associates of botanic gardens, and except in very 
special cases, where the cultivator grows a collection of 
such plants as a hobb}', they may be consigned to such 
places and left there. Young subjects, on the contrary, 
develop larger leaves, closely covered with the said 
powdery material, which is of the colour of clean chalk, 
rendering the plant a really ornamental object by 
reason of the strong contrast it furnishes to hothouse 
plants generally. Although included in the group 
usually classed under the genus Echeveria, its habit is 
altogether different from that of its allies most com¬ 
monly grown in British gardens, with large fleshy 
leaves clustered in rosettes at the apex of a short stem. 
On the other hand, the leaves are widely separated, 
and the stem branches freely. A stock of plants, about 
6 ins. in height, is now very conspicuous and even 
attractive in Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons’ Nurseries, 
Swanley, Kent. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Masdevallia racemosa Crossii. 
The darkest-coloured forms of this charming Masde¬ 
vallia afford a bright piece of colouring in winter of a 
shade very similar to that presented by Sophronitis 
grandiflora. The pale forms, on the other hand, are by 
no means to be considered worthless in the same light 
as bad forms of Odontoglossum erispum and Cattleya 
Trianfe are viewed. A pale almost yellow variety has 
occurred in a batch of the typical scarlet form at 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co.’s nurseries, Clapton, and is a 
pretty and desirable form notwithstanding. Pale ones 
offer, if not the same shades as light-coloured varieties 
of Sophronitis grandiflora, at least something very 
similar. In well-grown specimens the flowers are pro¬ 
duced in racemes proportionately to the strength of the 
plants, are very attractive, and deserve a place in 
collections of choice species of this extensive and popular 
genus. 
L/ELIA albida. 
This is undoubtedly one of the finest winter-flowering 
Orchids grown. Recently enormous importations have 
reached this country, some very large masses being 
amongst them ; and the varieties seem to vary con¬ 
siderably, including many forms of sterling merit. I 
came across one of these the other day, and some of 
the spikes carried twelve flowers each. I consider this 
worthy of note, being unusual. The flowers have a faint 
Primrose scent, and being so delicately marked renders 
it a gem for button-holes and bouquets. As it comes 
from Mexico it can be grown easily in the intermediate 
house. I have seen many masses this season with from 
80 to 120 spikes, and when so seen mixed with other 
Orchids, such as L. autumnalis, L. anceps, &c., are 
most attractive. The above mentioned are growing in 
the collection of W. A. Gillet, Esq., Fair Oak Lodge, 
Bishopstoke, under the practical care of Mr. Carr.— 
Rusticus. 
Top-dressing Orchids. 
I am much surprised to find Messrs. O’Brien and Brown 
condemning the above practice in such a sweeping 
manner ; I think it is very liable to mislead inex¬ 
perienced growers, who depend much on the know¬ 
ledge they glean from your valuable paper. Do they 
mean to say that because the surface of an Orchid looks 
a bit shabby, it is better to repot than to put on a little 
peat and sphagnum moss to improve its appearance ? 
I will ask what they would do with such things as 
Odontoglossums which only require potting every two 
years ; Cymbidiums which will do well in the same pot 
for years ; Cattleyas which should only be disturbed 
when absolutely necessary, and a whole host besides ? 
Should they be left until they want repotting ? I think 
not; if so, the sloven’s boot would be on the other 
foot. Of course top-dressing can be carried too far, the 
same as everything else ; but practised with reason, 
I am of an opinion that it is absolutely necessary, both 
for the sake of tidiness, which has to be studied in a 
private establishment, and also for the well-being of 
the plants. Mr. Brown speaks of the surface roots only 
getting the benefit of top-dressing. That is the very 
thing; those that are below, and clinging to the side 
of the pots, can take care of themselves, while the 
young surface roots, if there be nothing in the way of 
top-dressing to receive and protect them, form a tempt¬ 
ing morsel for the first woodlouse or slug that passes 
that way.— C. J. Rowe, Nunfield Gardens, Dumfries, 
N. B. [Our correspondent does not seem to have 
caught the right drift of the discussion with regard to 
the top-dressing of Orchids, as there are exceptional 
instances where the pots may receive a top-dressing for 
the sake of appearance, or to their advantage even ; 
but to do it in a wholesale manner, removing part of 
the soil so that other may be applied is wrong both 
in theory and practice.— Ed.] 
Oncidium pr/etextum. 
The flowers of this Orchid, even under the most 
advantageous conditions, do not attain the size of its 
near allies, 0 . erispum and 0 . Forbesi, but imported 
batches of it afford a wonderful range of variety as far 
as colour goes. Of course in a collection only the 
extremes of this range are most prized, namely, that in 
which yellow predominates largely, and again where 
the chestnut-brown prevails in its deeper tints. There 
can be no doubt that this form is most closely allied to 
O. erispum, as Reichenbach admitted when he first 
described it ; and some may lay the greater value on 
the latter on account of the size of the flowers ; but 
from a decorative point of view, and the quantity of 
flowers produced, it is a question whether 0 . prastextum 
is not the better. In collections where both exist, the 
latter nearly always flowers more abundantly. It is at 
all events a fine Orchid, and when hung up on rafts or in 
baskets near the light, and the panicles of bloom 
allowed to hang down freely, gives an air of cheerfulness 
to the house. There is a considerable number flower¬ 
ing at the present time in Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. ’s 
nurseries, Clapton ; and some of them show a strikingly 
rich chestnut-brown colouring. 
Oncidium varicosum. 
Under favourable conditions, this popular and much- 
grown Oncidium develops such a quantity of flowers of 
a handsome and appreciable size that it really is a mag¬ 
nificent object, bearing much-branched panicles of 
clean and bright yellow flowers. When it attains the 
best development of which it is capable, cultivators 
have dubbed it with another title—namely 0. v. 
Rogersii ; but from what we have seen of plants under 
this name, the so-called variety has no permanent 
characters, being merely the ordinary form well grown 
and developed to wonderful proportions by high-class 
cultivation. We are the more led to this conclusion 
by the behaviour of plants that come into flower during 
foggy weather. Some of the individual blooms on a 
spike may fail to expand at all, but drop away ; while 
others open and yet remain small, puny, and com¬ 
paratively worthless. A third set of flowers attain 
their normal development. All this may be on the 
same plant, or even on one individual inflorescence ; 
and the conditions so materially and directly affect the 
flowering of a single specimen that we should be careful 
in applying varietal names to what are merely speci¬ 
mens that have attained a high development under 
favourable conditions. 
Burlingtonia granadense. 
Of several species of Burlingtonia that are regularly 
cultivated, or find their way into collections from time 
to time, there can be no doubt that they gain most 
favour with connoisseurs and amateur Orchid growers 
or collectors. The beauty of the flowers, neat habit of 
the plants, and their small size, which means easy 
accommodation as regards house room, are the chief 
recommendations for their culture. The species under 
notice is one of the smallest as far as leaves and pseudo¬ 
bulbs are concerned ; yet the flowers are several times 
larger than those of B. decora, but solitary and on 
short scapes. In specimens we noted at the nurseries 
of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, they were con¬ 
spicuous for the length of the curved spur. The petals 
and upper sepal are primrose-coloured, while the 
labelium is tinted with pale brown. Grown in a small 
basket and hung up near the glass, it constitutes a 
pretty object, that may not inaptly be compared to a 
representation of the Primrose in the Orchid family. 
Twin-flowers of Odontoglossum crispum. 
Along with the Azaleas mentioned on another page, 
Mr. George Russell, Redlands, Hillhead, Glasgow, sent 
us a curious, though not uncommon, instance of two 
flowers of the above-named Odontoglossum, whose 
pedicels and ovaries have comjletely grown together. 
Above this, all the organs of the flowers that should 
normally be free, were so with the exception of the two 
lateral and contiguous sepals, one from each flower, that 
had become completely amalgamated in one, or, in 
other words, remained inseparate. Thus, instead of 
six sepals, there were only five ; while all the other 
organs were present and free, but very much crowded. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Palms, Calatheas, Anthttriums. —The sooner these 
are potted now the better, before active growth sets in, 
and before the hurry of spring work culminates with 
seed sowing, planting, and potting of various subjects 
that must be done in season. Palms like good sub¬ 
stantial material, so that a large proportion of the 
compost should consist of good fibrous loam, with 
sufficient sharp sand to ensure perfect drainage, in view 
of the large quantity of water necessary during the 
period of active growth especially. The other subjects 
mentioned, and their allies, or plants of a similar 
nature delight in a looser and more aerated compost, on 
account of their peculiar habits in a state of nature. 
For Anthuriums especially use a considerable quantity 
of charcoal broken up into nodules about the size of 
marbles. 
Gesneras, T td.eas. —As the Gesneras go out of 
flower they should be gradually dried off; it will be at 
the expense of the rhizomes, however, if water is 
suddenly withheld, as they cannot possibly form any 
reserve as they would if allowed to decay gradually. 
The process of ripening at the same time cannot take 
place unless the supply of moisture be lessened. In 
the case of G. elongata, which is shrubby, the old 
plants as they go out of flower may be cut back, 
allowed to break, and then be re-potted. At the same 
time vigorous young plants for next season’s flowering 
may be - obtained by propagation from cuttings. 
Tydaeas are still in full flower at many places, and 
while such is the case need not be disturbed. They 
often develop strong shoots from the base even during 
the period of flowering, and may be propagated from 
these without waiting for them to finish flowering. It 
there is sutficient stock the old plants may be allowed 
to stand in the houses while in good condition, and 
then be thrown away. __ 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Calceolarias and Cinerarias. —Now is a good time 
to pot on the herbaceous Calceolarias into their flower¬ 
ing pots. Unless very large specimens are required, 
32-sized pots will be quite sufficient for all ordinary 
decorative purposes, with the use of liquid manure to 
develop the leaves and flowers after the pots become 
filled with roots. Should large specimens be specially 
desired, pick the best of the plants, and encourage 
them by plenty of head and root room. The head 
room is a most important matter for plants of this 
nature, owing to the soft and herbaceous texture of 
both stems and leaves, and the short time it takes to 
spoil them by insufficient light. The same remarks 
apply to Cinerarias throughout, but in the nature of the 
compost requisite they differ somewhat. Calceolarias 
enjoy light but rich compost, therefore the scourings of 
ditches from road-sides, and well rotted, often proves a 
valuable material for mixing with the compost. 
Azaleas, Deutzias, Prunus, Lilacs. —As these 
come into flower in the forcing pits they should be re¬ 
moved to the greenhouse or conservatory, which may 
now be rendered very gay with them, as well as 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, and other bulbs that have 
been forced. Should the difference between the tem¬ 
perature of the two houses be very great, the plants 
may be partially hardened off in an intermediate house 
before removing them to very cool greenhouses. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Peach Houses. —The earliest houses should now be 
progressing rapidly. As soon as the shoots on the 
upper part of the trees attain a length of 2 ins. or 
3 ins., they may be tied to the wires, which will have 
a tendency to suppress their rampant and coarse growth, 
and, in fact, to equalise the development of the trees, 
provided the shoots on the lower branches, which are 
frequently weak, be allowed to grow loosely for some 
time later on, as convenience may direct. To prevent 
the ravages of green-fly, fumigate lightly and for several 
nights in succession at intervals, rather than test the 
young growths too severely. The amount of mischief 
the pest is capable of doing at this time is considerable. 
Vineries. —Still keep the atmosphere of the house 
quite dry during the day if the Vines are in flower. 
Where started sufficiently early, however, the berries 
will now be set, and may be thinned at the earliest 
opportunity by experienced hands. Care should be 
exercised not to handle the berries in the operation ; 
and ventilation, if such be necessary, or the opening of 
doors, should be done in such a manner that no sudden 
