March 11, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
441 
STROBILANTHUS ISOPHYLLUS. 
The flowers of this plant are not very striking in¬ 
dividually, but they are produced in such quantity 
as to make up for that deficiency. They are pro¬ 
duced in axillary clusters, and the leaves being close 
together, a well-grown plant is quite floriferous, 
and remains so during great part of the winter. They 
are pale lavender, tubular, and pretty. If small or 
medium-sized plants are desired, they must be raised 
from cuttings every spring in the same way as most 
other plants which are grown for winter flowering. 
In this way specimens about a foot high and nearly 
as far through may be obtained. Old plants are, 
however, equally floriferous, and if cut down in 
spring and started again in heat they make bushy 
plants, never very high, but of considerable width, 
and bear any quantity of bloom. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Cypripedium Lucienianum. 
A handsome Cypripedium obtained from C. villo- 
sum, crossed with the pollen of C bellatulum, is 
described in the Lindenia, pi. 362. At first it was 
supposed to be derived from C. villosum crossed 
with a superior form of C. oenanthum superbum; 
but the raiser stated that the pollen of C. bellatulum 
was used. On this~’assumption the writer in the 
Lindenia takes it for granted that no other hybrid has 
hitherto appeared in which C. bellatulum has been 
used as a parent. To this we take objection, see¬ 
ing that Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford 
Lodge, Dorking, exhibited a hybrid named Lawrebel 
(derived from C. Lawrenceanum crossed with the 
pollen of C. bellatum) at a meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on the 12th April, 1892, and 
for which he received a First-class Certificate (See 
The Gardening World, vol. viii., p. 536). C. 
•Lucienianum is, however, a grand hybrid with a very 
large dorsal sepal heavily blotched with red and 
crimson or violet on a pale or clear green ground in 
the lower and central portion, and white on the 
upper portion. The petals have the form of those of 
C. villosum, heavily suffused and netted with red on 
a green ground, seen chiefly at the margin. The lip 
is more uniformly of a dark red. The lower sepal is 
unusually large, and blotched with red or crimson on 
a green ground. Altogether it is a handsome hybrid 
and one likely to long remain in favour amongst 
Orchid growers. 
Ocelogyne Hookeriana. 
We may here state that this species belongs to that 
section of the genus known amongst gardeners as 
Pleione. The flowers of C. Hookeriana are large 
even for this section, bold and richly-coloured. The 
sepals and petals are similar and of a uniform intense 
purple according to the figure in the Lindenia, pi ., 363. 
The lip is deeply bifid, fringed at the margin, and 
having the tube richly coloured like the sepals and 
petals. The lamina of the lip is somewhat paler, 
with a yellow disc and blotched around this with 
crimson. It is a native of the Himalayas ranging 
from 7,000 ft. to 10,000 ft. elevation, where it was 
discovered in 1849 or 1850 by Dr. (now Sir Joseph) 
Hooker. There are at least two forms of it, the 
typical form occurring at the lower elevation. That 
coming from the more alpine habitats has a shorter 
lip, and more spread open from the base, and was 
named C. H. brachyglossa by Professor Reichen- 
bach. 
Ccelogyne odoratissima. 
There are several of the small species of Coelogyne 
that are very pretty,and flower in winter when their 
presence in the Orchid house is very acceptable. 
Their diminutive size enables them to be grown in 
small baskets or pans and suspended from the roof 
of the Orchid house, where they take up but a small 
amount of space. The small pseudo-bulbs are void 
and surmounted by a pair of lanceolate, leathery, 
evergreen leaves. The raceme of flowers is pendulous 
and arises from the centre of the undeveloped leaves 
of the pseudo-bulb, which is equally rudimentary at 
that time. The flowers themselves are agreeably 
odoriferous, and appeal to the lovers of Orchids in 
this way independently of the beauty of the flowers 
themselves, which are white with a horseshoe 
shaped yellow blotch on the lip. One to three flowers 
are produced on each raceme. It flowered quite 
recently in the warm or East Indian division of the 
Orchid house at Kew, and is a native of India. 
Rodriguezia secunda. 
The general appearance of this Orchid so closely 
resembles Cochlioda sanguinea, better known perhaps 
under the name of Mesospinidium sanguineum, that 
on superficial observation one might be justified in 
considering it a species of Cochlioda. Although the 
outward form is thus so deceptive, the structural 
conformation of the flowers shows that the plant has 
its affinities with Rodriguezia. The flowers, 
although moderate in dimensions, are very numerous 
and arranged in two ranks upon a drooping raceme, 
much in the same way as those of Platyclynis 
(Dendrochilum). They are also of a uniform rosy 
purple, and therefore different from those of the 
other species in cultivation. The leaves are strap¬ 
shaped, rigid, dark green, and it is almost needless 
to say they are evergreen We noted some plants 
of it recently in the nursery of Messrs. Hugh Low 
& Co., Clapton, in small pans, suspended from the 
roof, and bearing two to four racemes each, giving 
the whole a very pretty appearance. 
Vanda Amesiana. 
Ever since this was introduced in 1887 from India 
this has proved one of the most easily cultivated 
Orchids and easy to flower provided it is given the 
treatment as to temperature and moisture requisite 
for subjects belonging to the East Indian section. 
Where a number of plants are kept a succession of 
bloom is kept up for a long period during the winter 
months. The individual flow'ers are only of 
medium size, but they are very sweetly scented and 
vary considerably in colour. Usually the flowers 
are white with a rosy purple band along the middle 
of the lip ; but frequently the latter is darker, and 
the sepals and petals are more or less tinted with the 
same hue. The narrow, rigid and channelled leaves 
are very neat, as is the whole plant, the latter being 
by no means bulky. A large quantity has been 
flowering for some time past in the nursery of 
Messrs. H. Low & Co., Clapton. 
-•*—-- 
Ijafilepeu' Ipiprolepiept Jlppociatiop?, 
Tunbridge Wells. —At a recent meeting of this 
association, Mr. F. Garrett read a paper on “How 
to grow Horse Radish in ten Months,” in which he 
detailed the results of his experiments in the 
cultivation of this useful root, which may be 
summarised as follows:—“In December I dig up 
the whole of my Horse Radish, selecting the large 
pieces to be put away in sand for the year’s supply, 
taking care to collect the small straight pieces 
of root about a foot long, cutting off at the same 
time smoothly the top end and lower end obliquely, 
and place them away in a box with the bottom 
stood in a little mould, in a cold frame ready 
for future use. I then select a piece of fresh ground, 
trenching two spits deep, putting plenty of manure 
in the bottom of the trench. Then, about February, 
I sketch a line, making holes a foot apart with a 
dibber, just deep enough to take the roots. I then 
take the pieces singly, and rub my hand up them to 
take off any fibrous roots from the body of the pieces, 
taking care not to rub the two ends, as they may be 
shooting out, or roots may be forming; I then place 
them in the holes, putting just a handful of fine 
mould in with each one, leaving the other part of 
the hole open for a month, as by that time small 
roots will be formed at the bottom. I think this is 
all, with the exception of keeping them clean through 
the summer, and I venture to say that if this system 
is carefully adhered to there is absolutely no reason 
why the finest specimens should not be grown by 
anybody with ordinary care.” 
Birmingham. - At the last meeting, a very numer¬ 
ously attended one, Mr. G A. Bishop, The Gardens, 
Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton, read a very 
comprehensive paper on “ Chemistry as applied to 
Gardening,” in which much valuable information was 
given as to the constituents of soil and plants, and 
pointed out the value of a knowledge of chemistry in 
relation to horticulture and agriculture, and im¬ 
pressed upon all young men the value of a study of 
this subject. Mr. Bishop also gave many interesting 
experiments and answered several questions put to 
him. Messrs. Hewitt & Co., nurserymen, exhibited 
several fine specimens of forced Witloof or Barbe de 
Capucin, from plants grown from seed sown early 
last spring and planted out like Sea Kale, and then 
forced in the same way. The samples were very fine 
indeed and showed its value as a winter salad. Mr. 
Hughes, the secretary, also exhibited a very fine 
blooming specimen of Dendrobium Pierardii. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN, 
Achimenes.—The main batch of Achimenes may 
now be put in to heat to start them. The dry soil in 
which they have been kept all the winter may be 
carefully crumbled up or rubbed to pieces in the 
hands so as to remove the rhizomes. Make up a 
fresh compost, mainly of leaf soil and sand with a 
small proportion of loam. Fill some well drained 
pans with this, sort the rhizomes into sizes and hav¬ 
ing arranged them rather thickly cover them up 
thinly. The pans may then be put into heat till the 
young stems are well above the soil, after which they 
may be potted up or put into baskets as the case may 
be. 
Lachenallias. —As the later batches throw up 
their flower spikes assist them with weak liquid 
manure. Those in baskets will have to be carefully 
and thoroughly watered from time to time. Dipping 
is a sure plan, but after the leaves and flower stems 
have become fairly well developed dipping would be 
injurious to them, particularly in the case of liquid 
manure. 
Repotting Palms.— In private establishments 
the bulk of the Palms are required in a small state. 
It is unadvisable therefore to give large shifts. A 
better plan is to feed with liquid manure to keep the 
foliage healthy. Where a shift is, however, necessary, 
a compost should be made up of good fibrous loam 
and peat in equal proportions with a quantity of 
silver sand. Some finely crushed bones may also be 
used. 
Fern Rockeries. —Before much fresh growth 
has been made, Fern rockeries should receive a 
thorough overhauling to fill up the crevices where 
the dry soil may have shrunk away from the stones. 
Some of the pockets or receptacles will also require 
a good top dressing to make good what has been 
washed away or wasted during the course of the 
year. Some fresh planting or re-arrangement may 
have to be made where plants may have outgrown 
the allotted space. When finished give the whole a 
thorough watering. 
Calceolarias. —With the approach of spring and 
warmer weather increased observation will have to 
be given this class of plants to see that they do not 
get infested with green fly. It frequently gets estab¬ 
lished on the underside of the large leaves before 
being detected and spreading thence to all the 
younger shoots and leaves of the plant, the latter 
get irretrievably injured. Fumigation should be 
effected as soon as the first colonies are detected. 
Vineries —Houses in which the vines are in 
bloom at this time should be kept at a minimum 
temperature of 65° to 70°, allowing a rise by day with 
considerably more from sun heat. The atmosphere 
of the house must be allowed to get thoroughly dry 
during the middle of the day, as the flowers expand 
most actively about that time. Shy setting varieties 
should be assisted by means of a camel hair brush, 
or if that is objected to as a slow operation, then 
with a hare's tail. In the case of free setting sorts, 
like Black Hamburgh and Gros Colmar, such 
trouble is unnecessary. Vines intended for next 
year’s fruiting in pots should now be ready for their 
final shift. 
Melons. —Seedlings that were stopped some time 
ago vill now have made a number of laterals. 
Where the plants are grown in frames heated with 
dung, all that will now be necessary will be to dis¬ 
tribute three or four of the laterals over the bed ; all 
the rest may be stopped at once by pinching out the 
tips. The three or four shoots may be stopped again 
when they have made about 20 in. of growth and 
flower bearing shoots will be given off from the 
sides. Give a little air on bright mornings when the 
temperature rises to 75“. 
Cucumbers. —-Continue to treat old plants liber¬ 
ally with weak liquid manure. Remove old laterals 
when they cease to be profitable, and at the same 
time encourage young shoots to take their place. 
Young plants should also be attended to in the matter 
of tying and stopping, so as to cover the trellis regu¬ 
larly and evenly. When the roots show themselves 
on the outside of the mounds of soil, a little more of 
the fresh compost should be added to give the plants 
fresh impetus. A night temperature of 65° to 70° 
may be maintained in the houses, with a considerable 
rise by day. 
Rockery.—Where the rockwork is of any extent 
a commencement may now be made to put it on a 
proper footing for the season. There may be some 
vacancies to fill up, some re-arrangement of plants 
into more suitable positions, and top dressings to be 
given, all of which take some time to effect. 
