54 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Jafauary  21,  189?. 
Laslio-Cattleya  Rosalind. 
At  almost  every  meeting  held  in  the  Drill  Hall  one  may  see 
new  bigeneric  Orchids,  chiefly  Lselio-Cattleyas,  and  the  majority 
of  those  shown  possess  distinctive  features  and  great  merit.  Of  the 
several  staged  during  the  year  1896  those  from  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  and 
Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  have  been  in  the  front  rank,  and  that  depicted 
in  the  engraving  (fig.  16)  is  one  of  their  latest  introductions.  It 
was  shown  at  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on 
December  15th  last,  and  received  from  the  Orchid  Committee  a 
first-class  certificate.  The  petals,  which  are  white,  are  somewhat 
narrow,  but  the  sepals  are  broad  and  fimbriated,  with  a  margin  of 
white  round  the  delicate  rose  of  the  central  portions.  The  lip  is 
purplish-crimsor,  with  abundant  shadings  of  blue  and  a  golden- 
veined  throat.  The  parents  were  Lrnlia  Domini  and  Cattleya 
Trianas. 
The  Orchid  House  in  January. 
Once  again  the  old  year  has  given  place  to  the  new,  and  as 
each  succeeding  week  will  now  see  the  daylight  lengthening, 
increased  activity  will  soon  be  noted  among  our  Orchid*.  One 
of  the  first  signs  of  awakening  vigour  is  the  appearance  of  the 
flower  buds  at  the  nodes  all  along  the  stems  of  the  deciduous 
Dendrobes.  In  small  Collections  it  is  not  usual  to  see  these  in 
flower  very  early,  consequently  such  as  D.  Wardianum,  D.  Devoni- 
anum,  D.  crassinode,  D.  primulinum,  and  D.  Pierardi,  not  to 
mention  more,  are  just  now  at  this  stage.  A  little  more  warmth 
will  now  be  beneficial  to  these,  but  let  it  be  applied  gradually. 
Plants  rushed  on  too  rapidly  never  carry  so  many  blossoms  or 
bring  them  to  such  perfection  as  others  brought  along  more  steadily 
and  naturally.  The  fabric  of  the  flowers  is  thin,  evanescent  in 
character,  and  wanting  in  the  brilliant  colour  characteristic  of  this 
fine  genus. 
Many  of  the  nodes,  too,  will  push  growth  bud  instead  of  flowers, 
the  good  old  D.  nobile  and  D.  crassinode  being  old  offenders  in 
this  way.  Well  ripened  plants  that  finished  their  growth  early 
should  be  the  first  to  be  placed  in  heat,  later  ones  being  allowed  a 
little  more  time.  The  roots  should  have  one  good  soaking  in  a 
pail  or  tub,  and  no  more  water  given  until  they  are  again  quite 
dry,  when  the  amount  mu*t  be  gradually  increased  as  the  blooms 
develop.  They  should  be  kept  quiet  if  possible  for  a  little  while 
after  flowering,  unless  the  season  is  much  advanced,  as  the  quicker 
the  growth  is  made  the  better.  The  longest  bulbed  kinds,  as  D. 
Devonianum  and  D.  Pierardi,  seldom  Btart  too  early,  as  they  require 
a  long  season  of  growth. 
The  upright  growing  distichous-leaved  set,  comprising  Aerides, 
Saccolabiums,  and  the  like,  are  usually  active  at  the  roots  before 
any  signs  of  new  growth  appear,  and  in  this  they  differ  from  the 
majority  of  Orchids.  It  is  easy  to  see  which  plants  require  most 
water  by  observation  of  the  roots,  but  it  is  better  with  all  in  this 
section  to  be  a  little  on  the  dry  side  with  root  moisture  now. 
Saccolabium  giganteum  is  carrying  its  beautiful  spikes  of  bloom, 
and  naturally  take*  more  than  such  as  Vanda  coerulea  and  others 
that  are  at  their  quietest  time.  Phalasnopses  and  the  smaller 
growing  Angracums  must  be  kept  just  moist,  while  the  larger 
members  of  the  latter  genus  take  a  good  supply  of  water,  their  roots 
being  almost  as  active  now  as  in  the  growing  season. 
Cattleya  Percivaliana  is  a  beautiful  kind  now  coming  on  rapidly, 
some  of  the  earlier  flowers  being  fully  expanded,  while  the  swelling 
sheaths  of  C.  Trianae,  C.  chocoensis  and  others  tell  of  a  rich  floral 
treat  in  store.  With  these,  as  with  the  Dendrobes;  steady  progress 
i*  best,  while  the  summer  blooming  C.  Mossiae,  C.  aurea,  C. 
Dowiana,  and  even  C.  Mendeli,  are  best  kept  as  quiet  as  possible, 
not  by  drying  the  root*,  but  by  grouping  them  at  the  coolest 
and  driest  part  of  the  house.  C.  Eldorado  is  an  erratic  species, 
and  looking  through  the  houses  to-day  I  find  that  many  plants  of 
this  species  are  emitting  roots  freely.  If  these  had  been  out  of 
condition  at  the  roots  I  should  have  repotted  them,  but  they  are 
mostly  growing  on  Tree  Fern  stems,  and  quite  healthy,  so  they 
will  not  be  disturbed. 
Repotting,  in  fact,  is  almost  at  a  standstill  ;  but  very  soon 
there  will  be  plenty  to  do  among  the  Mexican  Lselias,  autumn  and 
winter  flowering  Cypripediums,  Calanthes,  Pleiones,  and  Thunias. 
It  is  high  time,  then,  to  look  over  the  stock  of  composts,  and  get 
these  prepared  beforehand.  Peat  may  be  knocked  up  and  sifted, 
the  sphagnum  moss  picked  over,  and  a  good  stock  of  clean  pots 
crocks,  and  charcoal  got  ready.  Making  labels  and  stakes  too  will 
be  useful  work  during  wet  or  frosty  weather,  and  where  the  Orchid 
baskets  are  made  at  home  these  ibould  be  prepared  in  various  size*. 
These  little  things  make  a  great  difference  to  the  press  of  work 
later  on,  when  repotting  is  in  full  swing. 
The  flowering  house  should  be  kept  fairly  warm  and  rather 
dry,  for  it  is  important  that  many  kinds  of  Orchids  do  not  get 
chilled  at  this  season.  If  there  is  a  scarcity  of  blossom  a  few 
plant*  of  Poinsettia  may  be  placed  among  the  Orchids,  if  these 
are  at  command,  the  bright  and  telling  colour  of  their  bracts 
helping  the  somewhat  neutral  tints  of  many  Orchids.  Iris 
fimbriata  is  another  plant  that  looks  well  among  them,  the 
delicately  marked  blossoms  resembling  Orchids  considerably. 
Remove  all  dead  flowers  frequently,  and  change  the  position  of 
the  plants  as  often  as  pos»ibie,  this  giving  the  idea  of  greater 
variety.  In  choosing  foliage  plants  for  grouping  with  Orchids 
give  the  preference  to  fresh  Ferns  rather  than  to  brightly  coloured 
plants,  as  Crotons,  Coleus,  and  the  like. 
The  flower  spikes  are  pushing  up  in  all  directions  in  the  cool 
house,  Odontoglossum  crispum,  O.  luteo-purpureum,  O.  Pescatorei, 
and  all  the  allied  species,  hybrids  and  varieties,  showing  grandly  this 
season.  All  these  plants  must  be  kept  pleasantly  moist  at  the  root*, 
and  while  not  recommending  a  great  advance  in  temperature  the 
plants  are  all  the  better  now  for  comfortable  quarters.  A  little 
warmth  in  the  pipes  allows  of  free  ventilation  and  frequent 
damping,  and  the  genial  atmosphere  thus  generated  is  conducive 
to  the  full  development  of  the  flower  spikes.  Where  slug*  or 
woodlice  are  troublesome  the*e  must  be  diligently  trapped  by  the 
usual  methods,  and  a  watch  kept  on  the  plants  by  night,  or  there 
is  great  danger  of  a  whole  season’s  work  being  ruined  by  these 
troublesome  pests. — H.  R.  R. 
IN  A  GLOUCESTERSHIRE  APPLE  ORCHARD. 
Consequent  upon  the  receipt  of  an  invitation  from  Charles 
Bathurst,  Esq.,  J.P.,  of  Lydney  Park,  conveyed  through  hi*  agent, 
Mr.  James  Lander,  to  visit  Lydney,  and  there  give,  in  the  extensive  grass 
orchard  adjoining  the  park,  demonstrations  to  both  tenants  and  labourers, 
in  standard  tree  pruning  and  incidental  subjects,  I  went  down  to  that 
place  on  Tuesday  the  12th  inst.  I  was  met  at  the  station  and  conveyed 
to  Mr.  Lander’s  residence,  where  I  not  only  abode,  but  was  favoured 
with  hospitality  of  the  most  pleasing  kind,  such  as  shows  that  in  that 
part  of  the  kingdom  the  stranger  within  the  gates  is  soon  made  to  realise 
that  he  is  no  longer  such,  but  is  an  esteemed  friend.  Nothing  could  be 
warmer,  heartier,  or  kindlier  than  was  my  reception  from  everyone. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  inst.  I  was  taken  into  the  orchard. 
I  found  there  had  been  made  adequate  provision  of  ladders,  steps,  *aws, 
knives,  and  chisels,  also  several  of  the  estate  labourers  were  at  my 
disposal.  We  immediately  commenced  work.  I  would  first  say,  how¬ 
ever,  that  this  one  orchard — for  there  are  several  others  close  by — 
comprises  about  8  acres.  It  has  in  it  Apple  trees  almost  exclusively, 
only  a  Pear  tree  or  two  being  found. 
The  trees  seem  to  have  been  of  four  diverse  plantings.  There  are 
many  veterans,  apparently  not  less  than  from  sixty  to  eighty  years  old, 
having  huge  stems  and  large  heads  of  thick,  stubby, mossy,  cankered  wood, 
such  as  could  not  possibly  be  converted  into  profitable  trees.  These  I 
advised  be  all  removed  as  soon  as  may  be  convenient.  Then  there  are 
many  large  trees  evidently  planted  about  thirty  years,  all  fairly  clean  in 
stem  and  wood,  but  having  heads  of  close  dense  growth.  Next  came 
many  trees,  some  ten  to  twelve  years  planted,  all  in  fairly  good  condition, 
and  lastly  were  numerous  young  standard  trees,  planted  about  a  year 
since,  and  all  protected  by  wooden  cradles. 
Sending  the  labourers  into  the  strong  young  trees,  first  to  clear  off  the 
breast  wood  and  remove  a  few  branches,  we  were  enabled  to  gradually 
lead  up  to  the  tackling  of  the  largest  of  the  second  form  of  tree,  and 
these  needed  considerable  thinning,  for  the  heads  were  exceedingly  dense. 
A  couple  of  men  were  sent  into  the  heads  jointly,  so  that  I  had  three 
or  even  four  trees  to  direct  the  pruning  of  at  once.  This,  however, 
was  easily  done  with  the  aid  of  a  long  rod.  Still  further  it  was  evident 
that  the  men,  although  not  much  accustomed  to  this  form  of  tree- 
pruning,  especially  when  taking  so  drastic  a  form,  Boon  grasped  the 
matter,  and  proceeded  to  perform  the  work  with  much  intelligence. 
After  two  days’  tuition  I  regarded  them  under  Mr.  Lander’s  active 
oversight,  as  being  capable  of  thinning  the  entire  orchard  satisfactorily. 
Beyond  removing  some  branches,  which  crowded  the  heads  of  the 
old  trees,  we  left  these  severely  alone.  They  can  hardly  be  too  soon 
thrown  and  burnt,  thus  becoming,  in  the  form  of  potash  for  manuring, 
more  useful  in  death  than  they  now  are  in  life.  The  quantity  of  branch 
cut  out  of  several  trees  seemed  to  be,  as  it  lay  upon  the  grass,  inordinate. 
The  work  was  not  without  critics,  for  Mr:  Bathurst  bad  issued  such 
numerous  cordial  invitations  to  tenants,  farmers,  gardeners,  and  others, 
to  look  in  during  each  afternoon,  and  very  many  attended.  Some  of 
the  farmers  I  overheard  rather  thought  I  was  having  the  thinning  too 
severely  done.  The  gardeners,  however,  to  a  man,  and  there  were 
numerous  intelligent  men  amongst  them,  coincided  with  my  view.  I 
