242 
December 16, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
a knotty subject, but not incapable of solution. He 
suggested as a basis of discussion that the maximum 
total of points should be 8, each “point” being 
susceptible of division, if required, into 12 “ marks.” 
Thus he would give to diameter up to 2 points, to 
depth up to i.J points, to solidity up to points, to 
colour up to I point, to finish up to i point, and to 
breadth of petal up to i point, making a total of 8 
points. He added no points for freshness because it 
was taken for granted that the flowers would be 
perfectly fresh at the time of exhibition, but he 
would empower the judges to deduct points up to 
3 for want of freshness, and to add points up to 2 
for flowers exhibited in a high state of excellence of 
such varieties as Mrs. Alpheus Hardy and Gloriosum 
which are known to be difficult to cultivate. He 
would allow nothing for mere novelty, and adduced 
forcible reasons why that should not be done. 
From an educational point of view it would be of 
the greatest value if an analysis of the ” pointing ” 
in a printed form could be appended to the first 
prize stands, even if only in the more important 
classes. It would not take long to do when judges 
got used to the system, and it would be a matter of 
very great interest to the Chrysanthemum public, 
because it would afford them an opportunity of 
"judging the judgment of the judges,” but whether 
every judge would appreciate this aspect of the 
situation was another matter. 
Other aspects of the question of judging, perhaps 
less of principle than of practice, were also discussed 
by the writer, and one of them was the practical 
aspect of disqualification for duplicates when dis¬ 
tinct varieties were required by the schedule. The 
increasing accession of new varieties was a serious 
factor in the case, and many judges, either from 
want of knowledge or decision of character, hesi¬ 
tated to apply the rule when the terms of the 
schedule had not been complied with. He there¬ 
fore thought that the position of the judge ought to 
be made clear and unambiguous, and all difficulties 
possible of removal should be taken from his path. 
Mr. Shea illustrated his views by a reference to the 
case of the admissibility on the same stand as dis¬ 
tinct varieties of Viviand Morel, and the alleged white 
sport therefrom. The subject was full of perplexity, 
considering the sporting proclivities of such 
varieties as Viviand Morel, and he suggested that 
there will come a time, if it had not already arrived, 
when the bracketing of practically identical 
(whether bona fide sports or not), and other “too 
much alike” varieties will become an absolute 
necessity. 
It was an admirable essay on the subject, argu¬ 
mentative, logical and evidently well thought out, 
and we can but regret that we can give only a bare 
summary of it. A brief discussion followed, and a 
general feeling having been expressed that another 
evening should be devoted to its discussion after the 
paper had been printed, it was resolved that this 
arrangement should be adopted and a very hearty 
vote of thanks to Mr. Shea brought the proceedings 
to a close. 
--j--- 
ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM AT HOME. 
The range of Odontoglossum crispumis a large one, 
extending on the western slopes of the Eastern 
Cordillera, from Equator to nearly the sixth degree 
northern latitude; and on the central Cordillera 
from Equator to nearly the third degree northern 
latitude. The best varieties, however, are only 
found on a comparatively small range, between 
fourth and fifth degrees northern latitude. Pacho 
has been, and probably will be for a long time to 
come, the centre for collectors, but there are a few 
other locations adjoining Pacho where this Orchid 
luxuriates, among them Facatativa, Zipaquira, Suba- 
choque, and San Cayetano. 
^wing to the large number of plants collected 
around Pacho, they are becoming very scarce in 
that vicinity, and it is only after several days’ march 
into the forest that Orchids are obtained. 
Odontoglossum crispum is found at an elevation 
of 6,000 ft. above sea level, and ascends very closely 
to 9,000 ft., always growing on the thick limbs or in 
the crutches of large trees, such as Chinconas, 
Melastomas, Quercus, and Walnut trees. I always 
found the finest varieties and the best developed 
plajits at an elevation of between 6,000 ft. and 
7,000 ft.; higner than that the flowers diminish in 
size and beauty. Of course, the reason of that 
diminution is obvious, when we consider that for 
every 100 ft. we ascend, the temperature decreases. 
There is no reason to suppose that there is a 
different strain of varieties, the lower temperature 
simply preventing the proper development of the 
plants. I also found that immediately above 
6,000 ft. the bulbs were of a more rounded, com¬ 
pact, and solid appearance (causing them not to 
shrivel so much when dried), while the leaves 
were broad and vigorous. Higher up the flowers 
are, as a rule, smaller ; the bulbs are more pear- 
shaped and contain a large quantity of water, 
causing them to rot fast, or, at best, to shrivel a 
great deal when dried off; the leaves are also long 
and narrow. 
I mention these facts for the benefit of persons 
engaged in growing these “ pearls of the Vegetable 
Kingdom ” ; because I believe many imagine Odonto- 
glossums grow close up to the snow line, which is a 
great mistake.' I never saw the thermometer 
register a lower temperature than between 55° and 
60“ at night, at an elevation of 6,000 ft. to 7,000 ft. 
above sea level; higher up, or at nearly 9,000 ft., I 
have seen the temperature go down to 42°, but with 
the result I have already indicated. 
During clear days plants exposed to the full sun 
receive a temperature little short of 75° to 80°. The 
amount of moisture they are exposed to is very 
great, as at no time of the year is there a perfectly 
dry season in these regions. At other times, when 
not actually raining, dense fogs arise and travel up¬ 
wards, accumulating in the higher regions until 
everything is enveloped in a black mist, and the 
moisture the plants receive in this manner is con¬ 
siderable. 
A very marked item in connection with Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum is its fondness of light and air. It 
is never found growing in the dense virgin forests, 
but always where there are occasional openings, and 
where it can receive the sunlight in a more or less 
degree, and enjoy the breezes that play between the 
branches of the trees. This is one of the reasons 
why, at times, this plant will persistently follow 
little streams and gullies in the mountains, which, in 
their course, so to speak, split the forest open. 
In company with Odontoglossum crispum, and 
often intermixed with it, grows O. Lindleyanum. 
Large masses of these plants are often found on 
trees where one or two O. crispums have managed 
to get a foothold. However, be the number of 
plants ever so few, the tree is brought to the ground 
without pity, the plants torn off, carried to the 
"Rancho,” dried off, packed and shipped thousands 
of miles from their native haunts, in order to 
beautify greenhouses and conservatories, and for 
people to admire their chaste and beautiful flowers. 
—John E. Lager, in “Florists' Exchange.” 
- -.4.-— 
THE SOURCES OF PLANT 
FOOD. 
This was the subject of a paper read by Mr. E. 
Griffiths Hughes at the meeting of the Manchester 
Horticultural Improvement Society held on the 7th 
inst., Mr. A. Stansfield presiding. Mr. Griffiths 
Hughes said of all matters connected with horti¬ 
culture there is none of greater importance for a 
gardener to thoroughly understand than the manipu¬ 
lation of those substances which may be designated 
as plant food, and a knowledge of the sources from 
which he could draw, with some degree of certainty, 
that which he would require for feeding his plants in 
order that he might show the best results in the pro¬ 
duction of fruit, flowers, and vegetables. Plants feed 
upon the manure that is applied to the roots, and if 
the manure be judiciously supplied, the crop will be 
abundant. This would be admitted as a general 
rule, but if their knowledge of plant cultivation and 
fruit production did not extend further than this, 
they would never make the progress necessary to 
compete with the advanced systems of cultivation 
which the climatic conditions of other countries per¬ 
mit, and which enable the foreign growers to flood 
our markets with fruit and flowers in such large 
quantities, and at such prices as make it difficult for 
the home grower to produce. Plants draw a small 
portion of their substance from the soil, and well 
manured soils produce more in proportion than soil 
not manured. But this knowledge did not enable 
them to understand the subject as a gardener should 
when aiming at high cultivation. 
They had better begin by ascertaining from the 
plant itself what are its requirements, so as to arrive 
at the truth, and understand more thoroughly the 
things which enter into its composition. This was 
very important, as it would enable them to inquire 
into the nature of these substances, and perhaps get 
at the knowledge of the sources from which they 
might be supplied to the plants at the least possible 
expense, and not only this, but save an over-worked 
gardener a great amount of unnecessary toil and 
anxiety in providing for his plants that which was 
required, without any of the additions which his 
former want of knowledge generally caused him to 
supply. All vegetable matter, without distinction, 
tree, plant, or moss, shows in its tissues the presence 
of fourteen different elements, and these elements are 
always the same whatever be the character of the 
plant or vegetable. These elements possess very dis¬ 
similar properties, and might be divided into two 
classes—the organic elements and the mineral 
elements. The former are represented by carbon, 
oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen. To separate these 
it is only necessary to burn the plant and the whole 
of the o-rganic matter is consumed by fire, leaving 
the mineral in the form of an ash or dry powder. The 
organic elements are plentifully supplied from the air 
and water, and make up ninety-three per cent, of the 
plant’s whole existence. Thus, ninety-three per cent, 
of the weight of all vegetable matter is produced from 
natural sources supplied in unlimited quantities 
without trouble or expense to the gardener if his 
plants be grown in the open. The ten mineral 
elements are phosphorus, potash, lime, magnesia, 
sulphur, iron, chlorine, soda, silica, and manganese. 
All these ten minerals are found in the tissues of 
every well-cultivated plant, whatever its character 
may be, and if the soil be deficient in any one of the 
ten minerals, the constitution of the plant is injured 
more or less in proportion to the part played by that 
particular mineral in the development of plant life. 
These ten minerals are abstracted from the soil in 
a soluble state, with water through rhe roots, and 
drawn up by the plants in the leaves, and then con¬ 
verted along with the other four elements by the 
chemical action of solar light and heat into a sub¬ 
stance necessary for the construction of the plant. 
Out of the ten minerals which enter into the con¬ 
struction of plants and are absolutely necessary for 
their development seven of them are found in super¬ 
abundance in all soils used for horticultural purposes. 
Three, phosphorus, potash, and lime, are found in 
the soil, but not in sufficient quantities for the 
requirement of vegetation without being added in 
more or less quantities as the plants require. This 
is accounted f >r by the fact that a much larger 
quantity of these three minerals are abstracted from 
the soil by plants than of the other seven minerals, 
and when these three are plentifully and propor¬ 
tionately supplied in the shape of super-phosphate, 
nitrate of potash, and slacked lime, every gardener 
can rest satisfied that the part required of him in 
the feeding of his plants has been properly carried 
out. Many plants abstract nitrogen in a direct 
manner from the atmosphere, while others again 
abstract it from the soil in the form of nitrate or of 
ammonia. The usual form in which it is supplied is 
either as nitrate of soda or potash and as sulphate of 
ammonia. In this manner it may be considered as 
forming a chemical element which must be supplied 
to the soil in conjunction with the other three 
chemicals hs had mentioned. By so doing they 
restored to the soil that which is mostly abstracted by 
the plant in the process of growth. If only these four 
chemical elements are supplied the soil will never 
become exhausted. To gardeners it is most impor¬ 
tant to understand which of the chemicals pre¬ 
dominate in the plants under their care, and to 
know what is the dominant element. The dominant 
element varies in different plants, and the gardeners 
could feed their plants and vegetables with absolute 
certainty when they knew the dominant element of 
those they cultivate. 
-- 
Lapageria Rosea, Nash Court Variety.— 
This handsome variety still maintains its supremacy 
as one of the most striking forms of L. rosea. The 
great length of the flowers cannot fail to arrest the 
eye when seen either by itself or in company with 
other types. The deep red segments are fleshy and 
of great substance. The only fault we have for it is 
that the blooms do not spread a little more at the 
mouth, for then the effect would be greatly enhanced 
by the apparent larger size of the flowers. An old 
plant of it in the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, seems to be a perpetual bloomer. 
