424 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 7, 1891. 
'When I saw what a poor lot there was on the stand for 
competition I sent mine in on the following day, just 
to shame them, but the secretary of the Flower 
Committee was shrewd enough not to put them where 
they could be seen. 
Another question is—What is coming out this year 
worth buying? A hard question to answer, too. So 
many promising seedlings have turned cut poorly after 
one or two years’ trial that some of the societies have 
stipulated that the varieties must be exhibited three 
consecutive seasons before recognition. I saw a friend 
who had visited most of the exhibitions last autumn 
(and himself showed a seedling, to which was awarded 
a Silver Medal at the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
Society’s exhibition last fall), and who was cautious 
about recommendiug any of those he had seen. He, 
however, had a go&d word to say for the following new 
ones :—Spaulding’s : Mrs. D. D. Parson, Anna M. 
Weybrecht, and John Firth. Hill’s : Mrs. J. D. Sailor 
and Black Beauty, both very fine, and Emily Horner. 
Dorner’s : Ada Prass and Mistleto. 
Of varieties already introduced, many of which you 
already have, I can speak more confidently. Many—- 
nearly all, in fact—I saw growing last fall, and were 
extra fine. Probably you have found amongst your 
readers many like myself, who, because they could not 
grow a good flower or plant of a certain variety, have 
not thought it ‘ ‘ any good. ” I have been so far mistaken 
in this matter as not to recognise varieties I ought to 
have known well, having grown them. Here is the 
list:—Ada Spaulding, Cariie Denny, classed as a 
Japanese, but seems to me to be a true incurved ; 
E. G. Hill, Flora McDonald, extra ; G. P. Rawson, 
John Lane, Molly Bawn, Rohallion, Mrs. Winthrop 
Sargeant, said to be a first-rate trade, large-flowered 
variety ; Miss Minnie Wanamaker, fine ; Mrs. Frank 
Clinton, perfect; President Harrison, a very large 
flower of the G. F. Moseman type ; V. H. Halleck, 
elegant; White Cap (Halleck, not Waterer), Ivory, 
Mrs. Hicks Arnold; Amber Gem, very fine ; Gold 
Thread, and Jean Humphrey. — T. D. Hatfield, 
Wellesley, Mass. 
-»>£<-- 
HUNTING ORCHIDS IN 1890. 
The current number of Lindenia contains a striking 
illustration of a new Odontoglossum—a remarkably 
handsome, heavily reddish-purple spotted natural 
hybrid of the crispum type, found by M.-F. Claes in 
New Grenada last year, and named in his honour. 
Notwithstanding the extreme vitality of Odontoglossum 
crispum, M. Claes states that though formerly diffused 
in abundance over a considerable part of New Grenada, 
it is becoming more and more rare, and soon it will be 
impossible to find any. 
“For the search, "says M. Claes, “one generally 
divides his men into groups of five to ten in number, 
each company collecting separately on the borders and 
openings of the forest. 0. crispum (Alexandra) is 
generally met with in the glades of the forest, or spaces 
cleared by the fall of some old tree. It prefers to grow 
on the tree-trunks, rarely on the branches, and then 
only on the largest ones. It is collected with difficulty, 
because the natives show a great repugnance to climbing 
the trees, on account of the scorpions and the thousands 
of insects which are hidden there, and particularly 
the ants, whose sting is very sharp. 
“One is, accordingly, generally restricted to the single 
resource of felling the trees, though this is not always 
an easy matter. The whole of a day must sometimes 
be taken by four or five men working together, and 
when the work is finished, and the collector looks for 
his treasures, he sometimes perceives that they have 
not discovered any of the precious Orchid, and that all 
his efforts have been thrown away. 
“The harvests are much less fruitful than formerly, 
and may be estimated, under ordinary conditions, at 
twenty or twenty-five plants per day, with ten men. 
How much more numerous they were five years ago ! 
“After the plants are collected, they are placed 
under a tent in a place carefully arranged to serve as a 
sort of head-quarters. They are then cleaned and 
wiped thoroughly to remove every trace of humidity, 
which induces rapid decay. Lastly, When a sufficient 
quantity is collected, and the journey is finished, they 
are packed up in cases, placed on the backs of mules 
and transported to the port of shipment. The journey 
occupies about five days, under ordinary circumstances, 
and in the favourable season ; but it is always necessary 
to reckon with unforeseen circumstances, and especially 
rains, so abundant in these regions, and which trans¬ 
form in a few hours the most gentle streams into 
impetuous torrents. It is also sometimes necessary to 
throw artificial bridges over the swollen watercourses, 
and to carry the cases over to the other bank, while 
the mules, relieved of their burdens, pass over as best 
they can by swimming. 
“ The point of departure of the vessels is the town 
of Honda, in the State of Tolima ; and in following the 
course of the Magdalena River, they next arrive at 
Barranquilla, the point where the river divides into 
two branches, the Upper Magdalena and the Lower 
Magdalena, and forms very dangerous' rapids. Here 
the cases are transferred to the railway, and conveyed 
by it to Savanilla, where they are embarked by the 
transatlantic steamers to their European destination. 
--**«-- 
MEGASEAS. 
These were formerly included among the Saxifrages, 
and they were regarded as representing a large-leaved 
group of this genus ; but they are now comprehended 
under the above term. They are great favourites of 
mine, and especially the common M. cordifolia and 
S. ligulata ; the latter is the earliest of the genus to 
flower, and in the open is already showing colour. I 
find them particularly useful for cultivation in pots to 
flower in any cold house in early spring, and I grow 
for this purpose the two above named, and M. 
Stracheyi. The last is not so hardy as the two others, 
but very handsome indeed when in flower, of a bluslx- 
piak tint, and it throws very large and somewhat hairy 
leaves ; it is also deciduous. I had it in the open 
border, but found the winters punished it so severely 
that I now grow it entirely in pots. It blooms in 
April ; I cannot say too much in praise of its beauty. 
S. ligulata, or as some term it, S. ciliata, is one of 
the hardiest of border plants, and when let alone soon 
grows into an enormous clump. It is, however, a 
subject well deserving of culture in pots, and in a cold 
house throws up its heads of bloom much finer and 
purer than iu the open border, where they are subject 
to frost and storm, because expanding so early. M. 
cordifolia has pink flowers also, and, like the fore¬ 
going, soon grows into a huge clump. Both the 
latter are evergreen. There is a very fine form of 
M. cordifolia named purpurea, which flowers on stout 
stems, the colour brilliant rose, and the habit very 
robust. M. crassifolia has stout, shining leaves and 
rose-coloured flowers, and is no doubt closely allied to 
M. cordifolia. 51. purpurascens is a rare species with 
glowing purple flowers, and 51. speciosa, a hybrid kind, 
has pinkish, flesh-coloured flowers. 
5Iegaseas are good amateurs’ plants because so satis¬ 
fying, and because they gild the spring with some 
charming touches of beauty.— R. D. 
-->X<-- 
THE PHILOSOPHY OF FRUIT 
CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 
Horticulture can scarcely be said to have triumphed 
over the difficulties that stand in the way of making 
some of our hardy fruits amenable to indoor treat¬ 
ment, and why? Just on account of (1) proper 
accommodation and (2) mismanagement. The Apple, 
Rear, Peach, Nectarine, Plum, Apricot, and Cherry, 
all of which thrive fairly well out of doors, when 
treated under glass call for greater art to grow profitably 
than do Vines, Figs, &c. The reason is obvious—the 
error lies in the application of too much heat to 
plants not constitutionally able to bear it. The effects 
are indifferent returns. Over excitement of all kinds 
must be avoided. A free circulation of fresh air day 
and night must be given, and artificial heat, if possible, 
never. 
5Ye must endeavour to impress on our memories that 
the glass acts the part of a convenient guard from certain 
conditions of weather, and which can be manipulated 
at will. The Peach and Nectarine will bear forcing fairly 
well, but most intelligent gardeners will admit that it 
is at the expense of some of their better qualities. 
Flavour cannot be the same, the crop cannot be so 
certain, and the vigour of the tree itself cannot be so 
lasting as if grown under less exciting influences. 
Abundance of light, plenty of air, and water at the 
root should always be prime factors in the cultivation 
of indoor hardy fruits. Surface moisture should be 
strenuously avoided on account of its great tendency 
to promote undue growths, a state of matters which is 
extremely unfavourable to the formation of fruit or to 
the adhesion of that which is formed. 
Apples, Plums and Pears should not be planted in 
borders ; they are more certain of yielding good crops 
when grown in confined spaces where the roots can be 
annually overhauled. They, however, should never be 
taken clear away from the tubs or pots, but only a 
fair amount of surface roots cut away to give sufficient 
room for the new soil. It will be found next season 
that this space is again full of roots. Renew the same 
process as before, and you will be sure of your crops.— 
Gamma, Edinburgh. 
A DRY MONTH. 
The month of February, 1891, will rank a 3 one 
of the driest ever experienced over England. In 
some parts of our eastern, midland, and southern 
counties there has been a complete absence of rain, and 
in all but the north-western districts the aggregate 
amount for the month has been infinitesimally small. In 
London the total has been just four-hundredths of an 
nch, of which only one-fourth has been supplied by 
actual rain, the remainder being contributed by the 
dense wet fogs which have been so distressingly 
prevalent of late. On an average of seventy years the 
usual amount of rain in London during the month of 
February is rather over 1£ ins., so that the quantity 
collected this year has been little more than one-fortieth 
part of the amount we are entitled to expect. Looking 
back over the London record of the past seventy-eight 
years, we can find no instance of anything like so 
small a monthly rainfall at any time of the year, the 
nearest approach to it occurring as long ago as April, 
1840, when the total amount was 0'12 in. 
-- 
MR. DOUGLAS ON ORCHIDS. 
( Concluded from p. 411 ). 
Ventilation. 
This is a matter of considerable importance. Without 
a free admission of fresh air the plants cannot be 
expected to do well. There ought to be ventilators at 
the highest part of the house, and the sashes at the 
sides ought to be made to open ; and besides this, it is 
desirable to have ventilators in the walls to open and 
shut easily. These ventilators should be placed opposite 
the hot-water pipes ; as the outer air finds ingress 
it comes into immediate contact with the hot-water 
pipes, and being heated, it is rarified or made lighter, 
and gradually ascends amongst the plants. In all our 
houses these ventilators are open night an'd day, unless 
the weather is exceptionally cold, or a keen frosty 
wind is blowing, when they are unnecessary. 
Watering the Plants. 
This is a matter that can only be learned in the school 
of practical experience. I have been repeatedly asked 
both by Orchid and Auricula growers, “How often 
should I water my plants ? ” That is, they would like 
to know whether they should be watered twice a day, 
once a day, or twice in a week. No one can answer a 
qnestion of that kind in such a manner ; it all depends 
on the condition of the plants ; and in the case of 
Orchids, the species must also be considered. 5Iost of 
the Odontoglossums, 5Iasdevallias, &e., succeed best 
when the surface is partly covered with moist growing 
sphagnum, and in order to keep the moss in healthy 
growth, a good deal of water is necessary, and it must 
also be frequently applied. All the Orchids that are 
recommended to be grown in sphagnum only must also 
be kept moist on the surface, else the moss dies and 
the plants never do so well. Such things as Cattleyas 
and Ltelias that are planted in fibrous peat almost 
entirely, should be watered more sparingly, and not 
until the plant really needs water. There is a great 
difference, too, as to the state of the plant—whether it 
is at rest or making its growth .- when a Cattleya or 
Laslia is making its growth it would be a grave error 
to stint it of water ; but after the pseudo-bulbs with 
their flower sheaths are fully formed, enough water 
should be given to keep the bulbs plump. If they are 
watered too freely, a second growth may start, which 
will not have time to ripen, and will sometimes, 
though not always, prevent the first formed sheath 
from developing its flower spike. 
There ought to be for all Orchids a season of growth 
in a moist warm atmosphere, and also a season of rest 
in a comparatively dry atmosphere with a lower tem¬ 
perature and dryness at the roots. In the case of most 
of the Dendrobiums, for instance, they must be kept 
quite dry ; indeed, in some instances without any water 
for two or three months in the winter. I would water 
if the growths were likely to shrivel up too much ; but 
as long as they remained fairly plump, it would be 
better not to give any water until the time came to 
shift them in the spring. Always use rain-water for 
watering Orchids. 
Re-totting. 
This requires careful consideration. In a large 
collection, many plants will require re-potting every 
year, but not all of them ; some it may be better to 
let alone for two, three, or even four years. I have for 
many years adopted the practice of placing a label to 
each plant, with the date when it w-as potted, so there 
is no difficulty when the collection is being looked over. 
5Vhen it is necessary to re-pot a Cattleya, for instance, 
it is well known that the roots will be clinging firmly 
