82$ 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 3rd, 1903. 
Among the Orchids. 
The Cool Division.—There are many plants producing their 
flower-scape® at this season of the year. Among the Odonto- 
glossumsPperhaps. the most forward will be 0. Pescatorei. I 
have never been able to< understand why the claims of 0. cris- 
pum should be so much superior to appreciation of cultivators 
that they altogether supplant the charms of 0. Pescatorei. As 
a rule, the latter is far less difficult to deal with, as it flowers 
more freely, and near large towns and in smoky districts it is 
induced to expand its blooms more satisfactorily. It usually 
produces its flower-scapes at a season when Orchid flowers are 
scarce, and when there are scarcely any 0. crispums to be had. 
The durability of the flowers, provided the flower-scapes are not 
cut before the blooms are properly expanded, is greater than 
that of its more fashionable' ally. The individual blooms are 
smaller, and therefore should be more serviceable for cu1> 
flower purposes. Where 0. crispum can be satisfactorily 
grown, the facilities for the culture of 0. Pescatorei are also 
provided. Why, then, is this useful and beautiful specie® thus 
far discarded from collections? 
Odontoglossum ramosissimum is another autumn-flowering 
species wnich is producing its flower-scapes at the present, 
season. The variety 0. r. liliiflorum is the superior kind, having 
laro-eir and more highly coloured flowers, and a more robust 
habit altogether. It will thrive well under the same conditions 
a.s; that of the ordinary Odontogiossum house. The compost, of 
about equal portions of chopped sphagnum, fibrous peat, and 
leaf soil, pressed moderately firm, meets their requirements. 
0. Rossii has. become more extensively cultivated of late 
years. Its claim to extensive cultivation cannot be overlooked 
where there is a demand for winter-flowering Orchids. The 
miniature size of the plants renders them suitable subjects for 
cultivation in pans or shallow baskets, so that they may be 
suspended near the roof-glass, in which position they are. best 
enabled to display their flowers to the best advantage. I do 
not consider the close proximity to the roof-glass the best posi¬ 
tion for 0. Rossii during the hottest months of the year. The 
darkest, coolest, and most moist place in the house suits them 
far better during the hottest season. It is not until the hottest 
season is past that the plants make their growth, and, by sus¬ 
pending when new growth appears, the plants are benefited 
by the light procurable at the present season. 
The extensive importations of the last' few years have added 
many charming variations. They are always easily procured, 
and at prices well within the means of the most humble cul¬ 
tivator. I notice an extensive importation is being offered for 
sale at the Cheapside; Auction Rooms. These will have become 
extensively distributed before this note will appear. I may 
therefore be behindhand with advice for their treatment. The 
plants should be cleaned of any dead or decaying matter about 
them. The pans selected should be only sufficiently large to 
contain them comfortably. If the plants are small, place two 
or three pieces together, so as to make a. fair specimen. The 
pans shoo'd be filled to one-third their depth with, chopped 
Bracken roots, and the remaining compost onedialf (Oak or 
Beech) leaf-soil and rough sand, the remaining compost of equal 
portions of chopped peat and sphagnum moss: • press model - 
ately firm, and surface with a layer of sphagnum moss. W a,ter 
with 'a. rose on the can as soon a.s : potting is completed , only 
sufficient moisture will be necessary to keep the sphagnum on 
the surface in a growing condition. Plants procured now should 
flower in the spring. H. J. 
Large Scotch Thistle in Aberdeenshire.— The shepherd to 
the Earl of Aberdeen has growing in a huge flower-pot in his 
model garden at Keithfield Lodge, near Haddo House, a monster 
Scotch Thistle, which measures 10 ft. in height. It has been 
admired by about 8,000 visitors. Mr. J. J. Taylor, Southesk 
Street, Brechin, has one growing in the garden only 3 in. 
shorter than the Haddo House one. 
In the Garden at Friedenheim Hospital, Upper 
Avenue Road, Regent's Park. 
At the invitation of a very old horticultural friend—Mr. 
John Addison—I went to Fnedeinheim (the Home of Peace) 
recently to see the garden attached to it. Certainly it is not 
within the scope of a gardening journal to state the object of 
this particular hospital, but sucii digression may be pardonably 
allowed. It is to provide the best nursing and medical treat¬ 
ment for persons in the last stages of illness, whose insufficient 
means and friendless condition prevent their being properly 
cared for to the end. It was pleasant to hear of truly kind and 
thoughtful donors sending gifts of flowers, fruit, etc., for the 
sufferers here. 
Gardening ministers largely to our material and everyday 
wants, as well as to the elegance and luxuries of life ; but it is 
yet more blessed in its resources for relieving the tedium and 
ennui of the sick-room, or, perchance, giving a fillip to the 
sinking frame which has often been the turning-point to re¬ 
covery. There are few doctors who are not familiar with in¬ 
stances where a bunch of forced Grapes or delicate vegetables 
strengthened their hands when hope was almost gone, and was 
found more potent for good than all the medicines in the 
pharmacopoeia,. 
To the patients here who can enjoy the beautifully quiet 
and tree-embowered garden it must indeed be a place of peace 
and contentment, making them forget for a while their suffer¬ 
ings: in the calm contemplation of Nature’s beauties. On the 
spacious and well-kept lawn the writer noticed some beds of 
well-flowered Fuchsias. Those fine bedding Pelargoniums, 
Raspail, Henry Jacoby, Flower of Spring, and Black Douglas, 
were seen in good condition. Beautiful Cactus and Pompon 
Dahlias, too, charmed the eye. What is called the Nurses’ 
Garden is a reposeful spot,, breathing the very air of tranquillity, 
and a delightful change from their onerous charges. Here is 
a fine old Weeping Ash, under whose welcome shade on hot 
summer days—alas! too infrequent this year—they take tea. 
The kitchen garden is a fairly large one, as it is much in 
request, a numerous family having to be provided for. That 
the subjects, grown here are of the first quality is evidenced 
by the fact that they comprise many of the fine specialities of 
the great Ann ait Reading—Messrs. Sutton and Sons. To 
refer briefly to a, few—here, for instance, one observed fine bulbs 
of their magnificent Onion, Sutton’s Al. In shape it is mid¬ 
way between Improved Reading and the Sutton Globe; skin, 
brownish-yellow, and the bulbs keep sound for a very long 
time. A handsome Beet, is Sutton’si Globe. It is a,s round 
as a, Snowball Turnip, and the rich colour of the flesh dis¬ 
tinguishes this variety from, the Egyptian Turnip-rooted Beet. 
Autumn Giant and Matchless Cauliflowers presented fine 
breadths. Drumhead Savoys were of enormous size—not too 
lame, though, forGhe numerous wants here'. Good plantings 
of Winter Broccoli promise uncommonly well. Celery Sutton’s 
Solid TV hits is: one of the best, white® for main crop, veiy sweet, 
1 u tre. and solid. Gardening matters here are well managed by 
Mr. Woodcock. t t> 
Royal Grape Vine at Cumberland Lodge. 
The celebrated \ ine at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Park, 
is much finer than that at Hampton Court, and producing an 
excellent crop of fruit this year. The average production used 
to be 1,800 or 2,000 bunches of fruit a year. A few years 
ago extensions had to he made to the vinery, as the Vine was 
throwing out various roots, and has made considerable growth 
since then. Like all other big Vines, in the countiy, the variety 
ambuig h, and is one of the oldest in the 1 kingdom, 
t, mug i certainly not, the largest. The Grapes are always ol 
exce lent quality, a.s those of the Black Hamburgh generally 
are. It would be well if Grape lovers were to give'tliis fact, 
t en close attention, instead of laying 1 so much stress upon 
ng lemed Vine®, such a,s Gros Colman, which is chiefly 
valuable as a table ornament and for pleasing the eye. The 
Grapes at Cumberland Lodge are cut for the King’s household 
