600 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 21, 1892. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS, 
The Orchid Growers' Calendar. 
Masdevallias. —Although at present somewhat 
out of fashion, no collection of Orchids, however 
small, can be considered complete without a few of the 
best Masdevallias. Their brilliant colours combined 
with easy culture cannot fail in time to make them 
again popular. The species which find most favour 
with us are M. Veitchii graudiflora, M. ignea 
militaris, the best forms of the variable M. Harryana, 
the beautiful white M. tovarensis, and the quaint M. 
Chimroea. The latter should be grown in a basket 
on account of its having drooping spikes, some of 
which will find their way down through the compost. 
We find that this species and Tovarensis do best 
when wintered in the Cattleya house, Good, rough, 
fibrous peat and sphagnum moss suits them well, to 
which should be added bits of broken pots or some 
sharp silver sand. Ours are grown in a low, span- 
roofed house running east and west. The plants are 
placed along the north side, a situation that seems to 
suit them well; on the south side Odontoglossums 
and Oncidiums are grown. 
Thrips are very partial to the young foliage, and 
if allowed to get a hold disfigure and cripple the 
leaves and spikes. We find it necessary to dip them 
in tobacco water once a week during winter and 
early spring, but this must now be discontinued or 
the fast advancing spikes are liable to get damaged 
by the operation. At this stage a light fumigation 
would be better, taking care to remove those that 
have their flowers expanded. 
Oncidium tigrinum. —These after a six months’ 
rest are starting into growth and will be potted 
forthwith, using two parts peat to one of moss. We 
pot them in as small pots as possible, pressing the 
compost very firm about them. The roots, being 
small, loose potting does not suit them. We grow 
these with the Odontoglossums, where they make 
larger bulbs every year. This is a grand Orchid, 
producing as it does its yellow' and brown flowers 
during the dull days of autumn and winter. The 
only thing to do it well is to give it a thorough rest 
after flowering, and liberal treatment when growing. 
Oncidium macranthum, one of the best of the 
genus, and requiring cool treatment, is just now 
coming into bloom. This is grown at the coolest 
end close to the door. Although equally easy to 
grow as O. tigrinum the treatment required is totally 
different. We never rest these for any length of 
time, the only rest they get being when in full 
bloom, and even then the bulbs must not be alkwved 
to shrivel or they will suffer. These require large 
pots and rather loose potting; as their roots are 
large and fleshy, the plant should be made secure 
by a neat stake. 
Now that the weather is warmer, the syringe may 
be applied more frequently, and if done properly 
very little watering with the water-pot will be 
required in the cool houses except perhaps a few 
plants in the back row'. We have discontinued fires 
in the cool divisions, but have everything in readi¬ 
ness should there being any indications of frost. The 
temperature mentioned in the last calendar should 
be maintained.—C. 
Cattleya Mendelii Quorndon House var. 
A well-flowered piece of this variety, grown in a 
basket, was shown by W. E. B. Farnham, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. Geo. Cook), Quorndon House, 
Loughborough, at the Drill Hall on the 3rd inst., 
and received a First-class Certificate. The pseudo¬ 
bulbs are fusiform, and stout. The sepals and large 
elliptic petals are white or faintly tinted with blush. 
The lip has a handsome appearance on account of 
the large, much undulated and crisped lamina, which 
is white with a pale yellow blotch in the throat, and 
a little purple lower down the tube. Three flowering 
stems carried in the aggregate seven flowers of large 
size and all fully expanded. 
Ccelogyne tomentosa. 
In general aspect this species resembles C. Massan- 
geana, and like that the raceme is pendulous, but all 
parts of the plant are smaller. A piece of it is grown 
in a basket suspended from the roof in one of the 
Orchid houses at Dibdin House, Ealing. The sepals 
are oblong-lanceolate, while the petals are very much 
narrower, and all are of a pale terra-cotta colour. 
The lip has pale yellow lines on a deep brown 
ground internally and tinted with orange brown at 
the edges externally. The middle lobe is reflexed, 
yellow in the centre, and brown at the tip with five 
platas or lamellae on the disc. The pseudo-bulbs 
and leaves are of moderate size, while the raceme is 
drooping, so that altogether the species is well suited 
for basket culture. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN, 
Poinsettias. —Those who require a batch of 
plants for early use would do well to put some of the 
old stock into heat, and supply them with a 
moderate amount of moisture till they start into 
growth. As soon as the more forward shoots 
get long and firm enough they should be taken 
off with a heel of the old wood and struck. 
Other Winter-flowering Plants. —Cuttings of 
Euphorbias, Eranthemums, Peristrophe, Thyrsacan- 
thus, Sericographis, and others of that kind that 
show by the growth they are making that they are 
rooted, should be potted off before they get at 
all crowded or drawn. Pinch them to encourage a 
bushy habit as soon as they have taken to the fresh 
soil. 
Gloxinias. —The earlier sown batches are now 
flowering freely, and to induce them to last longer 
they should be removed to a somewhat cooler house 
with a dry atmosphere. If slightly shaded from 
direct sunshine, so much the better. Arranged in a 
conservatory where they can be kept somewhat 
warmer than in a greenhouse, and in a groundwork 
of Maidenhair Fern, their delicate and pleasing 
colours are shown off to the best advantage. 
Celosias and Balsams. —The seedlings are now 
growing freely, and must be looked after in the way 
of potting to keep them growing. Celosias enjoy 
bottom heat, and when Balsams are intended to be 
grown to large size, they must also enjoy the same 
advantage, keeping them close to the glass and venti¬ 
lated to keep them short-jointed. If small plants of 
Celosias are wanted for late autumn and winter use, 
a sowing may be made now. 
Primulas and Cinerarias. —Seeds of both these 
useful subjects should be sown for the main batch 
next winter and spring. Cover the seeds lightly and 
place the pans containing them on a moist bed 
of tan or coal ashes. As soon as the young seedlings 
are fairly above the soil, the pans should be placed 
near the glass, but not in direct sunshine, and they 
will thereby be prevented from getting drawn, or 
made liable to damping. 
Solanums. —The old plants which did service 
last winter, and were cut down and started again, 
will now be ready to plant out of doors in a warm, 
sheltered bed to complete their growth, flower, and 
set fruit. In case we should have cold, frosty nights, 
it would be well to see that the plants are properly 
hardened off before being planted out. 
Vineries. —White Grapes are greatly improved in 
colour and flavour by being exposed freely to light 
just when colouring naturally. This may be done by 
turning aside the leaves which shade them. Black 
Grapes would not colour properly if so treated. It 
is a mistake to keep the roots of Madresfield Court 
in a dry state to prevent cracking, until it becomes 
absolutely necessary to supply water, for it is 
then that the mischief is done, by the absorption of 
too much of this moisture; while if the skin of the 
berries has become hardened by the check given 
from want of a proper and continuous supply, it is 
unable to swell afterwards when water is given, and 
cracking is the result. Keep the atmosphere drier 
when the berries are colouring and swelling, but the 
roots moist. 
Figs. —Succession houses, where the fruit is now 
swelling for ripening, should be kept somewhat drier 
and more airy. All plants in pots must, however, be 
kept well watered at the root, but not syringed over¬ 
head. A plentiful supply of moisture in the atmo¬ 
sphere can be kept up by the damping down of all 
paths and woodwork. This is necessary to prevent 
in a measure the development and increase of red 
spider. 
Cabbages.—The last sowing for this season’s use 
should be made in the first week of June, using only 
those kinds which are fairly hardy and which will be 
fit for use in autumn and early winter. The Hardy 
Green and the Rosette Coleworts should be included 
with some of Ellam’s Early, and Enfield Market 
Cabbages. 
Cottagers' Kale and Curled Kale. —These are 
often planted late from a mistaken notion that 
because they are intended for late use, they need not 
be sown or planted out till late in the season. This 
is a mistake, for they then have no time to attain 
anything like full size, nor can they supply that 
amount of useful produce which they otherwise 
would. If not planted in their permanent quarters, 
they should be seen to at once. If the soil is very 
dry on the top, shallow furrows should be taken out 
by means of the draw hoe, and the plants inserted in 
the moist earth. This would facilitate watering 
when that became necessary during a droughty 
period. 
Asparagus. —Go round the beds every morning, 
and cut all the shoots that are fit for use, otherwise, 
in such dry weather as has prevailed for some time 
past, the stems will soon get hard and woody. A 
good watering, so as to thoroughly soak the beds, 
would be of great service, and accelerate growth 
where the daily supply is not equal to the demand. 
If the soil is sufficiently loose and friable, the shoots 
had best be pulled up between the two foremost fin¬ 
gers and the thumb, so as to avoid the injury often 
caused by the Asparagus knife. 
-- 
©bttuan?. 
We regret to record the death of an ardent and 
highly-esteemed gardener in the person of Mr. 
A. R. Cox, of Elm Hall, Wavertree, Liverpool, who 
passed away on the 9th inst., after but a few days’ ill¬ 
ness from pneumonia, at the early age of 41 years, 
leaving a widow and five young children. The 
deceased was gardener to W. H. Watts, Esq., for a 
period of sixteen years, at Aigburth and Wavertree, 
and was most successful as an exhibitor, a most use¬ 
ful member of the committee of the Liverpool Horti¬ 
cultural Association, and highly esteemed by the 
gardeners of the locality, about 70 of whom were 
present at the funeral. 
-- 
Questions add snsuieRS. 
%* Correspondents are requested, in order to avoid delay , 
to address all communications to “The Editor 
or “ The Publisher,” and not to any person bv 
name, unless the correspondence is of a private 
character. Telegrams may be addressed “ Bambusa, 
London 
Aspidistra Flowers. —Puzzled One : The fleshy 
objects you mention as having appeared above 
ground in your pots of Aspidistra during the winter 
are the flowers. They are produced from the under¬ 
ground portion of the plant, and never rise above the 
surface of the soil. The plant belongs to the Lily 
family, but differs widely from the ordinary types in 
the number of parts of the floral organs, their fleshi¬ 
ness and peculiar structure. There seems no reason 
why the flowers should not develop fruit and seeds 
if they have been properly fertilized. They do not 
as a rule produce seeds, but no one seems to give them 
any attention. The stigma is a large and peculiarly- 
shaped organ somewhat resembling an umbrella, 
which covers the greater part of the bell-shaped 
flower, all but concealing the stamens. If you could 
transfer some of the pollen from the stamens to the 
stigma the chances are that your plant will ripen seeds. 
Show and Alpine Auriculas. — F. X. 0 . : You 
would frequently find some details of the subject by 
reading the articles on Auriculas that appear under 
the heading of Floriculture. From the descriptions 
you furnish us with, it is evident that you have both 
show and Alpine varieties. A ring of meal round 
the eye of a flower, is evidence that it belongs to the 
show section. The Alpines also belong to the same 
species (Primula Auricula), and merely constitute a 
race or strain sufficiently distinct for exhibition pur¬ 
poses to be kept separate, and shown under a different 
section. There is no ring of meal round the eye. 
The stamens when seated at the mouth of the flower, 
as they should be in what florists reckon a good 
flower, constitute the thrum ; around this is a ring 
covered with powder and termed the paste. This in 
turn is followed by some dark colour termed the 
ground or body colour. This by the florist would be 
termed a self. Then we have edged flow'ers, with a 
green, grey, or white edge according as the latter is 
without meal, or has a small quantity or a large 
quantity of powder. The Alpine varieties differ by 
having no meal or powder on the zone surrounding 
the thrum and by some termed the paste ; and also 
by the body colour gradually fading into or blending 
with a pale'r and shaded margin. The paste may be 
white or yellow, the latter being most appreciated. 
The flowers may be as large as you can get ihem so 
long as they are of good substance, and they should 
be flat. 
