December  8, 1895. 
journal  n  horticulture  and  cottage  gardener. 
527 
this  shows  the  flowers  to  better  advantage.  No  water  will  be 
needed  for  a  few  days,  and  only  a  little  at  a  time  then  until  the 
roots  are  running  freely  in  the  new  soil.  They  commence  to  grow 
at  once,  and  may  be  kept  in  the  Cattleya  house  till  the  growths  are 
complete,  when  less  water  and  a  lower  temperature  will  be  needed, 
diminishing  it  by  degrees  as  the  leaves  fall,  and  when  all  are  off 
keeping  them  quite  dry  until  the  flowers  are  showing.  This  treat¬ 
ment  suits  most  of  the  other  kinds,  but  the  time  of  repotting  will 
necessarily  vary  according  to  their  flowering  season. 
It  is  very  important  that  they  are  potted  directly  the  flowers 
are  past,  as  the  new  roots  are  then  emitted,  and  these  are  easily 
injured  if  left  too  long.  P.  lagenaria  grows  naturally  on  trees 
high  up  in  the  Himalayan  Mountains,  whence  it  was  introduced 
in  185G. 
Cypripedium  caltjrum. 
This  is  a  fine  strong-growing  hybrid  of  the  Sedeni  class  raised 
by  Messrs.  Veitch  &  Sons.  The  leaves  are  long  and  narrow,  deep 
green,  and  the  spikes  are  produced  at  various  seasons.  These  bear  a 
number  of  flowers,  the  dorsal  sepal  of  which  is  very  faint  green 
with  stripes  of  pink.  The  petals  are  rosy  red  on  the  points, 
becoming  nearly  white  at  the  base  with  a  margin  of  rose  ;  the  lip 
is  light  crimson.  This  thrives  well  in  a  shady  position  in  the 
Cattleya  house,  and  delights  in  copious  supplies  of  water  at  the 
roots  all  the  year  round. — H.  li.  R. 
Oncidium  Forbesi. 
Although  Orchids  are  becoming  popular  and  common  in  the 
Easterb  States,  says  the  “  Garden  and  Forest,”  this  beautiful 
species  are  rarely  seen.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  of  a  large  and 
interesting  genus,  and  nearly  related  to  Oncidium  crispum,  which, 
however,  is  less  showy.  The  flowers  measure  about  2  inches  across 
in  well-grown  plants.  The  petals  have  wavy  bright  yellow  edges, 
the  rest  being  of  a  rich  reddish-chestnut  colour.  They  are 
produced  in  few-flowered  nodding  racemes  on  rather  long  peduncles 
from  the  base  of  the  flat-furrowed  pseudo-bulbs.  The  leaves  are 
long,  lanceolate,  of  a  leathery  texture  and  dark  green  colour. 
This  is  a  Brazilian  mountain  species,  and  should  be  grown  in 
moderate  heat  in  a  Cattleya  house.  It  thrives  best  in  a  light  and 
partially  sunny  position,  and,  like  most  Oncidiums,  it  requires  a 
thorough  rest  in  winter  and  plenty  of  moisture  during  the  growing 
season.  It  blooms  during  October  or  November,  and  the  flowers 
remain  beautiful  for  a  considerable  time.  Blocks  of  wood  or  small 
baskets  are  most  suitable  for  this  species. 
HARDY  FLOWER  NOTES. 
Chrysanthemum  uliginosum. 
In  the  Journal  of  14th  November  (page  456)  “  D.”  has  some  practical 
remarks  founded  upon  an  objection  of  mine  to  the  stature  of  this  plant. 
The  plan  of  topping  the  plants,  when  about  2  feet  high,  is  one  which 
does  well  in  the  south,  but  in  colder  climates  the  objection  is  that  should 
this  be  done  the  flowers  are  generally  too  late.  In  most  seasons  in  our 
climate  this  Chrysanthemum  is  not  quite  in  full  flower  when  the 
frost  comes  and  destroys  its  beauty.  It  is,  however,  otherwise  in  the 
south,  and  growers  there  may  well  adopt  the  plan  recommended  by  your 
correspondent  “  D.”  I  have  seen  the  plants  topped  here,  but  the 
difficulty  caused  by  their  late  blooming  prevents  this  method  from  being 
continued. 
Topping  Michaelmas  Daisies. 
Unless  with  a  few  very  late  kinds  the  same  plan  may  be  advan¬ 
tageously  followed  with  the  taller  Michaelmas  Daisies,  such  as  those  of 
the  Novae  Angliae  type.  These  flowers  seem  to  be  but  little  retarded  by 
being  stopped  or  cut  back  when  about  18  inches  high,  and  with  this  aid 
they  make  good  plants  of  more  moderate  height. 
Kniphofias. 
These  brilliant  plants  are  worthy  of  a  little  attention  at  this  season 
by  way  of  endeavouring  to  prolong  their  lives.  In  a  good  many  gardens 
they  are  very  unsatisfactory,  and  die  out  in  a  few  years.  In  others  they 
almost  all  increase  and  form  great  clumps,  which  are  very  striking  with 
their  long  leaves  and  towering  spikes  of  flowers.  The  Dutch  growers 
plant  the  crowns  a  little  below  the  surface,  and  cover  in  winter  with 
reeds.  We  might  follow  their  example  ;  but  with  plants  already  in 
position  a  little  loose  litter  about  the  crowns  will  be  found  an  advantage. 
Another  good  thing  is  to  fasten  together  the  leaves  so  as  to  throw  the 
rain  off  the  crowns  where  it  sometimes  lodges.  This  is  not  needed  until 
winter,  when  the  rains  are  heavier,  and  when  snow  also  gathers  among 
the  leaves.  These  precautions  will  not,  however,  always  preserve  the 
Torch  Lilies,  as  there  seems  to  be  something  in  the  soil  of  some  gardens 
which  renders  them  short-lived.  In  such  gardens  a  number  of  seedlings 
might  be  grown  annually  to  replace  the  old  and  effete  plants. 
Saxifraga  apiculata. 
This  beautiful  little  Saxifrage,  known  previously  by  the  names  of 
S.  Fredeiici-Augusti  and  S.  luteo-viridis,  is  crowded  with  buds,  some  of 
which  are  already  elevated  a  little  above  the  plant.  I  have  had  this 
bright  little  yellow  Rockfoil  in  bloom  some  seasons  in  December,_and 
find  it  advisable  to  give  it  a  little  protection  from  rain  and  sleet  by 
fixing  a  sheet  of  glass  a  little  above.  It  is  quite  hardy,  but  the  weather 
we  have  some  seasons  could  not  fail  to  shorten  the  beauty  of  the  flowers. 
This  Saxifrage  is  a  capital  grower,  and  I  find  it  quite  unnecessary  to  follow 
the  advice  I  once  saw  tendered,  and  break  it  up  into  little  pieces  to 
insure  free  flowering.  I  grow  it  on  a  rockery  facing  west,  and  planted 
in  peat,  with  grit  intermixed. 
Single  Early  Chrysanthemums. 
Last  year  I  penned  a  brief  note  urging  that  raisers  of  early  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  would  devote  a  little  attention  to  producing  a  few  singles. 
I  am  sorry  to  see  that  there  is  no  response  as  yet,  but  the  fact  of  the 
late  single  varieties  being  received  with  considerable  favour  leads  me 
to  think  they  would  be  acceptable.  Among  the  seedlings  of  early 
flowering  Chrysanthemums  now  being  so  largely  raised  there  must  be 
FIG.  79. — CSPRIPEDIUM  MARCHIONESS  OF  SALISBURY. 
many  single  flowers  of  great  form  and  colour.  It  is  surely  worth, 
while  to  try  if  there  is  not  a  demand  for  these  if  offered  at  a  reasonable 
price . 
The  New  Day  Lilies. 
The  exhibition  of  Hemerocallis  aurantiaea  major  during  last  season, 
by  Messrs.  Wallace  &  Co.  of  Colchester,  cannot  fail  to  direct  some 
attention  to  the  capabilities  of  improvement  among  these  pretty  garden 
plants.  The  beauty  of  the  one  introduced  by  Messrs.  Wallace  cannot 
be  gainsaid,  and  now  that  it  is  in  the  market  it  is  likely  to  find  its  way 
into  many  gardens.  It  is  likely,  too,  that  other  varieties  of  the  Day 
Lily  will  soon  find  their  way  into  commerce.  The  late  Mr.  Wm.  Dean 
of  Birmingham,  from  whom  I  had  several  most  interesting  letters,  and 
whose  death  so  many  of  us  regret,  told  me  of  some  hybrid  varieties  of 
the  Hemerocallis  which  had  been  raised  near  York,  and  some  of  which 
had  been  certificated  at  the  great  gala  held  in  that  city.  So  far  as  I 
know,  these  are  not  yet  sent  out. 
ANDROSACE  SARMENTOSA  VAR.  Chumbyi. 
This  superior  variety  of  A.  sarmentosa  does  not  appear  to  be  very 
well  known,  as  a  good  many  growers  of  alpines  tell  me  they  have  not 
met  with  it.  It  is  worthy  of  the  attention  of  growers  of  rock  plants, 
and  its  superiority  over  the  typical  A.  sarmentosa  is  sufficiently  well 
marked  to  give  it  a  place,  either  with  the  type  or  as  a  substitute  for  it. 
It  is  a  stronger  grower,  and  may  readily  be  distinguished  by  the  greater 
size  of  the  rosettes  and  the  larger  and  brighter  coloured  flowers.  I  may 
have  something  further  to  say  about  it  shortly. 
Potentilla  ALCHEMILLOIDES. 
Several  times  during  the  past  season  I  have  spoken  of  this,  but  jthe 
fact  that  it  is  still  in  flower  in  the  last  week  of  November  makes  it 
convenient  to  refer  to  it  briefly  once  more.  It  has  small  white  flowers 
and  leavee,  like  these  of  the  Alpine  Lady’s  Mantle,  It  flowers  here 
