364 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Feb. 7th, 1885. 
THE 
(9rcbib (Irotes* CalmDar. 
On Potting- East Indian Orchids.— Those 
who hare finished potting their cool-house Orchids 
should now proceed with the Aerides, Yandas, 
Saccolabiums, Phalfenopsids, Ac., but where other 
matters are pressing, a week or a fortnight hence will 
do equally well, provided there are not too many to 
be seen to. in which case the shifting would last too 
long into the spring. A great many of these plants 
begin their growth actively in March, and I have 
always found it better to have them all finished well 
before that month comes in. 
Baskets were formerly used for all Orchids of this 
class, and there is no doubt that they prefer them as 
they allow of a better supply of air to the roots. I 
have also found that Saccolabiums frequently produce 
much longer spikes when suspended in baskets, and 
that when so grown, the short, abruptly terminated 
spike, which is often a defect in S. Blumei when grown 
in pots, is done away with, and the infloresenee 
assumes more the character of S. guttatum. The 
elongation of the spikes is brought about in the same 
way, as the tails of Cypripediunr caudatum are made 
to grow to an extraordinary length by keeping them 
well away from the chance of contact; in this manner 
the tails of C. caudatum which had stopped growth on 
touc h i n g the stage, may be made to grow much longer 
by the plant being raised on an inverted flower-pot. 
So with Saccolabiums, even the chance of contact 
with any object often stops the growth of the spike. 
This I first noticed when I had the entire mass of 
the original S. guttatum Holfordianum under my care, 
the first year it flowered on the stage, and were it not 
for the beautiful colouring of the flowers I should not 
have thought a great deal of it, but noticing the 
abrupt ter m i n ation of the spikes, I concluded there 
was more in them than had been brought out, and 
so the next year, while the spikes were growing, I 
raised the plant high up over the shallow tank on 
the stage. The result was that the flower-spikes 
grew to an extraordinary length, and there being 
about a score of them, the plant was something to 
talk about. But there are drawbacks to the use of 
baskets to too great an extent. In the first place 
they are bound to decay sooner or later, and then the 
plants having covered them with their roots, are sure 
to receive a very rude check when the old baskets are 
removed preparatory to their being placed in new 
ones, and secondly, the baskets harbour insects. 
Therefore for general use, considered in all its 
bearings, there is nothing better than the common 
flower-pot, although for small or odd plants the 
baskets and rafts are very useful. When growing 
in pots, too, the proper growth of the flower-spikes 
can be secured equally well by the plants being 
raised well up during their growth. 
Sphagnum moss is the best material in which to pot 
all East Indian Orchids, the pots being crocked rather 
more than two-thirds of the way up. Where the plants 
have many roots or long bare stems, it is better, 
after having trimmed away all the decayed portion, 
to place the plant as low down in the pot as desirable 
before crocking, and then to carefully place in the 
crocks and finish up with sphagnum, care being in all 
cases taken to divide the roots with the material used 
in potting in the same maimer as they arrange them¬ 
selves, and not to bunch them up together. In 
starting to pot in a house, it is best to clear a good 
space and thoroughly cleanse it, and then attend to 
the plants on the next portion, potting those which 
require it, and cleaning all, the plants being passed 
over to the clean space prepared for them as they are 
done, and the next portion thus made vacant cleaned 
and used in the same manner, and so on throughout 
the house. Y> here empty flower-pots are used for 
raising plants, these too should be washed as they are 
passed over, so as to destroy insects or fungus germs. 
After re-potting, any of the leaves which have 
grown out of their place or got bent over, should be 
properly fastened and in a short time they will set 
right; Saccolabiums, Aerides, Yandas, Ac., are liable 
to this, particularly when grown too close, and watch 
should always be kept on the young growth and the 
usual means be resorted to to keep it right if seen to 
be going out of its course. Until the plants begin to 
show signs of moving after re-potting, care must be 
taken not to give too much water, as it is particularly 
injurious to fresh-potted plants .—James O'Brien. 
Temperatures for the Month. —The weather 
being so mild, considerable attention will have to be 
given to the heating apparatus in order to keep the 
temperature down, indeed in the cold-house it should 
be kept only just in hand, ready if frost sets in. The 
proper temperatures for the month of February 
are:— 
Wahm-house, East Indian, 65 degs. to 70 degs. by 
day, 60 degs. at night. 
Cattleya or Ixteemediate - house, 60 degs. to 
65 degs. by day, 55 degs. at night. 
Cool or Odoxtoglossum-eouse, 50 degs. to 55 degs. 
by day, 45 degs. at night, Fahrenheit. 
Air should be admitted freely in fair weather, a 
little being left on at the bottom all night in all 
the houses .—James O'Brien. 
ORCHID NOTES. 
The Propagation of Phalsenopsis. —Hitherto 
I knew three different methods of increasing one’s stock 
of this grand Orchid— i.e., from seeds, from runners, 
and by division of the plant. I have never been able 
to obtain seed from my plants, but I am aware that 
more skilful cultivators have succeeded in maturing 
PLANTS OX THE BOOTS OF PHAL.EXOPSIS. 
a few pods. As to the vegetation of this seed in our 
climate it is a different matter, none, to my knowledge, 
has ever germinated. It is only from hearsay that I 
know that it is possible to obtain plants by this 
method. If my informant is correct, Messrs. Yeiteh 
have succeeded in crossing some varieties and in 
obtaining seedlings. We may one day, how far 
remote I cannot say, hear of them and be presented 
with remarkable hybrids. 
The second method of propagation is well 
known. P. Luddemanniana and P. Sehilleriana will 
frequently produce a little plant at the extremity of a 
flowering spike. A few weeks after the blooming is 
over this runner will throw ofi a few roots. If it is 
then cut ofi and planted it will grow and bloom the 
following season. 
The third method of increasing the stock is the best 
for such species as P. amabilis, grandiflora, Sanderiana, 
violacea, Ac. The crown of a strong growing plant 
will frequently break into two or even three leaders. I 
have at present two plants of P. amabilis having each 
three new crowns. After a time each leader produces 
roots of its own, and the old specimen can then be 
subdivided without difficulty. 
I was not aware till recently that there was a fourth 
method, and I wonder if it is known to all amateurs. 
I have a plant of P. Sehilleriana growing in a basket, 
and some time ago a few of its roots were disturbed and 
bruised, or rather pricked, near their extremities. A 
green speck soon appeared there, and for days it did 
not seem to alter, but, upon close investigation, it 
resolved itself into a tiny leaflet. Later on the speck 
increased in size and gradually a second leaflet 
appeared. 
I have now on one root a little plant with 
two small leaves (as shown at a in the above 
illustration), which I shall shortly remove and 
pot singly. A second speck (b), now increasing in 
size, will enable me to repeat the experiment. If a 
puncture on a root can really superinduce the forma¬ 
tion of a plant, the propagation of Phalienopsis will 
be a matter of great simplicity, for these plants 
produce roots in abundance.— A. F. L. 
Orchids in Flower. —Some beautiful varieties of 
the pretty little Pleione humile are in flower with 
F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Q.C., at Oldfield, Bickley, well 
illustrating the variability of the species. One extreme 
variety has pale lilac flowers, with the fringed lip 
profusely spotted with rose, and another has blush 
flowers with yellowish-brown markings in the throat. 
The plants which are in the most vigorous health are 
grown near the glass in a cold house and kept always 
moist. 
Choice Orchids from Cheltenham. —Mr. James 
Cypher, of Queen’s Boad Nursery, Cheltenham, sends 
a sample of the flowers of some of the Orchids which 
he grows so well, viz., a grand spike of Barkeria 
Skinneri, with bright rosy-mauve flowers, each 14 ins. 
across. It has been in flower for more than two 
months, and was grown on a bare block suspended at 
the cool end of a Cattleya-house and kept always wet. 
Lalia anceps Barkeriana, with flowers 44 ins. across 
and dark purplish-crimson lip ; a most perfectly 
formed and large-flowered Odontoglossum Bossii 
majus ; an equally fine Dendrobium luteolum 
chlorocentrum ; a giant form of Lycaste Skinneri 
delicatissima, with flowers over 5 ins. across and 
sepals If ins. wide; and a grand spray of Odonto¬ 
glossum Cervantesii, with seven flowers which have 
been open two months and are still fresh. Mr. Cypher 
has many with seven flowers on a spike, and that 
proves that it likes his moist cool treatment. He 
has also a plant of Odontoglossum Hallii showing five 
strong spikes. 
Cattleya PercivaHana. —This neat and lovely 
Cattleya is flowering well in most collections. Mr. 
Percival’s two immense specimens have turned out 
grand varieties, and his many ordinary plants show 
very fine and varied forms. Among distinct forms of 
it, Mr. Hardy, of Timperley, has a lovely one with a 
very bright lip, having a broad lavender-coloured 
edge, which gives it a very handsome and distinct 
appearance. 
Dendrobium Hasselti. —In the January number 
of The Illustration Horticole is a good figure of this 
plant, which, though not one of the lions of the 
genus, is still a very pretty plant. The racemes 
bear two or three pale rosy-purple flowers, and are 
produced along the old pseudo-bulbs, as in the D. 
nobile group. It is a native of the Indian Archi¬ 
pelago. 
The Orchid Album. —The Orchids illustrated in 
the current number of this publication are Ltelia 
peduneularis, Dendrobium cunentum, Odontoglossum 
Pescatorei, and Cyrtopodium cardiockilum. 
FLORICULTURE, 
Cyclamens for Market. —Cyclamen culture in 
a wholesale way for market, has hitherto been confined 
to a few noted growers, but the number seems to be 
increasing if we may judge from the quantities now 
brought to market. Some three or four years ago, 
the culture of this beautiful plant on a large scale 
was commenced by Messrs. H. Page & Sons, of The 
Grove Nursery, Teddington, and if anyone desires an 
illustration of the thorough way in which any plant 
is “ done ” when taken in hand by a market grower— 
the Cyclamens in The Grove Nursery will furnish one 
of an undoubtedly excellent character. During the 
last three weeks and especially before bulk was broken, 
the show of flowers in the long, low span-roofed 
houses, was a sight to be remembered, and though 
now some thousands have been sent away, those 
daily coming into saleable condition, and especially 
the splendid lot of plants which are being kept for 
seeding, in themselves form an exhibition of Cycla¬ 
mens of a truly admirable character. 
