282 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 8, 1905. 
to what I have so often advocated. There is no better Carrot 
for general use than a good selection of the New Intermediate 
type. 
Sow Broad Beans and Peas for succession in the open 
ground; also Spinach, Lettuce, Radishes, Parsley, Turnips, 
Sorrel, Chicory and herbs of various kinds. Attend to the 
pricking oft’ of earlier-sown crops, such as Lettuce, Cauliflowers, 
Brussels Sprouts and Celery', and sow under’ glass for main 
crop Vegetable Marrows, Ridge Cucumbers, Pumpkins, and 
Gourds. Be on the alert for late frosts. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Among the Orchids. 
Calanthes. — The deciduous section of Calanthes are among 
the most useful of decorative winter-flowering Orchids, espe¬ 
cially the varieties of C. vestita and the primary hybrids. 
These are the kinds that are in general cultivation, and as they 
are often more satisfactorily cultivated in a Melon house or a 
dry stove than under the facilities provided in the most modern 
Orchid houses, they may be recommended for more extensive 
cultivation than at the present. So many cultivators have had 
their plants SO' disfigured from the black spotting of the foliage 
and flower-scapes of late years that they have almost become 
disheartened by the results produced at tire flowering time. 
The spotting trouble is a, great deal more difficult to contend 
with in the more inbred hybrids than is the case with the 
primary ones. The result of this constant, selection and in- 
breeding has produced many striking and desirable colour 
features in the flowers. It. has also. produced decreased struc¬ 
ture and correspondingly weaker constitution, which is per¬ 
haps more apparent in the foliage of the plants than in any 
other portion. Consequently, with the reduced texture of the 
foliage, they are. far more subject to- spotting, and greater diffi¬ 
culties are met in their cultivation. 
The Cure for Spotting. — There are various agencies attri¬ 
buted as the cause of spotting. One of the most interesting I 
have seen is published in the last issue of the “ Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society’s Journal,” in an article written by Mr. J. Bid- 
good. I have not the slightest doubt but that Mr. Bidgood’s 
contention is right, and that the cause of failure is bad cul¬ 
tivation, or, to 1 put it more mildly, a failure to understand the 
exact requirements of the plants. Last year, after writing an 
article on Calanthes, a correspondent suggested that it was 
caused by drip or syringing overhead. Well, all I can say, our 
plants were never syringed overhead or damped in any way 
direct upon the foliage; yet two years ago' it would not be 
possible to find less satisfactory conditions. Now consider the 
conditions for a moment under which these species of plants 
grow in their native habitat. They have an extensive season 
of drought, then comes the tropical downpour, and the hot, 
humid temperature, which continues practically until growth 
is made up and the flower-scapes are being produced. Then 
comes the dry season, which completes the growth and pro¬ 
duces the flowers. Do the ordinary conditions of our Orchid 
houses (September and August), when so many plants are in 
the midst of growth, provide the facilities or the conditions 
these plants get under their native conditions? There can be 
no doubt but. that it is excess of moisture in the atmosphere 
that prevents successful cultivation in Orchid houses, and I am 
convinced that if we can give our plants the same conditions 
as those provided when the crop is ripening in the Melon house 
we shall soon overcome the difficulty in respect to spotting and 
be able to produce desirable results. 
The plants which have been laid out in boxes as advised 
some weeks ago will now commence to emit new roots, and the 
repotting requirements should be attended to without delay. 
I prefer to pot the plants singly in 5-in. and 6-in. pots or sizes 
according to the strength of the pseudo-bulbs. Last season 
we tried several systems of compost, but as they all produced 
under the altered conditions more satisfactory results, one need 
not depart to any special potting compost by way of prefer¬ 
ence. The plants should not be watered for some days after 
repotting, so that it is advisable to use the compost in a moist 
state. Root moisture must be gradually increased as the root 
action and growth develop, and insect pests must be care¬ 
fully held in check. H. J. Chapman. 
Willow Wood, Riding Mill-on-Tyne. 
We called here the other day, knowing that we should have 
a most hearty welcome, and we had the pleasure of seeing some 
magnificent spikes of Phaius Cooksoni and P.haius Normanpul- 
cherrimus, the individual flowers being large and of grand sub¬ 
stance, giving evidences of careful culture. ^ Our attention was 
next taken up with Cypripedium Juno callosum x fairianum. 
T his variety is nearly allied to vexillarium, callosum being 
the seed parent; hence tire broader dorsal sepal, and its rather 
lighter colour. This beauty was raised by Mr. D. 0. Drewitt, 
and received a. First-class Certificate at. the R.H.S., and it is 
believed by some to be the finest of the. fa.iriauum hybrids. 
The flower at once captivates us, and in the home of its birth 
there is a charm conies upon us as we contemplate the joy and 
pleasure it. must have brought to the raiser, and we tilled with a 
spirit of true gratitude at the splendid results attained—bow 
our head with all reverence to this flower, and silently sav, 
truly thou hurlest into the ocean of oblivion many blasted 
hopes and sad disappointments, and giveth some compensation 
to- the labourer and kindle new fires of hope to burn with a 
brighter glow of incentiveness to- labour on. “ The labourer is 
worthy of his hire,” and although it is long in being paid, ai d 
patience is sorely tried, yet the 1 above variety is rare value re¬ 
turned. 
In the North, Mr. Drewi'tt’s place is noted for its fine spotted 
crimson Anthuriums. There were some fine blooms out at 
the time of my visit. The zenith of perfection and beauty of 
these tine spotted crimson varieties proves what remarkable 
results can be attained by a. wise selection and perseverance. 
M e venture to say that. Mr. Drewitt. has achieved results in this 
section so 1 remarkable that they touch a. standard of perfect ion 
seldom to be seen elsewhere. 
In the next house was a fine lot of imported Odontoglossums, 
showing flowering spikes. The house of Cypripedium insigne 
had just passed out. of flower, and they must have been fine, for 
the varieties are exceedingly choice and select, nearly 200 
varieties finding a home here. For some years Mr. Drewitt 
has made a. speciality of crossing the various varieties of C. 
insigne, and the large stock of seedlings in various stages of 
growth shows he lias considerable success. Outside the her¬ 
baceous and alpine plants are of exceptional merit, and the con¬ 
tinual additions that are being added are making this section 
one of the finest in the locality, -while the renovating of the 
borders and the absolute cleanness and the distinct practical 
marks of order on every hand reflect the highest credit and 
praise on Mr. Fenwick, head gardener, who is quite at home 
either amongst the Orchids or the herbaceous and alpine 
families. 
Since our last visit the addition of the large new house for 
Cypripedium insigne, and the general arrangements on every 
hand give evidence that continual progress is the order, and we 
are pleased to see such practical standards of examples kept fly¬ 
ing so as to stir up the laggards to a much higher mode of prac¬ 
tical horticulture. Would that they would grasp the ideal and 
follow it out, instead of pottering at it, and etemallv complain¬ 
ing about returns for the expense, sunless summers, and pests. 
We recommend such to. base, their procedure, on lines such as are 
carried out at Willow Wood. Caledonian. 
The Tree Heath (Erica arborea) has flowered handsomely 
in the gardens and grounds of Mr. Pennick at Delgany, Dublin, 
for some time past. The bell-shaped white flowers were dis¬ 
tinctly scented. At the same time a splendid specimen of 
Rhododendron nobleanum, 20 ft., was laden with its carmine- 
rose tinted flowers. The last named is a hybrid of which the 
Himalayan lb arboreum is one of the parents, for which reason 
it always flowers very early. 
