March 19, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
455 
susceptible of cold. If the bulbs are not well 
ripened and the atmosphere is kept moist, I find the 
edges of the leaves are apt to dry up to the bulbs, 
so that any moisture or water runs down the leaves 
to the base of the bulbs and rots either the young 
flower spike or the bulb itself. O. Pescatorei likes 
more air than O. crispum, and also less pot room for 
its roots. It requires little or no rest, in fact, as 
soon as the bulbs are matured they begin to push up 
their flower spikes. Such species as O. ramosissimum 
and O. Edwardi require to be grown in the coolest 
part, with an unlimited amount of moisture. They 
make long, thick roots, which grow very fast and 
need a little care to keep them from getting damaged. 
Odontoglossum grande, O. Insleayi, and O. 
Schleiperianum require a little more warmth in win¬ 
ter, and some growers allow them to get quite dry, 
but I do not see the advantage of this, as I find they 
make good bulbs and flower quite as freely if they 
are kept moist; in fact mine are never allowed to 
lose their foliage. They do not start into growth till 
the end of April; but in January the eyes begin to 
get plump, waiting for a change in the temperature 
of the house. Then I give them a little extra water, 
when they begin to put forth their growth. I keep 
them shaded with all the light the house affords. 
In watering all Odontoglossums I use pure rain¬ 
water caught on the greenhouse and run into cement 
tanks underneath the staging, where it is stored at 
the same temperature of the house, as I think to 
use water several degrees colder than the house 
is not an advantage but a loss. I do not care to use 
any manures whatever, either fish, potash, soot, or 
guano, etc. I think I get as good results as those who 
have used them, and in some cases the new bulbs are 
quite as large again as the old ones, so do not see 
where the advantage comes in, as all manures have a 
tendency to rot the potting material and turn it sour 
unless repeatedly washed out. O. maculatum, O, 
cordatum, and O. Uro-Skinneri like to have a cool 
corner but plenty of sun, as it strengthens the foliage 
and they flower freely, often with seven and eight 
blooms upon a spike of O. maculatum. A batch of 
O.polyxanthum I have has done remarkably well under 
cool treatment with a very liberal supply of water. 
I am under the impression that this species and a great 
many others of its class must come from regions of 
forests where the moisture is always condensing and 
teeming down the foliage, like what is known as a 
Scotch mist. O. Halli is another sort that has a good 
constitution, and with a little liberal treatment soon 
makes good bulbs and blooms freely. O. luteo-pur- 
pureum and its var. sceptrum, O. Lindleyanum, and 
O. constrictum grow remarkably well with the treat¬ 
ment of O. Halli, and all seem to like their foliage 
kept moist and clean. 
The new Cochlioda noetzliana I have had very 
little experience with so far, but it seems to like cool 
treatment as it refused to grow amongst some O. 
vexillariums, but directly it was removed it began to 
start away and grow with a vigour that I was sur¬ 
prised at. I am hoping great things from this plant 
if all that is said about it comes true. 
(To be continued.) 
OLD GARDENERS. 
It is my privilege to be " oneof them,” for a very long 
time has elapsed since I was a young one. This I 
may say, however, that had I to begin life anew I 
certainly should choose the same avocation ; but I 
think, and have many times expressed myself thus, 
that I would much prefer to start in the profession 
at the time that I did commence—before a gardening 
newspaper had an existence in this country. We 
may live now in days of great prosperity, and possess 
a great wealth of floral beauty, but I am led to 
question very much if there exists a greater apprecia¬ 
tion of the beauties of nature in all her varied forms 
at the present time than existed in the old time 
gardening, more than half a century ago. 
Your leader at p. 432, bearing upon the experiences 
of old gardeners, which I have just perused, has 
infused vitality into one's ideas that are so closely 
associated with the welfare of those under considera¬ 
tion, and affords abundance of food for serious 
thought. We most thoroughly conceive that in all 
professions, some are more or less, as the poet Burns 
has it, "favourites of fate.” And again, when we 
start upon the first round of the ladder “ we little 
know the ills we court when manhood is our wish.” 
Excelsior is the theme of our aspirations as on the 
road our course is pursued, but some out of the many 
it may be are not so highly favoured (although not 
the less worthy) as others, the sun of prosperity does 
not seem to shine on all alike. Opaque-like clouds 
become apparent and render the path rugged, and 
the forecast of a doubtful character; and as you have 
in a graphic and concise form vividly put before 
your readers, many of the misfortunes that befall a 
gardener from the time that his blood is freely and 
warmly coursing through his veins till it becomes 
less active and the temperature is registered below 
summer he it. This is the period to which we 
should look forward, for, as Burns has it, is sad 
indeed to be under the necessity of realizing " Age 
and want is an ill-matched pair.” 
Gardeners for the most part are like birds of 
passage ; they can never consider that they are per¬ 
manently located in any spot, however well the 
surroundings may present themselves'; and I mayihere 
observe that here comes the test question as to what 
a gardener can really do in providing for his declining 
years; in very fact, in numerous cases, absolutely 
nothing. Many can speak feelingly in this respect, 
even those who have led temperate lives, and have 
been assiduous in their endeavours to command and 
maintain a respectable position in society. Gladly 
would they, if they could, have contributed to some 
good cause, so as to be able to receive something 
to comfort and sustain them in their declining yeais. 
True, we have benevolent institutions, which are doing 
excellent work in this direction, but that good work 
wants extending by more liberal aid from the affluent, 
for whose tastes and pleasures the gardener 
incessantly toils almost night and day, ofttimes 
under those difficulties of which no one but himself 
has the least conception. 
Having been a gardener for so many years my 
sympathies are naturally with my brother gardeners, 
and I would that the unfortunate could all be placed 
in a better position at the time when the old tree 
begins to show diminution in fruitfulness, after having 
contributed much that has tended to elevate and 
enhance the.comfort and happiness of the community 
in general .—Man of Kent. 
--*»- 
HARDY PLANTS FOR 
GROUPS AND MASSES. 
Much of the interest and beauty of a well-kept 
garden depends upon the right plants and flowers 
being grown in the right place; and while some of 
the plants named above may occasionally find 
suitable positions in the flower garden proper, yet 
they are mostly seen to the best advantage in masses 
and groups on the grass. They form a natural 
transition from the formality of the geometrical 
flower garden to nature, and nature’s gardening in 
the fields and woods beyond. In nature we see 
grand effects produced by masses of very common 
flowers. Most of us can call to recollection the 
glorious purple of a sunlit hillside when the native 
Heather is in bloom, or a woodland glade lighted 
up with thousands of scarlet Foxgloves, or bright 
white countless Primroses, or the blue of the wild 
Hyacinth. 
Although within the boundaries of the garden w r e 
cannot work on the extensive scale of nature, yet we 
may with advantage take a lesson from her book, and 
dispose such of our hardy plants as may be suitable in 
masses and groups sufficiently large to chow their 
distinctive character to harmonise with their sur¬ 
roundings, and to give additional interest and beauty 
to the garden. In positions by the margins of 
shrubberies, near walks, by the edge of the lake or 
river, or to break up a monotonous stretch of lawn, 
these hardy plants may be used with good effect. 
Some kinds like the Polygonum Sieboldii and P. 
sacchalinense may be usefully employed to cover 
bare spaces with luxuriant growth and foliage, 
where little else will grow. It may be further urged 
in these labour-saving times, that when once planted 
they require no further attention beyond an annual 
dressing in spring, and keeping clear of weeds till 
the plants grow sufficiently to keep the weeds down 
by the density of their growth. 
Another strong point in their favour is that they 
are self-supporting, requiring no staking or tying, 
supporting themselves in sturdy robust independence. 
As they are mostly of a free, graceful habit of growth, 
they do not accommodate themselves to angles and 
corners of geometrical pattern, but are seen to most 
advantage, and'are most at home, in beds cut out in 
grass, with free natural curves, avoiding sharp 
corners and points. If something geometrical is 
preferred, then the plain oval, circle, or parallelogram 
is most suitable. As the plants usually occupy the 
same position for a number of years, it is advisable 
to prepare the beds well in the first instance, 
particularly in the case of those of gross feeding 
tendencies and of luxuriant growth. 
If the soil is shallow, enough should be added to 
bring the depth to about 18 in., and manure or 
compost added according to the requirements of the 
toil. Drainage must not be overlooked if the natural 
drainage is not sufficient — as a water-logged soil in 
winter and spring would probably result in unhealthy 
growth. 
One of the most useful plants for a mass of color 
is the Lythrum roseum. It usually attains a height 
of from 3 ft. to 4 ft., and bears long spikes of rosy 
purple, and when grown in masses of some size 
invariably attracts attention. It is a gross feeder, 
and well repays a little trouble in the way of 
providing a deep rich soil. It is equally at home 
in the water, in creeks and bays, by the edges of 
lakes or rivers. Masses of this plant used to be 
grown at Cliveden, with excellent effect, in creeks 
on the edge of the river Thames. It does equally 
well, however, in suitable positions in the grounds 
where provided with a good root run. It is usually 
propagated by division of the roots and crowns 
in spring, and is planted about 12 in. to 18 in. apart. 
Another useful plant for growing in quantity is the 
old Fuschia Riccartoni. It does well with ordinary 
attention anywhere, but is perhaps most at home 
in positions near the sea, where the annual growth 
is not killed down, and where in the open it attains 
a height of 8 ft. to 10 ft., and on the walls 15 ft. 
to 20 ft. 
In most situations inland the annual growth is 
killed down, but it grows freely from the crown in 
spring, and many prefer the appearance of the F. 
Riccartoni when cut down annually, as it usually 
attains a height from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in a season, and 
flowers freely on the young growth. Tritonia 
Uvaria is capable of being employed with great 
effect where a bright bit of colour is wanted late in 
the season ; the plants present a creditable appearance 
all the year round, but in September and October, 
when other plants are showing the sere and yellow 
leaf, the Tritonia is bright with orange scarlet, and 
merits the common name of “ red hot poker” often 
applied to it. There are a good many varieties 
of the Tritonia, the old T. uvaria being perhaps the 
most useful and best known. There is T. nobilis, a 
strong-growing variety, with stems of 6 ft. to 7 ft. 
in height, bearing immense spikes of orange red. 
Other varieties are T. Burchellii, T. glaucescens, 
and T. grandis. T. corallina and T. Macowanii are 
dwarf varieties. 
For a mass of white perhaps nothing in its season 
equals the white Japanese Anemone, Honorine 
Jobert. From August till the first sharp frost the 
white Anemone is a sheet of white. The flower 
stems are produced very freely, and attain a height 
of from 2 ft. to 3 ft. Each stem produces a number 
of flowers which open in succession, and so prolong 
the blooming period. The leaves are a fine dark 
green, and are very ornamental. They are also 
useful for mixing in arrangements of flowers in vases 
and for table decoration. The red variety, named 
Rubra, is not such a strong grower as the white, and, 
though very useful for small beds or lines, is not so 
satisfactory in a large group. Anemone hybrida is 
a cross between the red and white, is of a bluish 
colour and grows as strong as the white Anemone, 
but the colour is not so distinct and effective. 
The plume Poppy, Bocconia cordata, is well worth 
a place where a group of sub-tropical character 
is required ; it grows from 3 ft. toy ft. in height, the 
stem ending in a branching plume or spike of a 
light fawn colour. The leaves are beautifully 
shaped, the under side being downy and white, and 
when stirred up by a breeze the shimmer of white is 
something like that of the woolly-leaved Poplar. 
A large mass of Bocconia is very characteristic, and 
produces quite a sub-tropical eflect. It flowers in 
September, and is much frequented by bees. 
Rudbeckia Newmannii forms a striking mass of 
yellow in autumn ; unlike some of the preceding 
plants, it is best when grown in rather poor soil. 
In rich soil it grows to a height of 5 ft. or 6 ft., but 
when grown under poorer conditions, it flowers at a 
height of 3 ft. to 4 ft. and is self-supporting. The 
