THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 15, 1894. 
246 
may say that Mummy Wheat would remain alive 
any length of time to oblige the traveller who is 
sufficiently liberal with his coin to pay for the trouble 
of such longevity. 
The process of absorption or feeding is all im¬ 
portant to the cultivator who can make fruits grow 
to twice the size they would do naturally if the tree 
was left to its own resources. Thinning of the 
branches of the tree as well as the fruit is sometimes 
necessary as well as feeding to obtain large and juicy 
fruits, but we cannot ignore the fact that certain 
elements of plant food are not sufficiently abundant 
in most soils to give the desired results in the size, 
number, and proper maturation of the fruits. It 
behoves the cultivator to discover what elements of 
plant food are most deficient and require to be 
supplied. Instead of this it but too frequently occurs 
that he carries coals to Sunderland, Potatos to 
Ireland, Oats to Scotland, or fog to London, by 
paying high prices for an all-round or complete 
artificial manure, which when applied to the soil may 
give highly satisfactory results, but in reality means 
extravagant waste if three-fourths of the necessary 
ingredients were there already in all sufficient 
quantity. 
A very important fact to remember is that cer¬ 
tain plants have a difficulty in collecting certain 
elements of food, while others in the same soil and 
under the same conditions have less or no difficulty 
whatever in collecting even a larger quantity. 
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, sulphur, and lime, 
are those most in request as soils generally contain 
the others, obtained trom that source, in sufficient 
quantity. Lime is in request for other purposes 
than directly as plant food. Nitrogen is the most 
important of all artificially-applied plant foods, 
because it is so soluble and liable to be lost in the 
drainage during wet seasons, but particularly in 
winter when the ground is bare or no growth is 
taking place to utilise that which may be present at 
any given time.— J. F. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
By John Fraser, F.L.S., Kew. 
Broughtonia sanguinea. —Of the Orchids which 
come to us from Jamaica, this must be reckoned one 
of the showiest. In form, the flowers are not unlike 
some of the Epidendrums, such as those of the 
section Barkeria, but the habit of the plant is 
altogether different and there are minor though 
no less important structural differences in the flower. 
The latter is crimson-red with darker lines along the 
course of the principal veins, measures about 2| in. 
across, and borne in a close raceme at the end of a 
slender, nodding scape .The pseudo-bulbs are small, 
compressed and not unlike those of a Laelia, and 
bear a pair of leathery, olive-green leaves. Being 
accustomed to a high temperature in its native 
habitats the plant should be grown in the warmest 
end of the Cattleya house or amongst the East 
Indian collection. It grows on the branches of trees 
in proximity to the sea in full exposure to sunshine, 
so that cultivators who expect to grow and flower it 
successfully must fix it to blocks, covering the roots 
with a small quantity of sphagnum and suspend it 
near the glass to expose it to bright sunshine so 
essential to the ripening of the growths and freedom 
of flowering. A coloured illustration showing the 
method of growing it on blocks is given in the Orchid 
Album PI. 499. 
Laelia Arnoldiana. —The flowers that turn up 
amongst importations of this Laelia vary to some 
extent in colour, and from their formation and 
markings would seem to indicate a hybrid origin, 
possibly between L. furfuracea and L. anceps or 
L.autumnalis, just as L. Crawshayana was supposed 
by Reichenbach to be a hybrid between L. anceps 
and L. autumnalis or L. albida, the characters 
pointing more or less distinctly to all of them. L. 
anceps would seem to have been the seed parent in 
this case, on account of the flattened scapes. But 
in the various specimens of L. Arnoldiana which we 
have seen the scape is terete, while the sepals, 
petals and scurfy ovary are those of L. furfuracea 
which must have been the seed parent. The median 
ridges on the lip are also those of the last named 
species. In most of the specimens the interior of 
the lip was pale, almost white ; but in a specimen 
which flowered recently in the gardens of J. Me 
Meekin, Esq., Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill, 
the interior of the side lobes were beautifully striped 
with forking purple lines recalling what is generally 
a conspicuous feature of L. anceps. The terminal 
lobe of the lip was darker purple than usual and 
faintly lined with a darker shade; but what is more 
important, this portion was transversely oblong like 
the corresponding portion of L anceps xanthotropis 
described by Reichenbach, and apiculate in a wide 
shallow terminal sinus. This lobe in most of the 
forms of L. Arnoldiana is slightly elongated or 
clawed at the base, but in the specimen now before 
us it is perfectly sessile. 
Cypripedium Lawrebel. —When C. bellatulum 
was first introduced, hybridists were not slow in 
recognising a valuable parent for breeding purposes, 
and it is not at all surprising that many should have 
used it simultaneously. The beauty of the large 
flowers is admitted by everyone, but the scape is too 
short to show off the blooms to the best advantage. 
This deficiency is obviated by using it as a pollen 
parent to impart a fresh arrangement of colours to 
the progeny of some other species, though the same 
result would almost certainly occur, even if less well 
marked, by using it as the seed parent. C. Lawrebel 
was one of the first if not the first hybrid to appear 
in public from a cross in which C. bellatulum had a 
share. The seed parent was C. Lawrenceanum, whose 
habit is largely shown in the progeny. The upper 
sepal is greenish at the base but suffused upwards with 
rich rosy crimson, veined with vinous purple, while 
the margins and apex are white. The petals are also 
greenish at the base and rosy crimson upwards 
deepening towards the tips and spotted with blackish 
purple in lines. The lip is crimson-purple in front 
and greenish below. A good coloured plate of it is 
given in the Orchid Album, PI., 498. 
Spathoglottis V i e i 11 ard i.—Several species of the 
genus have been introduced from time to time, but 
though most of them may be termed pretty, few are 
actually showy. That under notice is generally 
acknowledged as the finest and boldest of them. The 
flower scapes attain a height of 2 ft. or more, and 
bear at the top a dense raceme of blooms. The 
sepals and petals are soft pink, and the three-lobed 
lip has a deep purple, terminal lobe. It does not 
appear that its flowering is confined to any particular 
season, but depends largely upon the conditions of 
growth. When it does come into bloom, the flowers 
are developed in succession over a long period of time. 
We noticed it recently flowering in the houses of 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Cattleya labiata.—Beautiful varieties of this 
popular Orchid continue to turn up in collections, but 
so many of them have been named within the last few 
years, that it is difficult to say that any particular 
one has not already been named in somebody’s col¬ 
lection. One which has just flowered in the houses 
of J. McMeekin, Esq., Falkland Park, South Nor¬ 
wood Hill, is notable for the contrast between the 
soft, rosy-pink colour of the sepals and petals as 
contrasted with the rich crimson-purple of the lip. 
The contrast of colours is even more forcibly brought 
out under the influence of artificial light, when the 
lamina of the lip appears of a glowing red. 
Cypripediums at Aitkenhead, Cathcart, N.B. 
—Two remarkably fine examples of Cypripedium 
insigne are in bloom just now at Aitkenhead gardens. 
The plants are in large pans and carry about sixty 
blooms on each plant. The variety is an excellent 
one, and the lip has a fine yellowish hue which 
makes it very attractive. Mr. Gordon, the proprietor, 
has a great love for Cypripediums, and consequently 
the collection is large and contains many fine hybrids. 
Seedlings are to be seen on nearly every pot, and as 
the crosses are all made with the finest sorts, the 
result should be satisfactory. It is difficult to get 
anything new in this line now, but by using the best 
forms there is still room for something good to show 
itself. C. Amiesianum is in flower from seed sown 
here. At first no note was taken of the crosses 
made, but they are all carefully tabulated now, and 
the interest in the production is thereby largely 
increased. What is called the mountain form of C. 
insigne is turning out exceedingly well. They are 
all more or less after the Maulei order, but more 
robust, and the marking on the dorsal sepal is more 
pronounced. The spots on one of these mountain 
forms were twice as large as those seen in C. insigne 
Chantini. C. i. punctatum violaceum and C. i. 
Chantini are said to be synonymous, but all the true 
Chantinis I have seen are distinguished by a much 
broader dorsal sepal. A very fine C. Chamberlainia- 
num, with the lip very highly coloured, was also 
noticed. This species is useful for button-holes, 
bouquets, etc., one of the best for amateur culture ; 
one spike will bloom for twelve months consecutively, 
giving a fresh flower every six weeks. Other sorts 
in flower wereC. Lowi, C. Schlimii, C. Poyntzianum, 
C. Dominianum, C. Measuresianum, C. Spicerianum, 
calurim, Roezlii, candidulum, C. oenanthum 
superbum, Leeanum superbum, etc. Mr. Dale 
bestows a large amount of attention on the Cypri¬ 
pedium house, and the result is eminently satisfac¬ 
tory.— G. R. 
Til VEGETABLE GARDEN, 
Cold Frames. 
The season is now at hand when it will be necessary 
to utilise these for various crops that will need more 
protection than could be afforded by simply covering 
them with litter. Where not already done, all 
Lettuce fit for use should be taken up with balls of 
earth attached and packed close together in them. 
Fine days should be chosen for this work, for if they 
are put together when damp they will in all proba¬ 
bility rot. If the plants are covered at night with 
mats, there will be no difficulty in starting the work 
early in the day, as these would protect them from 
all dew that might fall during the night. Before 
attempting to lift them, bring the foliage together 
and tie it round with a piece of raffia or matting ; 
this will prevent any soil from falling into the hearts. 
The soil will now be sufficiently moist to keep the 
plants fresh for some time, therefore, no water should 
be given, as this would have a tendency to cause 
them to decay, if it be necessary to cover the frames 
for any length of time should frost set in, 
Endive should also be treated in the same manner. 
Plants of these may be stored in a dry also open shed 
where they may be protected from frost, as supplies 
can then be drawn from them as they are required 
for blanching. Cold frames are, however, far prefer¬ 
able, as light and air can then be admitted on all 
favourable occasions. These structures are by no 
means so plentiful as they should be in gardens, for 
without a goodly supply of them, no gardener can do 
as he would wish with the many and various crops 
that need to be protected in winter or brought for¬ 
ward in early spring. As a rule, these homely 
necessaries are often looked upon as a nuisance, 
especially by young men who have to look after them, 
particularly if they have neglected to cover them 
before dark, and are obliged to turn out at night to 
make them safe. The gardener, however, who has 
the chef to please, knows full well the value of them, 
both in winter and spring. In addition to the fore- 
named plants, all Cauliflowers that are turning in 
should be lifted, and if a place could be found for them 
in a cold frame, they would be found very useful 
about Christmas, when there is sure to be a strain 
on the supplies of fresh vegetables. If the kitchen 
gardener were asked what kind of structures he most 
preferred, he would doubtless say brick pits of 
various sizes, for to him, houses would be next to 
useless, the plants being too far from the glass. With 
a good stock of pits and frames, he would be but a 
poor gardener who could not keep up a constant 
supply of vegetables through the winter months, 
were he called upon to do so. 
The great failing with many gardeners of the 
present day is their lack of knowledge of the cultiva¬ 
tion of vegetables. Too much time is spent over some 
particular pet, the rest of the work having to give 
place for it, and the kitchen garden is the first usually 
to suffer ; but he who would be proficient in this 
department must not only pay strict attention to the 
time of sowing and planting, he must know when 
and how much of each crop will be required, and 
must parcel out his ground accordingly. I fear that 
since so many fresh vegetables have been imported, 
kitchen gardening has lost ground in this country, 
for we do not find the present generation of young 
men take that interest in the work as our forefathers 
did. We have known some who did not know how 
to propagate Seakale, and were astonished to find 
that it only took one season to grow crowns. While 
others use three times the amount of seed necessary 
to sow a given plot, and who do not trouble to look 
beforehand to see what is likely to be required. 
