412 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Feb. 28th, 1885. 
THE 
drrjntr (Smfotrs (ffalmtmr. 
u 
The Propagation of Phalsenopsis. —Through 
the courtesy of Major Lendy’s gardener I examined 
the plant of Phalamopsis (figured on p. 361 of The 
Gardening Woeld), at the last Floral Committee at 
South Kensington. I think there is some error in 
describing it as Schilleriana ; it certainly was 
Stuartiana, as clearly defined and well marked as 
one could desire to see. With respect to the small 
plants appearing on the roots where injured by 
pricking, all traces of injury or “pricking” have 
now vanished, and there was nothing on the plant 
itself to show why these plantlets have developed. 
Their occurrence is an entirely new fact. So far 
as my knowledge extends no indication of any such 
growths has ever been made known before. No 
doubt the roots of all our plants of this order do 
occasionally get bruised or broken, whether in re¬ 
basketing or re-blocking. It does not appear that 
any of the older varieties (grandiflora, amabilis, or 
Schilleriana) have, after such injuries, shown any 
tendency to, form leaflets ; at least so say all your 
correspondents, as do also all growers with whom I 
have had an opportunity to discuss this subject. 
Major Lendy would add to the obligations we are 
under if he would tell us a few more details, 
particularly when the lesions of the roots took 
place, how precisely they were affected, was the 
plant making a new leaf or new roots at the time, 
or was it at rest, had it flowered last season, and 
any other facts he may think of interest. 
So few succeed with Phalsenopsis, and so many 
kill their plants by excess of flowering, that any 
new departure which will help to multiply this 
charming family will be of real service to Orchid 
growers, if it can be brought within the range of 
“ practical possibilities.”— F. A. Philbrick. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, whom all Orchid growers 
revere, has carefully summed up this matter in less 
words than any other man could (p. 390), but I 
and my compeers here in France would be glad of 
any other information we can get on the subject. 
P. Luddemanniana propagates freely by the flower- 
spike with us, but no other, except for an occasional 
plant. Your remarks on this subject came upon us 
with great surprise. Let us hope that your excellent 
journal will furnish us with all particulars. — C. 
M. Hcrbault, France. 
Sophronites grandiflora.— This is one of a 
genus of small growing Orchids which hardly seems 
to meet with so much attention as it deserves. It 
grows freely in peat and sphagnum in w T ell-drained 
pans or baskets, suspended from the roof of the cool- 
house. It also thrives equally well on a block, and 
should be liberally supplied with water the whole 
year. Flowering as it does during the winter months, 
its beautiful bright scarlet blossoms form quite a 
contrast to the pure white flowers of Odontoglos- 
sum crispum (Alexandras), the queen of the cool 
Orchids. There appears to be two varieties of 
S. grandiflora, one being somewhat shorter in the 
leaf than the other, and producing flowers of a more 
brilliant scarlet.— J. S. B. 
Orchids at Shirecliffe Gardens, Sheffield.— 
A few days ago I called at Shirecliffe, and was much 
pleased with some well-flowered plants which I saw 
there. Amongst them was a pan of Ccelogyne cristata 
bearing thirty-five spikes of its lovely white and yellow 
flowers. The plant has a very striking appearance 
owing to its cone-like shape and the vigour of its 
growth. The bulbs are ins. in length, and the 
leaves, which are quite 18 ins. long, hang gracefully 
over the pan which is quite hidden. Phalsenopsis 
Schilleriana is done well here, two of the plants 
having leaves from 15 ins. to 17 ins. in length, thick 
and broad; and they are bearing very strong flower 
stems with numerous expanded flowers. I consider 
these to be examples of good cultivation. There are 
also several specimens, varying in size from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 
through, of Dendrobium nobile and its varieties, 
coerulescens and Wallichianum, and which, with their 
different shades of colour and form, are a very 
pleasing sight, arranged with Adiantum cuneatum, 
Tulips, Hyacinths, and a margin of Crocuses, of 
different colours, in narrow boxes running the whole 
length of the conservatory. But Orchids are not the 
only things which are done well at Shirecliffe ; the 
Camellia and Azalea houses are filled with large and 
vigorous specimens of the best kinds, and these two 
houses alone will be worth a visit in the course of a 
week or two when the plants will be in bloom. 
Mr. J. Udale, the gardener, is a culivator who does all 
things well which he takes in hand.— J. IF., Sheffield. 
Lycaste Skinneri. —Your correspondent, Mr. W. 
Driver (p. 396), mentions a bloom coming from here of 
Lycaste Skinneri, measuring over 5 ins. across. The 
variety mentioned in your issue of February 7th was 
L. Skinneri delicatissima, which does not usually bear 
such large blooms as ordinary forms of the species. I 
send you by same post a bloom of a good bold variety, 
cut from a plant in a 5-in. pot which is bearing four 
others that have been open several weeks .-—James 
Cypher, Cheltenham. 
->-£-<-- 
Orchid Flowers from Mr. Cypher.— With the 
beautiful bloom, measuring 5 ins. across, of Lycaste 
Skinneri, mentioned in Mr. Cypher’s preceding note, 
came a perfect flower of Dendrobium Ainsworthii, 
very pure white, and the blotch on the lip of a rich 
rosy plum colour, and the bloom larger than in the 
ordinary type, of which Mr. Cypher states that he 
has a splendid plant bearing twenty-eight blooms, 
and growing in a 4-in. pan. We have also from the 
same source a bloom of the beautiful Dendrobium 
nobile pulcherrimum, of which Mr. Cypher is fortunate 
in possessing a nice stock of sturdy plants. The 
blotch on the lip is very dense, and the white wax-like 
sepals and petals are flushed with violet at the tips. 
A charming vai’iety of Laslia anceps, with a rich ruby 
crimson-coloured lip, yellow throat, and rich maroon 
markings also deserves mention. 
Cypripedium niveum. —This lovely free-bloom¬ 
ing variety never fails to win the admiration of all 
who see its fine satiny-white flowers. Its foliage is 
similar to that of C. concolor, but when examined 
closely the difference is easily seen. It grows freely 
in a compost of turfy loam and peat in equal parts, 
and sphagnum moss with a few pieces of charcoal 
and a small quantity of silver sand, and the pots 
should be well drained with crocks and charcoal. 
Water should be plentifully supplied at the roots 
during the growing season ; it also delights in a warm 
moist atmosphere. I once had charge of a small 
batch of plants of this Cypripedium which were 
treated as I have advised, and they grew and flowered 
freely, the foliage being firm and glossy, and not 
unfrequently two flowers were produced on a spike.— 
J. S. B. 
-*$<- 
Angrsecum sesquipedale. —There are, perhaps, 
few Orchids which can compare with this gem of the 
Island of Madagascar when seen in perfection, nor is 
it at all miffy or difficult to keep in good condition. 
It does not, I think, require such a high temperature 
to keep it in perfect health, as is sometimes recom¬ 
mended, nor do I think it so floriferous when grown 
in a very high temperature, as in a house where a 
medium temperature is maintained. For some years it 
has succeeded very satisfactorily with me in a temper¬ 
ature varying from 55 degs. to 65 degs. in winter, and 
from 70 degs. to 85 degs. in summer. It requires plenty 
of air and light; but will not endure strong sun-light 
without injury. I have found it do well either in pots 
or baskets, but it has a decided preference for a large 
basket where the roots have plenty of space to ramble 
in. It succeeds admirably in large lumps of peat, with a 
liberal admixture of large lumps of charcoal, for 
which the roots appear to have a special liking, more 
so, perhaps, than any other Orchid. It appears to 
dislike the material being compressed so tightly about 
its roots as is now becoming customary in potting 
most Orchids, a fashion necessitated I suppose by the 
small pot mania, and one which, although convenient, 
is not so conducive to the health of the Epiphytal 
Orchids generally, as it is supposed to be. When so 
grown, the leaves of this beautiful Orchid are always 
short, thick and of a healthy deep green colour; the 
peduncles, four to six in number bearing about six to 
eight flowers each. When fully exposed to the light, 
in a moderately dry atmosphere, the flowers are 
creamy white, but when slightly shaded and in a 
moister atmosphere they become pure white; the 
flowers continue in a good condition for about a 
month. For the drawing-room as well as for funeral 
wreaths and crosses they are invaluable.— Scribo. 
Oncidiums for the cool-house.— In addition 
to Oncidium macranthum, 0. nubigenum, O.tigrinum, 
and 0. cheirophorum, we have succeeded in growing 
and flowering in the same house, O. Forbesii, 0. 
crispum, 0. varicosum, and 0. Marshallianum. The 
growths made in such a temperature are decidedly 
better than those made in a warmer house, and I feel 
sure that the four last mentioned species will be longer 
lived than if grown w 7 armer. I have tried established 
plants of Oncidium bicolor in a cool structure, but 
they soon became unhealthy. Newly imported plants 
also were tried, but failed to start into growth in a low 
temperature. It was not so, however, with 0. concolor 
and 0. dasytyle, purchased at the same time in 
November last, and placed side by side with O. bicolor, 
as the former is growing well, and the latter flowering 
from a young bulb. I think Oncidium leucochilum 
and 0. ornithorynchum have been named as cool- 
house Orchids, but I find they do not like too cool a 
temperature in wdnter, but are more at home with 
Odontoglossum vexillarium and 0. Phalsnopsis.— 
T. Simcoe, The Gardens, Lake House, Cheltenham. 
Calanthes. —At Elm Lawn, Heversham, near 
Milnthorpe, the residence of the Misses Woods, there is 
a grand lot of Calanthes in bloom, such a collection, 
indeed, as would astonish many growers of this 
beautiful and useful class of winter-flowering plants. 
It is only about three years since Mr. Robinson com¬ 
menced cultivating them with two or three small bulbs 
of Yeitchii and vestita; now the stock consists of 
some three dozen pots of each variety, and many 
bulbs of Veitchii are more than 18 ins. in length, 
bearing flower-spikes upwards of 6 ft. long, with a fine 
show of highly-coloured flowers, notwithstanding that 
the first blooms began to open in September last. 
The C. vestitas are equally fine, having grand, well- 
ripened bulbs and flower-spikes over 4 ft. long. Mr. 
Robinson grows his plants in a small pit kept at 
a very high temperature, and for potting uses a good 
fibry loam with a little cow manure. He places about 
three bulbs in 8-in. or 9-in. pots, and all through the 
growing period gives them plenty of moisture, both at 
the roots and also in the atmosphere. Many other 
subjects are equally as well grown by Mr. Robinson, 
who has no assistance in the garden—a small one— 
which is a model of neatness and cleanliness through¬ 
out.— W. J. Ireland, Headfort, Kells. 
- -3 ~ ■ ■ -_“> <> Zi- —- 
FLORICULTURE. 
Chinese Primroses at Forest Hill. —If any 
one desires to know how fast the march of improve¬ 
ment has been carried on with this favourite flower 
during the last few years, there is no place where 
he can secure ocular demonstration of the fact 
equal to the nursery establishment of one of those 
firms who grow a large number of plants for seed, 
and with whom the raising of novelties is a very 
important matter. During the last week or two 
one of these large collections—that of Messrs. James 
Carter & Co., at Forest Hill—has been in rare form. 
The plants occupy several large houses, which have 
literally been a blaze of bloom, and as each sort is 
kept separate, a golden opportunity has been afforded 
all who are interested in the matter for comparing 
the merits of the respective sorts. 
The Messrs. Carter seem to be striving as much 
as possible to obtain strains of rich and fixed colours, 
and to a considerable extent have succeeded in doing 
so. Thus we have Holborn Blue, the very distinct 
novelty which the firm introduced a few years ago, 
and the porcelain blue colour of which has since 
been improved by careful selection. This process 
of careful selection of the darkest flowers will doubt¬ 
less eventually lead to the production of a genuine 
