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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  8,  1895. 
Miltonia  SPECTABILIS. 
This  is  one  of  the  finest  plants  in  the  genus,  and  a  very  useful 
and  beautiful  Orchid.  It  is  also  one  of  the  oldest,  in  fact  the 
oldest  in  the  genus,  having  been  introduced  from  Brazil  in  1837. 
It  has  upright,  flat-looking  pseudo-bulbs  2  or  3  inches  high,  and 
these  spring  from  a  stout  creeping  rhizome.  The  colour  of  these 
is  usually  pale  yellow,  the  leaves  being  very  light  green.  The 
flowers  are  produced  on  single-flowered  scapes,  which  are  covered 
with  scaly  bracts,  and  are  each  about  4  inches  across.  The  sepals 
and  petals  are  oblong,  the  former  spreading,  the  latter  turned  back 
at  the  tips,  and  both  pure  white.  The  lip  is  2  inches  wide,  deep 
violet  purple,  with  line#  of  bright  crimson  running  through  it. 
The  culture  of  this  species  is  not  difficult,  and  many  grand 
specimens  are  to  be  seen  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  I  have 
found  it  do  better  in  either  shallow  baskets  or  rafts  than  in  pots  ; 
but  if  reared  in  the  latter  the  drainage  must  come  to  within  about 
an  inch  of  the  top,  as  a  great  thickness  of  compost  is  unnecessary. 
If  on  rafts  they  are  also  more  easily  brought  up  to  the  light,  which 
they  must  be  if  flowers  are  to  be  produced.  A  little  peat  and 
sphagnum  should  be  placed  about  the  roots,  and  the  plants  wired 
on  firmly  without  cutting  the  rhizomes.  A  little  shade  is  needed 
while  growing  in  summer,  but  this  must  not  be  too  dense  or  kept 
on  longer  than  necessary. 
The  Cattleya  house  suits  them  best,  and  while  growing  the 
plants  must  have  an  abundance  of  water.  The  roots  soon  take  to 
the  compost  if  carefully  moistened  at  first,  and  when  they  have  a 
good  hold  on  the  raft  the  plants  need  attention  sometimes  as  often 
as  twice  a  day  in  summer.  During  the  winter  very  little  will  be 
needed,  only  enough,  in  fact,  to  keep  the  pseudo-bulbs  plump. 
Early  in  spring  before  the  plants  grow  from  the  base  a  little  of 
the  old  material  should  be  taken  away  and  new  substituted,  being 
careful  not  to  disturb  the  roots  too  much. 
M.  spectabilis  is  a  very  variable  plant  both  in  size  and  colour, 
some  varieties  being  magnificent,  while  others  are  rather  poor. 
Var.  lineata  has  a  white  frontal  portion  to  the  lip,  with  veins  of 
rosy  carmine,  leading  to  a  deep  purple  blotch  at  the  base.  M.  s. 
Moreliana  is  often  classed  as  a  separate  species,  and  is  a  remarkably 
fine  Orchid.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  rich  vinous  purple,  the  lip 
lighter,  with  deeper  crimson  lines.  This,  too,  has  sub-varieties, 
differing  more  or  less  in  the  intensity  of  their  colouring. 
Odontoglossum  Schlieperianum. 
For  a  long  time  this  was  known  as  a  variety  of  0.  Insleayi 
— viz.,  0. 1.  macranthum  ;  but  the  flowers  are  quite  distinct  from 
that  species.  It  is  a  most  unique  kind,  and  one  worthy  of  extended 
cultivation,  flowering  at  a  very  useful  time,  and  lasting  well  in 
good  condition.  The  habit  is  a  good  deal  like  0.  grande,  and  the 
treatment  required  is  similar. 
Being  a  native  of  Costa  Rica,  it  requires  more  heat  than  the 
majority  of  species,  and  will  not  do  well  in  the  coolest  house.  The 
roots  are  strong,  and  will  bear  a  tolerably  substantial  compost. 
Good  peat,  broken  in  lumps  as  large  as  a  pigeon’s  egg,  with  a  little 
chopped  sphagnum  and  charcoal,  will  grow  it  well.  The  pseudo¬ 
bulbs  must  be  kept  well  up  from  the  rim,  so  that  no  water  lodges 
about  the  base  of  these  in  the  winter. 
Slugs  are  very  partial  to  this  section  of  Odontogloisums,  and 
an  immense  amount  of  care  is  needed  at  this  season  to  ward  them 
off.  Not  only  do  they  eat  the  spikes,  but  also  the  young  swelling 
pseudo-bulbs,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  plants’  health  and 
appearance.  The  flowers  of  0.  Schleiperianum  are  large  and 
showy,  produced  on  spikes  containing  about  six  or  seven.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  sulphur  yellow  with  bars  of  rosy  purple, 
while  the  lip  is  almost  white  with  blotches  and  spot#  of  reddish 
brown . 
Restkepia  elegans. 
Thi#  is  a  little  gem  when  well  managed,  very  dwarf  in  habit, 
and  not  showy,  but  a  really  pretty  and  attractive  little  Orbhid. 
The  largest  flowers  only  span  about  1^  inch  across.  The  upper 
sepal  is  narrow,  cordate,  yellow  marked  with  red,  the  lower  ones 
nnited  and  similar  in  colour.  The  petals  are  small,  standing  out 
from  the  rest  of  the  flower,  while  the  lip  is  yellow  edged  and 
spotted  with  red.  These  flowers  are  sometimes  produced  singly, 
at  others  several  on  a  spike,  which  springs  from  the  base  of  the 
leaf.  ' 
The  plants  should  be  potted  in  good  peat  fibre  and  sphagnum 
moss,  and  the  pots  must  only  be  large  enough  to  take  the  plants 
easily.  A  cool,  moist,  and  shady  atmosphere  is  essential  during  the 
summer  months,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  water  to  the  roots. 
During  the  winter  they  must  have  a  light  position  not  far  from  the 
roof  glass  and  still  kept  moist,  but  the  greatest  care  is  needed  not 
to  water  them  too  much.  The  plants  are  very  free-flowering,  pro¬ 
ducing  an  almost  constant  succession  of  flowers.  R.  elegans  was 
introduced  to  Berlin  in  1847  by  Dr.  Karsten,  who  found  it  growing 
in  very  moist  situations  on  the  knotty  branches  of  old  trees  in 
shady  woods.  It  is  a  native  of  Caracas,  growing  naturally  at  an 
altitude  of  6000  feet. — H.  R.  R. 
RUBUS  ODORATUS. 
Numerous  and  beautiful  as  are  the  flowering  shrubs  of  our  gardens 
none  is  more  worthy  of  a  place  than  the  one  under  notice,  and  of  which 
the  illustration  (fig.  19)  pourtrays  a  flowering  spray.  Sometimes  « 
known  as  the  Virginian  Raspberry,  it  forms,  when  in  flower,  a  singularly 
beautiful  object.  The  plant  when  in  good  soil  makes  rapid  growth,  and 
forms  a  dense  bush  several  feet  in  height  and  diameter.  The  form  of 
the  sweetly  scented  leaves,  which  are  somewhat  glutinous,  may  be 
readily  seen  in  the  woodcut,  as  also  can  the  character  of  the  inflorescence, 
which  is  bright  rosy  purple  in  colour.  Despite  the  fact  that  R.  odoratus 
was  introduced  nearly  two  centuries  ago  it  is  extremely  rare  in  gardens, 
in  the  shrubberies  of  which  it  could  never  be  other  than  an  ornament. 
Once  a  plant  is  established  no  difllculty  will  be  experienced  in  increasing 
the  stock,  as  suckers  are  thrown  up  from  the  base,  which  can,  when 
rooted,  be  detached,  and  will  quickly  commence  to  grow. 
YOUNG  HEADS  AND  OLD  HANDS. 
The  most  critical  period  of  a  gardener’s  life  is  probably  the 
first  three  or  four  years  after  assuming  the  reins  of  government, 
and  starting  on  his  career  as  a  head  gardener.  In  this  space  of 
time  he  will  make  his  mark,  either  for  good  or  bad,  unless  a  crisis 
should  unhappily  intervene,  and  he  is  again  relegated  to  the 
starting  post  on  fresh  ground.  Or,  may  be,  under  special 
conditions  the  normal  ha#  been  maintained,  and  that  may  be  very 
good  indeed.  Anyway,  as  a  rule,  it  may  be  taken  for  granted  that 
young  men  are  not  only  imbued  with  the  responsibility  of  their 
newly  acquired  official  standing,  but  are  also  fully  cognisant  of  the 
importance  of  making  a  good  start,  for  the  beginning  and  the  end 
of  a  race,  even  of  life,  entails  the  sharpest  criticism,  although  the 
latter  phase  is  generously  qualified  by  charitable  feelings  seldom 
afforded  to  the  former. 
I  have  some  vivid  recollection#  of  my  first  engagement  (in  twa 
senses),  when,  after  being  duly  sent  forth  by  my  trainer  for 
inspection,  approved  of,  and  temporarily  returning  to  the  dear  old 
bothy,  he  questioned  me  on  things  in  general,  and  on  the  steward’s 
room  department  in  particular,  in  which,  as  the  young  head,  I  had 
been  introduced  to  the  old  hands,  and  of  which,  in  reply  to  my 
glowing  description,  he  merely  said,  “  Ah,  lad  !  ”  in  a  tone  which 
caused  just  a  temporary  misgiving  at  the  time,  and  many  a 
reflection  after.  He  knew  then,  I  know  now,  and  knowing  how 
many  little  things  there  are  to  meet,  not  included  in  the  estimate 
of  gardening  qualifications,  but  which  are  extra#  seldom  omitted,, 
one  feels  a  desire,  yet  a  difficulty,  to  help  those  who  in  starting  are 
apt  to  view  the  world  through  rose-coloured  spectacles. 
How  circumstances  alter  cases.  In  the  bothy  more  youthful 
compatriots  had  been  wont  to  commiserate  on  my  (to  them^ 
patriarchal  age  ;  from  the  steward’s  room  so  much  pity  was 
expressed  for  my  youth  as  to  cause  a  feeling  of  guilt  in  this  respect. 
However,  to  avoid  autobiography  it  may  be  stated  that,  failing 
other  indictments,  this  one  alone  is  sufficient  to  cause  an  unpleasant 
feeling,  also  to  create  unsatisfactory  impressions  ;  for  like 
unripened  wood  is  viewed  by  us,  so  do  these  old  hands  look  on  a 
young  head.  By  such  or  similar  means  is  one  handicapped  at  the 
start,  and  being  guilty  there  is  no  defence.  Time  and  time  alone 
is  potent  to  place  this  matter  aright.  Yet  I  think  a  little  whole¬ 
some  reserve  from  the  outset  is  an  invaluable  aid  ;  and  though  you 
will  soon  hear  through  some  channel  that  you  are  “stand  off,” 
better  stand  off  than  stumble  over  rocks  not  marked  down  on  your 
chart.  Take  a  few  quiet  observations  on  your  own  account  of  your 
critics,  and  be  in  no  hurry  to  form  hasty  friendships  which  are 
often  fleeting. 
Probably  but  a  short  time  will  elapse  ere  it  is  felt  that  some 
little  encroachment  is  attempted  to  be  made  in  the  gardener’s  field 
of  labour  ;  perhaps  to  the  extent  of  feeling  that  the  interference 
must  be  stopped  for  good  and  all.  These  matters  are  as  delicate  as 
they  are  disagreeable,  requiring  the  greatest  tact  and  nicest  dis- 
