Dec. 20th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
245 
THE PHAL^ENOPSIS. 
General. favourites on account of the remarkable 
beauty of their flowers, longing eyes are often cast at 
the Phalasnopsids, even by those who have made up 
their minds to grow only strictly cold-house plants. 
To such we would say do not meddle with them unless 
prepared to make some concessions in their favour, 
for although of late years many have succeeded in 
growing them to perfection in anything but hothouses, 
they have never yet proved themselves to be fit 
subjects for the cold-houses, and those who are wise 
will not push them too far in that direction. 
The main difficulty in the way of Phalamopsis 
culture under cold-house treatment is the time at 
which most of them make their growth—viz., from 
February to October—a considerable space of time 
during which there is no artificial heat in the cold- 
house, consequently the plants would not thrive there. 
Long after it would be imperative to let out the fires 
as being injurious to the cold-house Orchids, they 
would be required by the Phahenopsids, for even in 
summer they thrive best when a little artificial heat 
is on the house in which they are grown, to assist in 
keeping the air stirring and to allow of the necessary 
amount of moisture being given without fear of injury 
to the plants by the condensed humidity falling back 
on them through a sudden fall in the temperature 
outside during the night. 
Two things may be made accountable for the death 
of more Phalamopsis than all the other causes put 
together, and they are keeping them too cool, dry, airy 
and sunny in summer, and too hot and close in winter 
But that they will do well in a low temperature in winter 
has been proved in many instances, and particularly 
m that of the fine collection of these plants which 
F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Q.C., had when at his old place, 
nearEegent’sPark, where he grew them in the Cattleya- 
house in summer and kept them in a very cool one in 
vinter. One very cold winter we visited them several 
times and found the thermometer between 50 degs. and 
55 degs. and the plants waving about by the vibration 
of the roof, from the strong'-wind blowing on it. The 
plants were of course kept fairly dry, and no sign of 
spot or any other mark of disapproval even exhibited 
itself on them. 
But special culture under extreme measures should 
only be resorted to by those who adopt it for them¬ 
selves, and is never to be recommended, and therefore 
the best temperature in which to grow Phalamopsis 
will be found to be from October to February, 60 degs. 
to 65 degs. by night, and 65 degs. to 68 degs. by day, 
and from February to October, 65 degs. to 70 degs. at 
night, and /0 degs. to 80 degs. by day, fire heat being 
gently kept going during the whole of the growing 
season and a fair amount of air and an abundance of 
water being given at the same time. In winter, too, 
the plants do best when kept moist, as they have no 
pseudo-bulbs to store supplies in, and if kept too dry 
the damage is irremediable. Although the Phake- 
nopsis likes light, direct sunlight is the worst enemy 
they have, and they should therefore always be care¬ 
fully shaded against it. 
Phalamopsis-growing is again coming to the front. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., of Clapton, have houses full of 
the beauties just coming into bloom, and Messrs. F. 
Sander & Co. have built an immense new Phalsnopsis- 
house at their grand Orchid establishment at St. 
Albans, and what is more, they have many new 
Phahenopsids already in it. At Mr. B. S. Williams’, 
Mr. Bull’s, Messrs. Veitch’s, and other famous Orchid 
growing establishments there will also soon be fine 
displays. Our illustration represents two plants— 
the fragrant P. Schilleriana in Mr. Holbrook 
Gaskell’s garden at Woolton Wood, where they are 
well grown in company with the other Phalamopsis 
in the most shady end of one of the warm houses. 
Mr. Davies, the gardener, finds them do best either 
mounted on the ends of tall logs or on upright 
cylinders, the logs or cylinders being stood in 
pans of water during the growing season. Many 
larger plants than those represented are there, and 
all are in the greatest vigour. Baskets, cylinders, or 
blocks are certainly the safest for all Phalamopsis, as 
they admit of the roots getting more air than if in 
pots, although in the hands of some the last-named 
receptacle is found to answer well. Sphagnum moss 
is the only material which has stood the general test 
for growing them in. 
The best and showest Phalamopsids are :— 
P. Schilleriana, flowers rose, leaves mottled (see illus¬ 
tration). 
P. amabilis, white, centre marked with crimson. 
,, grandiflora, white, centre marked with yellow. 
,, Sanderiana, lovely delicate pink. 
,, Stuartiana, white, lower sepals and lips stained 
with yellow and spotted with brown. 
,, Luddemanniana, carmine, white, and yellow. 
„ violacea, cream and violet-purple. 
„ Schroderi, pink and crimson. 
,, leucorrhoda, white, flushed with rose. 
„ casta, white, rose at base of the petals. 
,, intermedia (Lobbii, Brymeriana), rose. 
The above is a good and easily obtainable selection 
(except P. intermedia, which is rare). The five first 
named and their numerous varieties being deservedly 
the favourites. 
Other species of Phalamopsis are P. Veitchii, 
rosy-lilac ; P. Lowii, rose and purple ; P. antennifera, 
blush to crimson; P. rosea, pale rose; P. Parishii, 
light rose and ruby-red; P. Beichenbachiana, creamy 
white, barred with crimson, lip white and yellow;. 
P. tetraspis, white; P. speciosa, white, stained and 
barred with crimson ; P. Sumatrana, white, barred 
with crimson; P. Wightii, white, centre marked with 
violet; P. amethystina, white and crimson ; P. fus- 
cata, yellow, barred and marked with brown; and 
P. Cornu-cervi, greenish yellow, marked with brown. 
—James O'Brien. 
-- 
PEAS FOR EXHIBITION. 
Probably no vegetable has undergone the improve¬ 
ment within the last few years that has characterized 
the rapid strides that have been made in Peas. 
Thirty-five years ago, when my first experiences in 
connection with horticulture commenced, the choice 
of varieties was very limited, the early varieties then 
being confined to the Early Frame section, all of 
them small, white, round Peas, and the later varieties 
comprising the Blue Prussian class and Knight’s tall 
and dwarf marrows. 
About that time my father introduced Excelsior, 
an improvement on the old Bingwood Marrow, and 
still retained in the seed-lists. The stock of this Pea, 
about six bushels, was sold to Messrs. Nutting, the 
well-known London seedsmen, for eighty guineas. 
Others turned their attention to improvement by 
careful hybridization. Hair’s Dwarf Mammoth, 
still a most useful Pea, marked a decided advance 
in wrinkled Peas, and Fairbeard introduced the still 
universally esteemed Champion of England, invaluable 
as a market Pea. Laxton and McLean came to the 
front, their introductions being received and are still 
held in marked favour, until now the seed-lists teem 
with so great a plethora of varieties that it is difficult 
to make a selection, unless guided by experience, 
without bewilderment. 
In the face of modem improvements, many of 
the older sorts must be set down as tolerated only 
from old associations, or the fact that too often 
weighs with many, that they can be bought cheap, 
while I fear that many of the newer varieties are 
sent out merely for the purpose of adding something 
annually to the “novelty” list, without any great 
pretention to merit. The encouragement given by 
local Horticultural Societies has brought an array 
of exhibition Peas into the market, and it is with 
these that I purpose to deal at present. 
For several years I have taken a pride in growing 
Peas for exhibition, and the reader may take it for 
granted that a Pea with exhibition characteristics, 
namely, size and beauty of pod with quality combined, 
will combine every table requisite. At least, that is 
my experience, and in growing for exhibition, I always 
have an eye to the utilitarian side as well. This year 
I grew the following list, and I place them in the 
order of merit to which I consider them entitled :— 
Duke of Albany (Abbott’s).—A new Pea of 1884, 
sent out by Messrs. Hurst & Son. It is a wrinkled 
Pea, bearing a profusion of extra large well-filled pods 
of a most beautiful dark green colour, borne in pairs 
for the most part containing from nine to twelve very 
large Peas in a pod, of most exceptional quality. It 
is a moderately strong grower, from 5 ft. to 6 ft. high, 
and branching habit. I purchased a sealed half-pint 
packet of this variety in March, divided it into three 
parts, giving two parts to two friends, and sowed the 
one part I retained in a row about 20 ft. long, in the 
beginning of April. From this row I obtained prizes 
GROUP OF PHAL.ENOPSIS AT WOOLTON WOOD. 
