476 
THE GAKDENING WORLD 
March 24, 1888. 
Spring Snowflake. 
It is greatly to be wondered at that this charming and 
perfectly hardy spring flower is not grown in every 
garden where herbaceous and alpine plants are admired. 
Many groups may now be seen in full flower on the 
rockery at Kew. The flowers are usually solitary 
(though sometimes twin on a scape), larger than in 
any other species, drooping, fragrant, pure white with 
a green or sometimes yellow blotch near the apex of 
each segment. The plant is a native of Central Europe, 
and was originally introduced to Britain as early as 
1596. It may also be grown in pots in a cool house, 
associated with Daffodils and other hardy plants that 
require a little shelter to bring them into flower before 
those planted out of doors. 
Gotoneaster microphylla. 
Notwithstanding the severity of the weather for some 
weeks lately, the berries of this species planted on the 
rockery at Chiswick, in the gardens of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, do not seem to be relished by 
birds ; at all events they have not been eaten, and the 
fact reminds us of the numerous purposes to which this 
elegant and useful little species can be put in garden 
decoration. If planted against a wall it will climb up 
and constitute a facing to the same, with very little 
nailing, and less training. At. Chiswick it is planted 
on the top of the rockery, and trained down over the 
stones— a treatment which it does not seem at all to 
resent. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Cymbidium eburneum. 
Amongst the cultivated species of Cymbidium, this, 
together with C. Lowii, constitute two of the most 
popular. Added to the size of the flowers, they are 
possessed of a strong but delicious perfume that pervades 
the house in which they are grown. Notwithstanding 
the fact that there are several varieties in cultivation, 
the species is by no means prone to vary—a statement 
that applies, more or less, to all of them. Good culti¬ 
vation is, however, productive of twice the amount of 
flowers yielded under indifferent treatment, as the spikes 
become twin-flowered. We noticed some of these latter 
the other day at Gunnersbury Park, Acton, which 
were further notable as showing a tendency to become 
spotted with purple on the lip and petals. They are 
usually ivory-white, as the specific name implies, some¬ 
times stained with pale yellow on the petals and 
labellum. 
Bones for Cypripediums. 
Following the remarks of Mr. J. Peebles at p. 444, as to 
the advantages to be derived from the use of bones in 
potting up Cypripediums, although I apply them 
differently, I wish to make a few observations on the 
subject. In the first place it is due to The 
Gardening World to say that I took the valuable 
hint from an article by Mr. James O’Brien, recom¬ 
mending bones for Cypripediums and terrestrial Orchids 
generally. I immediately acted upon it, but as our 
collection here is very large and valuable I experimented 
only on a portion at first. For the trial I crocked the 
pots a quarter to a third of the way up, and afterwards 
placed a good layer of J-in. bones on the top of the 
crocks, finishing by potting the plants in a mixture of 
turfy yellow loam, fibrous peat and sphagnum moss in 
about equal parts. After a reasonable time 1 turned 
some of the plants out, and found that although some 
of them were not well-off for roots when potted they 
had all rooted most vigorously, and in every case gone 
down among the bones placed over the crocks, thus 
showing a full appreciation of them. Since that I have 
used bones in the manner described for the whole 
collection, and the beneficial result has been the most 
marked and marvellous I ever experienced. The flowers 
also come much finer, and the tissues of the plants 
better filled. As an instance of the vigour it induces I 
may say that the bone treatment has produced foliage 
3 ins. in width on C. selligerum majus, a plant which a 
short time ago was nothing extraordinary. I have read 
somewhere lately that some one has tried bones and got 
no good out of them. I do not think bones would 
prove salvation to plants starved for -want of water or 
smothered for want of air, but if properly treated, the 
use of bones as recommended is one of the greatest aids, 
in Cypripedium culture at least, I have ever found. 
I may say that for the Selenipedium section of 
Cypripedium we use more loam-fibre than for the 
weaker-growing kinds.— J. C. Covdey, The Gardens, 
Studley House, Shepherd’s Bush. 
Phajus grandifolius—Three-Lipped. 
A singular and showy variety of our old friend Phajus 
grandifolius is in flower in the collection of W. J. 
Thomson, Esq., Ghyllbank, St. Helen’s, Lancashire, 
so rich in rare and curious plants. The petals of all 
the flowers of the plant in question partake of the 
character of the labellum, their lower halves bearing a 
pink and crimson extension similar to the front of the 
labellum. The petals are also curiously flaked like a 
bizarre Carnation. 
Odontoglossum Flowers. 
We have received a box containing flowers of different 
species of Odontoglossum from De B. Crawshay, Esq., 
Rosefield, Sevenoaks, Kent. They represent some of 
the best varieties of their kind, and include the Rose- 
field variety of 0. mulus, the sepals of which have two 
very large chestnut-brown blotches, while the petals 
and lip have one large blotch each with some smaller 
ones. The ground colour of the flower, which is very 
striking, is of a pale clear yellow. The box also 
contained the Rosefield variety of 0. triumphans, a 
very dark-coloured aud beautiful form certificated at 
South Kensington last year. The lateral sepals of a 
variety of O. Pescatorei are furnished in the middle 
with a large purple blotch, which goes right through 
to the outer and rose-coloured surface. A variety of 
0. crispum is beautifully blotched with reddish brown; 
and 0. maculatum had a well-marked lip. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
—-f.—- 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Azaleas. —When these go out of flower it is not 
sufficient merely to remove them from the show house, 
whatever that may be, and put them in some out-of 
the-way place where they will merely be sheltered from 
frost. If good flowering plants are required next 
season they must be property prepared for it, begin¬ 
ning immediately. Cut or tie in as the case may be all 
straggling growths that tend to make the plant 
unshapely, and stand the plants in a warm temperature 
where they will be started into growth, and enjoy 
plenty of light so as to harden and solidify the tissues. 
The old A. indica alba and Narcissiflora—the former 
single and the latter semi-double—are two of the earliest 
and most easily forced for early winter work. 
Christmas Roses. —It is the custom of many to 
stand these hardy plants in the open air so soon as they 
have done flowering, but the effect is ruinous to the 
foliage and indirectly to the crowns, which suffer great 
loss of vigour when finally planted out, if they do not 
get killed altogether. At present and till danger of 
frost is over they should at least enjoy the protection of 
a cold frame. If an increase of stock is required shake 
away all the soil, and carefully divide the loot-stock 
with a knife, preserving a crown to each piece with the 
roots as intact as possible. 
Deutzias. —The conservatory should now be gay 
with these plants, and for some time to come. After 
having flowered they must not be stood out of doors 
simply to make room for something else. The earlier 
forced plants may now be trimmed by cutting away 
useless wood that merely serves to crowd the rest, and 
stood in a growing temperature to encourage the pro¬ 
duction of young wood. This, when completed, should 
be gradually ripened off, and proves very useful for early 
work next season. Some pursue the old practice of 
keeping all the plants in a cool place till the weather 
is suitable and a convenient time arrives, when they 
are planted in the open ground to make their growth ; 
and in autumn these are lifted and potted up. By 
encouraging growth indoors, the plants may afterwards 
be stood on a bed of ashes in an open but sheltered 
place, and merely watered. Plants treated in this way 
may be grown in the same pots for eight or ten years 
in succession without re-potting, provided the drainage 
is good, and the plants be fed with liquid manure 
when flowering and making growth. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
The Vineries. —The earliest pot Vines will now be 
rapidly swelling, and approaching the ripening stage. 
Do not stint the supplies of manure-water simply 
because the fruits are beginning to colour. Swelling 
continues even after this stage, and greater stress is laid 
upon the leaves at this time, in order to supply the 
requisite plastic material, than at any other, and the 
chemical changes that are effected in the ripening 
berries also involves great taxation on the Vines, so 
that alternate waterings with manure-water from the 
stables and guano-water will prove serviceable. Vines 
planted out in the borders, and now in an advanced 
stage, should receive liberal supplies of water containing 
the same feeding material as above mentioned, but the 
borders should also be well mulched with good rotten 
stable manure. The moisture arising from all these 
will greatly assist in keeping the atmosphere in a suit¬ 
able condition, preventing the attacks of thrip and 
red-spider, which, when once thoroughly established, 
do material damage to the leaves,-and indirectly to the 
health and strength of the whole plant. All grafting 
intended to be done this season should be effected 
whenever the Vines have fairly started into growth, 
and the leaves are transpiring freely. Pot on young 
Vines that have been propagated from eyes after they 
start into their second growth. 
Melons and Cucumbers. —The changeable, sunless, 
and cloudy weather which we have been having for 
some time past has by no means been favourable to a 
sturdy firm growth. In the case of early Melons now 
rapidly swelling their fruit, carefully remove all laterals 
that show themselves, as well as all male and female 
flowers that make their appearance, so as to throw the 
whole strength of the Vines into the fruits that are 
swelling. Put supports to the fruits before they begin 
to stress the stems. Later batches will also require 
careful attention, and as the weather is by no means 
very favourable, do not maintain too high a temperature, 
and ventilate when appropriate. Cucumbers will re¬ 
quire assistance, especially those grown in pots, boxes, 
or where root room is otherwise restricted, with liquid 
manure at the temperature of the house. Remove 
superfluous wood, tie in what is necessary, and thin out 
the fruits where too crowded. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Protecting Peach Trees. —Even where trees have 
had their branches tied up in bundles to retard growth, 
they should now be nailed in their places. All trees 
on which the buds are well advanced should have 
branches of Spruce, Cherry Laurel, or some other ever¬ 
green subject, fastened over or above the branches in 
such a way as to w r ard off frost, but to obstruct the light 
as little as possible. 
Planting of all kinds should now be hastened, in¬ 
cluding all main crops of Peas, Beans, Potatos, Carrots, 
Parsnips, and similar garden subjects. 
Celery and Sea-kale. —The trenches if made up 
now for Celery, the ridges may be utilised for early 
Potatos or other crops that are fit to be dug up or 
utilised before it becomes necessary to earth up the 
Celery. A liberal quantity of well-rotted manure 
should be dug into the trenchesnow. Fresh plantations 
should now be made of the thongs or fleshy roots of Sea- 
kale that were preserved when lifted for forcing, if the 
operation has not already been performed. 
Turnips and Radishes.—A sowing of Early Milan 
may be made on a warm border for an early supply. A 
large breadth should not be sown as they soon run to 
seed. Sow Radishes, and protect at night as soon as 
they germinate. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Manchester Royal Botanical.— March 20th. 
This was the finest spring show that has, perhaps, ever 
been seen in the Manchester Town Hall, the room being 
crowded, and with good things too. Mr. G. B. Blair, 
of Whalley Range, exhibited no fewer than fifteen 
remarkably well-grown examples, loaded with bloom, 
of Dendrobium nobile, a finer display of this one species 
than has ever before been witnessed in Manchester. 
Mr. Statter, of Stand Hall, showed a beautiful group 
of thirty or forty very choice Orchids, including a 
Sophronitis grandiflora, deeper in colour than we 
remember ever before to have seen, and remarkably 
well bloomed. Noteworthy in this group were also 
Dendrobium Wardianum, D. Ainsworthii, andOncidium 
fuscatum. 
Hardy flowers, considering the recent severity of the 
weather, were a great feature, and special interest was 
taken in a charming lot described as “gatherings from 
the outside garden at Shimdda Hir, Llandudno,” and 
exhibited by their grower, Mr. Samuel Barlow. The 
collection consisted of some dozen bunches or so of 
coloured Primroses, bunches of Violets, Hepaticas, 
Stocks, Chionodoxa, Wallflowers, Anemones, and a 
group of the old double gold-topped Wallflower, 
Christmas Roses, &c. Among the Primroses was one 
named “Lady Salisbury,” a purer blue in colour than 
Hepatica angulosa. Daffodils were in great force, and a 
specially fine collection of some 200 bunches shown by 
