392 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 20, 1892. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
It is always necessary to look well ahead, by 
having everything ready for any emergency, and 
although they may not be required just yet it will 
be will to get the blinds fixed and ready for use at 
any moment, as sometimes during the latter part of 
this month we get very strong sunshine, necessitating 
their being rolled down for a few hours during the 
hottest part of the day. After passing through the 
dull winter months the plants are not in a fit state to 
stand much sunshine, the consequence of too much 
of which just yet is scorched leaves, which are a 
great disfigurement to any plant. 
Imported Orchids. — In view of the many large im¬ 
portations of all kinds that have reached this country 
recently, it may be of service to amateurs if I detail 
the treatment we successfully pursue with such 
plants. With Cattleyas the first thing is to thoroughly 
clean the plants, cutting away all the dead roots, 
decayed bulbs, etc. They are then placed on the stage 
in the cool house for say a week or ten days, which 
is generally long enough at this time of the year for 
them to plump up sufficiently before being potted or 
basketed as the case may be. By keeping them cool 
they retain their leaves, which would in all probability 
fall off if they were placed in the Cattleya house at 
once. After potting we stand them on the stage at the 
shadiest end of the Cattleya house. Very little water 
is given until the roots have taken hold of the com¬ 
post, but the syringe is kept going about the pots. 
Odontoglossums are potted up as soon as received, 
and treated thus they very rarely fail to do well. I 
may say that when buying imported plants we make 
a point of buying those that have a fair chance of 
growing, and unless all amateurs do the same it is 
much better and cheaper to buy established plants 
from the best known firms. 
East India House. —As the Phalaenopsis go out 
of flower they should be attended to, rebasketing 
where required. When grown in cylinders very few 
roots will be found inside, so that all the crocks may 
be replaced by clean ones. The plants should be 
elevated as much as possible, so that the moss does 
not touch the bottom leaves. Unless the sphagnum 
is very clean it should be washed before using it for 
these plants. After washing it will be necessary to 
let it become moderately dry before using it. This 
may be done by spreading it out in the house where 
the plants are grown. It will then, when ready for use, 
be at the same temperature, which is of great impor¬ 
tance. The temperature of this house might be al¬ 
lowed to rise a few degrees gradually during the next 
fortnight, if the weather keeps mild. H 
Cattleya House.— Any Miltonia spectabilis and 
Morrelliana that require potting should now be done. 
We grow some in pots, pans, and baskets, but I 
must say that, although they all grow and flower 
well, those in the baskets do the best. Sphagnum 
moss and good fibrous peat, added to which should 
be some small crocks and silver sand, suits well, and 
we pot moderately firm. Very few insects attack this 
species. White scale is the only one that I am aware 
of, and then only when the plant is out of health. 
The temperature of this house will be sure to range a 
little higher now both night and day without any 
more firing being used than before, and with a little 
more moisture in the air by damping down it will 
benefit the plants that are growing 
Cool House.— We shall not raise the tempera¬ 
ture of this house just yet. Keep the paths and 
stages syringed twice daily, but do not syringe the 
Odontoglossums overhead ; Disas, however, will ap¬ 
preciate it.— C. 
Zygopetalum leucochilum. 
Hybrid Orchids are the rule of the day, and the plant 
under notice presents a very pleasing combination of 
thecolours of its two parents. The seed bearing parent 
was Z. Mackayi, and the pollen parent Z. Burkei. 
The sepals are oblong and striated, or striped with 
brown for the greater part of their length on a pale 
green ground, the apical portion being suffused with 
brown. The petals are slightly shorter and broader, 
but otherwise similar. The lip is pure white, and 
lined with violet on the fleshy cup-like crest. The 
scape, about 20 in. high, bears a short raceme of 
flowers near the top. The leaves are linear lanceo¬ 
late ; and the whole plant is vigorous and apparently 
of easy culture. It was showm by Messrs. J. Veitch 
& Sons, and received a First-class Certificate, 
Oncidiums from Westmount. 
We are in receipt of some handsome flowers of 
Oncidium Rossii and O. Forbesi from Mr. David 
Wilson, Westmount, Kelvinside, Glasgow’. One 
scape of the former carried three flowers of large 
size, and the name O. R. giganteum has been sug¬ 
gested for it. Notwithstanding the- fact of there 
being three flowers on the scape, each measured 
3J in. both across the petals and across the sepals. 
The petals further were gin. wide, white suffused 
with blush and blotched with purple at the base. 
The sepals were heavily and closely blotched with 
purple all over on a groundwork of white. The lip 
was also very large, beautifully crisped or wavy 
along the margins, and blush deepening to a soft 
pink with a lemon-yellow crest. Another form of 
O. Rossii majus had its petals blotched with dark 
brownish-purple along the middle as far as the apex, 
thus imitating the sepals to some extent. Accom¬ 
panying the above were some flowers of O. Forbesi 
with deep cinnamon-brown sepals streaked with 
yellow and rich reddish-brown petals and lip, all 
w'avy at the margins with an irregular or wavy band 
of bright yellow round them. All were beautiful 
and acceptable at this early period of the year. 
Lycaste Youngi. 
Some of the deciduous Lycastes are highly orna¬ 
mental when well flowered, and such may be said of 
L. Youngi as it was exhibited at the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, on the 9th inst. bySirTrevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P. (grower Mr. W. White), Burford Lodge, 
Dorking. A good sized piece of it was simply one 
mass of golden yellow flowers, which were the more 
conspicuous by the absence of leaves. The sepals 
are ovate, and yellow shaded with green, while the 
petals are obovate-elliptic and golden yellow. The 
three-lobed lip is of a paler yellow with a few 
brown spots; the side lobes are very short, and the 
crests consist of two ridges or a deeply furrowed 
piece. Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper 
Holloway, also exhibited it, and an Award of Merit 
was accorded in both cases. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Alocacias. —These will soon be in active growth, 
and the annual repotting should be accomplished 
before that takes place. A suitable compost for 
such kinds as A. Veitchii, A. Lowii, and A. metallica 
would consist of fibrous peat, chopped sphagnum, 
some small nodules of charcoal or broken pot¬ 
sherds and silver sand. This makes an open com¬ 
post favourable to the development of the somewhat 
aerial roots, but is not of course long lasting; hence 
the necessity of annual repotting, particularly where 
the old soil has become too solid or sour. 
Caladiums. — Turfy loam, fibrous peat, leaf soil 
and well-rotted manure in about equal parts will 
form a suitable compost for these tuberous rooted 
subjects. A common practice is to place the tubers 
singly in small pots, and shift them into larger sizes 
as the roots develop. In all cases the tubers 
should be sorted into sizes, so that if large 
plants are ultimately made up, tubers of 
equal strength may be used. They may be 
increased by removing the separate crowns or buds 
with a sharp knife, having a piece of tuber to each 
bud. 
Pancratiums and Hymenocallis —These may 
now conveniently be repotted. Offsets may be 
removed and the large bulbs potted singly, as they 
then form plants of a convenient size that may be 
used in various ways for decorative purposes. When 
a number of bulbs are grown in a large pot, they 
may not come into bloom simultaneously. 
Olivias. —Where these have been kept in a 
moderately high temperature they will soon be 
throwing up their flower scapes, if not doing so 
already. The flowers will be much larger, and the 
plants enabled the better to produce them, if supplies 
of weak liquid manure are given them about two or 
three times a week. 
Pimelias. — Plants that are wanted to flower in 
June or July may have the tips of the young shoots 
pinched out now. There are several other hard- 
wooded subjects which may be treated in the same 
way, and many of them may be retarded, if so 
desired, by p'acing them in a cool house with a north 
aspect. 
Verbenas.— Where these were placed in heat 
some time ago, as adyised-in a previous calendar, the 
young shoots will now have attained some consider¬ 
able length, and may be taken off for insertion in the 
propagating bed if that has been prepared for them. 
With a mild bottom heat they should be ready for 
potting off a fortnight hence. Seeds may also be 
sown of Verbena venosa or any other kind in light, 
sandy soil. 
Calceolarias and Cinerarias.—Look closely 
after the plants at this time of the year to guard 
against the attacks of green fly. This is particularly 
the case with Calceolarias. Late batches of the 
latter should be potted into larger sizes or their 
flowering pots as the Case may be. Late batches of 
Cinerarias or those not yet in flower should have 
weak doses of manure water about twice a week. 
Keep the plants near the glass and ventilate freely. 
Peaches.—The night temperature in the earliest 
house may range from 55 0 to 60° according to the 
stage of advancement of the fruit and the state of 
the weather for the time being, allowing a good rise 
by day, more especially when the rise is due to sun 
heat. Ventilate when the temperature rises above 
65°, and increase it during the day. Close early, 
syringe the trees well, and damp down all available 
surfaces. YV eak liquid manure in the evaporating 
pans will help to keep down red spider. 
Melons.—The early sown Melons should by this 
time be ready for planting out in their permanent 
quarters. If need be they may be retained in pots a 
little longer till the beds are ready for them. I 
fermenting manure is to be used to keep up the 
bottom heat, it should not be allowed to heat fiercely 
before puting it in the bed, otherwise it will lose 
much of its utility. V T ’nen making up the bed beat 
or tread down the manure rather firmly, as that will 
make the heat milder and more durable. 
Garlic, Shallots, Chives, &c.—As soon as the 
soil is in a favourable condition as to dryness, the 
above subjects may be planted out in lines 9 in. 
apart and about 6 in. from plant to plant ; or a little 
more may be allowed between the lines for the 
better convenience of keeping them clean by means 
of the hoe. 
-- 
©tntuar\>. 
We regret to record the death, at Bigsweir, Mon¬ 
mouthshire, on the 2nd inst., in her 76th year, of the 
Wife of Mr. George Rawlings, formerly of Bethnal 
Green, and Romford, and one of the oldest raisers 
and cultivators of Dahlias now left. 
-■*-- 
Quescions sod Answers. 
Correspondents are requested, in order to avoid delay, 
to address all communications to “The Editor" 
or “ T. he Publisher," and not to any person bv 
name, unless the correspondence is of a private 
character. Telegrams may be addressed " Bambusa 
London." 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland._ 
G. Hcstmeath : The Secretary is Mr. W. P. North, 
189, Great Brunswick Street, Dublin. 
Names of Fruits.— D. Campbell : Apple, Dume- 
low’s Seedling, most frequently called Wellington. 
Pear, Beurre Diel. 
Names of Plants. — H. L. : 1, Crocus Imperati; 
2, Galanthus nivalis lutescens ; 3, Eranthis hyema- 
lis; 4, Erica carnea ; 5, Daphne Mezereum. A. M. P. ; 
1, Hamamelis virginica; 2, Cupressus nutkaensis ; 3, 
Thuya orientalis ; 4, Juniperus recurvus ; 5, Pinus 
austriaca; 6, Pseudotsuga Douglasii. JR. G.: 1, 
Acacia dealbata ; 2, Acacia Drummondi. 
Asparagus.—S. C., Inverness : The spray you sent 
is simply a fasciated form of Asparagus plumosus 
nanus, and if you like to give it a special name, you 
might call it A. plumosus fasciatus. A similar 
variety was exhibited at one of the R. H. S. meetings 
a few weeks ago, but we are not aware that it has 
received any special name. It cannot become a 
popular plant, because too heavy and lumpy. 
Cauliflowers and French Beans.— T. P. : We 
do not think that even with 24-size pots you would 
be able to get heads of Cauliflower sufficiently large 
to make it worth your while spending time with 
them. You would be able to get heads by close at¬ 
tention to watering and feeding, but thev would be 
very small. If Cauliflowers could profitably be done 
in this way, the system would be adopted by culti¬ 
vators generally, but it is not. We would advise vcu 
to grow French Beans in 32 or 24-size pots, as they 
would be more certain to produce a profitable crop. 
Angle of Elevation. — Omega : If the fruit house 
is meant for an early one. j-ou may set up the roof at 
an angle of 45 0 so as to catch a maximum of the rays 
of sun in the early part of the year. For late work, 
either in the case of fruit or plant houses, the angle 
of elevation should be less, first because there is no. 
object in making high roofs, and secondly because 
