16 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  4,  1900. 
success  with  this  and  other  species  from  that  region  is  attributable  to 
the  fact  that  we  never  allow  the  plants  to  become  dry,  or  permit 
violent  fluctuations  in  the  structure.  On  the  contrary,  we  strive  to 
maintain  a  moist  genial  atmosphere,  the  degree  of  warmth  varying 
with  the  external  conditions.  From  early  in  November  until  the  end 
of  February  the  plants  are  afforded  all  the  light  and  sun  possible, 
but  during  the  remaining  portion  of  the  year  shading  is  resorted  to, 
or  the  plants  will  soon  be  disfigured  and  probably  never  recover. 
D.  spectabile  will  not  stand  a  cold,  damp  air  ;  in  foggy  weather  during 
ISovember  and  December  let  there  be  sufficient  warmth  in  the  hot- 
water  pipes  to  make  the  house  feel  quite  comfortable  on  entering. 
Anyone  who  grows  the  usual  occupants  of  the  stove  to  perfection 
(except  Crotons,  because  the  last  named  need  all  the  sun  we  get)  should 
be  able  to  cultivate  the  beautiful  species  under  notice  hung  near  roof. 
If  the  structure  is  a  span-roofed  one,  running  east  and  west,  hang  the 
plants  near  the  glass  on  the  north  side  during  the  summer  and  remove 
them  to  the  south  side  for  the  winter  months.  In  potting  the  plants 
use  very  small  Orchid  pans,  only  just  large  enough  to  accommodate 
the  roots.  Employ  the  best  Orchid  peat  fibre  broken  into  small  lumps 
about  the  size  of  Walnuts.  We  use  only  one  layer  with  heads  of  live 
sphagnum  between  the  lumps  of  peat.  Let  both  pans  and  crocks  be 
new,  as  these  plants  are  very  impatient  of  root  disturbance.  For 
these  plants  I  have  a  most  decided  preference  for  square  shallow  teak 
baskets,  as  the  roots  will  cling  to  the  wood,  and  should  the  compost 
become  sour  or  the  crocks  green  and  mouldy  the  roots  may  be  picked 
out  and  the  plants  washed  in  tepid  water.  The  crocks  can  then  be 
renewed,  also  the  peat  and  sphagnum  with  a  few  small  crocks  or 
charcoal  intermixed,  hut  not  sand.  It  is  most  important  to  remember 
that  the  New  Guinea  Orchids  cannot  withstand  cold  draughts,  and, 
therefore,  should  the  sun  be  so  bright  as  to  run  up  the  temperature 
too  high,  and  there  is  a  cold  wind,  only  open  the  bottom  ventilators 
on  the  lee  side  of  the  structure. 
Strive  to  keep  the  sphagnum  continually  growing  all  the  year 
round,  as  it  forms  an  excellent  guide  as  to  watering.  When  the  moss 
begins  to  look  dry  apply  water  10°  higher  than  the  temperature  of 
the  houses.  Some  growers  are  under  the  impression  that  New 
Guinea  Orchids  must  have  a  high  temperature,  but  this  is,  I  think,  an 
error  that  is  likely  to  be  followed  by  disastrous  results.  Our  plants  are 
kept  at  the  present  time  in  a  night  temperature  of  60°  to  65°,  rising 
to  65°  and  70°  by  day.  This  will  run  with  sun  heat  to  85°  or  90°, 
and  must  be  accompanied  by  ample  atmospheric  moisture. 
D.  atroviolaceum  thrives  under  precisely  similar  conditions.  I  hope 
to  send  notes  on  other  species  from  Northern  Australia,  Queensland, 
and  New  Guinea  for  insertion  in  nn  early  issue. — F.  J.  Thoene. 
[We  commend  the  above  notes  to  the  attention  of  all  Orchid-loving 
readers  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  as  Mr.  Thorne’s  success  with 
what  are  usually  considered  “  difficult  ”  Orchids  is  remarkable.  For 
some  years  the  Sunningdale  Park  plants  of  Epidendruin  (Diacrium) 
bicoruutum  and  Dendrobium  atroviolaceum,  to  cite  only  two  examples, 
have  been  the  envy  of  many  growers.  And  there  can  be  small  wonder 
at  this,  for  where  the  majority  of  these  plants  merely  exist,  at  Sun- 
ningdale  they  luxuriate.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  cultural  details 
given,  with  those  promised  for  a  future  occasion,  will  be  of  material 
assistance  to  growers  whose  efforts  have  not  hitherto  been  crowned  with 
success. 
On  Christmas  eve  we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Major  Joicey’s 
collection  of  Orcliids,  and  the  inspection  was  a  most  enjoyable  one. 
Notwithstanding  the  heavy  fogs  that  have  been  experienced  of  late 
and  the  exceptional  fluctuations  in  the  weather,  there  is  a  very 
beautiful  display  of  flowers  in  several  of  the  structures.  Dendrobium 
spectabile,  to  which  special  prominence  is  given  in  the  above  com¬ 
munication,  is  represented  by  three  plants  all  in  good  health,  and  one 
of  which  is  producing  the  flowers  that  have  received  such  attention 
during  the  past  few  weeks.  Of  D.  atroviolaceum  there  is  a  much 
larger  stock,  producing  in  all  upwards  of  fifty  spikes  of  flowers. 
Knowing  this  it  need  not  be  said  that  the  plants  are  in  splendid 
condition.  Side  by  side  with  these  is  the  chastely  beautiful  D.  John- 
sonise  (D.  Macfarlanei),  the  flowers  of  which  are  singularly  attractive 
at  this  period  of  the  year. 
More  brilliant  in  colour  and  entirely  different  in  form  are  the 
blooms  of  D.  bigibbum,  which  for  Christmas  time  is  absolutely 
essential  to  a  complete  display.  Still  further  diversity  is  afforded  by 
the  more  modest  D.  aureum,  and  the  ever  appreciated  D.  phalmnopsis 
Schroderiana,  with  its  brightly  coloured  and  abundant  flowers. 
Not  that  Denbrobiums  form  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  display. 
Such  is  by  no  means  the  case,  for  the  Calanthes  alone  would  make  a 
show.  There  is  notan  immense  number  of  plants,  but  each  one  carries 
splendid  spikes  of  perfectly  formed  and  well  coloured  flowers.  One  of 
the  finest  spikes  had  open  on  it  at  one  time  three  dozen  flowers,  not, 
of  course,  counting  the  unexpanded  buds  at  the  apex.  Then  there  are 
Cymbidiums  rapidly  developing,  with  many  Cypripediums  and  Laelias 
in  full  beauty.  Of  the  latter  a  richly  coloured  form  of  autumnalis 
and  a  plant  of  L.  a.  Stella  were  most  conspicuous.  Others,  too,  were 
there,  but  more  cannot  now  be  said  of  them  or  of  the  excellent  health 
of  the  hundreds  of  plants  that  are  not  at  present  adding  to  the  glory 
of  the  display  with  their  flowers,  but  which  will  in  their  turn  do  much 
to  maintain  the  high  repute  in  which  Major  Joicey’s  Orchids  are  held 
in  tlie  world  of  horticulture.] 
LIVERPOOL  NOTES. 
At  Allerton  Beeches. 
When  visiting  the  handsome  residence  of  Henry  Tate,  jun.,  Esq., 
on  a  mid-December  day  I  knew  that  1  should  see  many  choice  Orchids 
in  flower,  for  the  collection  is  rich  in  good  things,  but  my  anticipa¬ 
tions  were  more  than  verified  at  the  bright  array  of  flower  which  met 
my  eyes.  Splendid  specimens  of  Onoidiums  varicosum,  Rogersi,  and 
tigrinum,  Laslia  anceps  in  variety,  Cypripediums  of  the  montanum 
section,  insigne,  Chantini,  albo-marginatum,  punctatum  violaoeum, 
Leeanum,  all  perfect  in  health  and  beautifully  flowered,  with  Loelia 
albida  and  many  others,  were  especially  inviting.  Curious  and  decidedly 
pretty  was  Cypripedium  insigne  bisepala,  Tate’s  variety,  a  well 
flowered  plant  in  which  the  sepals  are  arranged  above  and  below, 
every  flower  being  perfect  in  character.  It  was  imported  in  what  was 
apparently  a  clump  of  seedlings. 
The  cool  house  was  a  picture  of  healthy  growth,  several  plants 
being  in  flower,  whilst  Odontoglossums  Chestertoni,  Alexandra,  Ander- 
Bonianum,  radiatum,  and  many  others  too  numerous  to  mention,  were 
developing  massive  spikes.  The  boat-shaped  raft  of  the  somewhat 
difficult  0.  coronarium  brought  vividly  to  mind  what  I  had  seen  of  it, 
and  how  much  may  be  again  expected.  Masdevallia  Veitchi  grandi- 
flora  added  colours  all  its  own. 
Orchid-hybridising  has  been  carried  out  most  extensively  for  many 
years,  but  as  yet  only  few  have  opened  to  satisfy  the  patient  watchers. 
However,  there  are  sufficient  to  delight  everyone,  the  variety  from 
the  same  seed-pod  being  worthy  of  note.  Cypripediums,  Sirdar  and 
Cromer,  from  Boxalli  atratum  X  nitens  superbum,  are  both  very  fine, 
but  quite  opposite  in  colour.  Cypripedium  tenebrosum,  a  grand  flower 
of  a  rich  purplish  shade,  looked  regal ;  whilst  C.  allertonense,  a  fine, 
bold  flower  from  villosum  x  bellatulum,  had  the  latter  manifested  in 
the  dorsal  sepal.  More  than  a  score  of  others  were  flowering  for  the 
first  time,  and  the  hundreds  of  seedlings  raised  by  Mr.  Osborne  during 
the  past  five  and  a  half  years  in  which  Rothschildianum  crosses  are 
abundant  were  in  every  stage  of  healthy  growth,  and  showing  for 
fiower.  Three  dozen  Lmlio-Cattleyas,  none  of  which  have  flowered, 
but  the  majority  of  which  will  do  so  next  season,  hang  from  the  roof. 
What  delights  lay  stored  up  in  the  vigorous  stock  !  and  how  little  the 
impatience  of  any  human  being  could  help  forward  their  time  of 
flowering ! 
The  Orchids  were  not  the  only  bright  attraction,  the  warm  con¬ 
servatory  being  fllled  with  a  gorgeous  display  of  Poinsettias,  Salvia 
splandens.  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Azalea  Deutche  Perle,  the" 
latter  specially  well  grown,  and  other  seasonable  flowers.  The  stoves 
contained  a  selection  of  everything  rich  and  good,  the  scrupulous 
cleanliness  and  vigorous  appearance  of  everything  being  a  tribute  to 
Mr.  C.  Osborne  and  his  staff,  and  an  unfailing  pleasure  to  Mr.  Tate. 
Yet,  with  it  all,  a  feeling  of  sadness  must  pervade  many  Liverpool 
people  at  the  thought  that  Mr.  Tate  is  soon  about  (owing  to  business) 
to  remove  to  London. 
At  Elmhurst,  Aigbdeth. 
There  are  several  good  collections  of  Eucharis  in  our  neighbourhood, 
but  none  that  commands  greater  attention  than  those  grown  by  Mr.  J. 
Harrison  for  Mrs.  W.  G.  Bateson  at  Elmhurst,  Aigburth.  Eucharis 
form  a  specialty  of  Mrs.  Bateson’s,  and  she  certainly  has  good  reason  to 
be  proud  of  her  splendid  c:)lle.ction  and  the  care  evinced  for  their 
welfare  by  Mr.  Harrison.  The  house  in  which  they  are  growing  is 
span-roofed,  underneath  the  central  stage  being  a  tank  of  water,  with 
4-inch  pipes  running  through.  This  moisture  arising  Mr.  Harrison 
thinks  the  cardinal  point  as  regards  sound  root  action,  the  syringe  playing 
its  important  part  on  the  top  growth,  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  question 
the  statement,  for  the  twenty-four  plants,  in  pots  ranging  from  12  to 
22  inches,  bore  unrnistakeable  signs  that  the  treatment  was  perfectly 
sound.  Drainage  is  an  essential  point  upon  which  Mr.  Harrison  insists, 
the  pots  being  half  fllled,  and  the  bulbs  potted  in  good  fibrous  loam 
three  parts,  with  charcoal  and  sand.  Plenty  of  water  in  summer,  but 
great  care  in  winter  is  exercised.  Soot-water  gives  the  tone  to  the 
leaves,  and  the  old-fashioned  shading  of  flour  made  to  the  consistency 
of  cream  is  still  adhered  to. 
Mr.  Harrison  is  no  believer  in  periodical  potting.  The  plants  have 
this  season  been  potted  for  the  second  time  in  thirteen  years.  The 
mite  is  unknown.  Their  flowering  is  somewhat  late,  but  spikes 
developed  and  hundreds  to  follow  must  be  a  source  of  delight  to 
Mrs.  Bateson,  and  a  deserved  warranty  for  skill  to  the  grower. 
Pancratiums  are  equally  well  done. 
Pine  indeed  must  be  the  plants  likely  to  supersede  the  old  Pyrus 
japonica,  a  splendidly  berried  plant,  30  feet  by  18  feet  high,  growing 
against  a  stuccoed  wall,  being  ornamental  nine  months  out  of  twelve. 
It  is  altogether  a  flue  and  well-kept  garden,  and  other  notes  may  come 
in  their  season,  for  Mrs.  Bateson  loves  her  garden  for  all  it  is  worth. 
— R.  P.  R. 
