2c  8 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  21,  1899. 
PHYTEUMAS. 
Though  parhapsnot  the  showiestof  theCampanulaceae,  the  Phyteumas 
are  very  pretty,  and  also  extremely  peculiar  in  the  formation  of  their 
■flower  heads.  They  are  easily  distinguished  from  Campanula*  by  the 
wheel-like  form  of  the  flowers,  which  are  borne  in  heads,  and  from 
Jasione  by  their  having  a  trifid  instead  of  a  club-shaped  otigma.  Most 
•of  the  species  may  be  found  in  cultivation,  principally  iu  botanic  gardens 
or  of  hardy-plant  enthusiasts,  although  they  are  deserving  of  more 
general  culture  both  a9  rockery  and  mixed  bonier  plants.  Most  of  the 
taller-growing  kinds,  such  as  P.  campanuloides,  P.  orbiculure,  P.  spicatum, 
P.  Micheli,  and  others,  may  be  grown  with  ease  in  the  ordinary  border, 
although  a  higher  degree  of  success  will  be  obtained  by  the  free  use  of 
light  rich  loam,  to  which  has  been  added  a  little  peat.  Others,  such  as 
P.  hemisphaericum,  P.  pauciflorum,  P.  humile,  and  P.  comosum,  are  best 
adapted  for  rockeries  and  pots,  where  they  will  flourish  and  flower  with 
tretnarkable  freedom.  The  three  mo9t  generally  found  in  gardens  are 
P.  Scheuchzeri,  P.  orbiculare,  and  P.  Micheli,  and  much  confusion  exists 
owing  to  their  varying  under  .cultivation  ;  but  even  with  the  variation  a 
little  attention  will  serve  to  distinguish  them,  as  they  seldom,  even  under 
the  most  adverse  circumstances,  lose  all  their  native  characters. 
Pig.  51. — Phyteuma  comosum. 
The  most  handsome  of  all  the  Pbyteumas  is  comosum  (fig.  51),  as  it 
is  also  the  rarest.  Though  perfectly  hardy  out  of  doors,  it  never  flowers 
with  the  same  freedom  as  it  does  when  well  grown  in  pots.  In  the 
formation  of  the  corolla  this  species  is  very  curious.  The  divisions,  as 
■will  be  seen  in  the  figure,  are  free  only  in  ti  e  inflated  part  at  the  bottom, 
the  upper  portion  being  in  the  form  of  a  tube  with  an  entire  mouth.  It  is 
a  native  of  the  Alps  of  Austria,  at  elevations  of  4000  to  5000  feet,  and  is 
generally  found  on  dry  rocky  places.  From  ten  to  thirty  flowers  are 
borne  in  a  sessile  terminating  bunch.  They  are  about  an  inch  long, 
curved,  and  from  pale  lilac  to  dark  purple  in  colour.  The  lower  or 
radical  leaves  are  round  or  heart-shaped,  bluntly  crenated  ;  the  upper 
nearly  sessile,  half  embracing  the  stem.  The  plant  varies  greatly  irom 
different  localities,  ranging  from  3  inches  to  a  foot  iu  height?  It  should 
be  grown  in  a  compost  of  light  loam  and  small  stone-',  and  if  planted  in 
rockery,  a  fissure  as  dry  as  possible  facing  south  must  be  chosen.  It 
flowers  in  June  and  July. 
P.  hemisphaericum,  humile,  and  pauciflorum  arc  all  very  dwarf  species, 
and  well  fitted  for  nooks  on  the  rockery. — X. 
Familiar  Wild  Flowers.— Parts  24  and  25  of  this  woik  having 
come  to  hand  it  is  now  finished,  and  should  prove  of  great  value  to  thoso 
interested  in  wild  flowers,  particularly  perhaps  to  the  beginner.  Part  24 
contains  Thom  Apple,  Clary  and  Sheep's  Bit,  Marjoram  and  Shepherd’s 
Purse.  Meadow  Sweet,  Twayblade  and  Enchanter’s  Nightshade.  Ivy- 
leaved  Bellflower,  Chamomile  and  Gipsywort,  Blue  Fleabane  and  Mouse- 
tail,  Viper’s  Bugloss,  and  Henbane,  these  completing  the  coloured  plates. 
The  last  part  forms  a  summary  to  the  whole,  arranged  to  form  the 
opening  pages  of  each  of  the  six  volumes  in  which  it  is  proposed  the 
work  should  be  bound. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Imported  Orchids. 
Some  thousands  of  Orchids  are  annually  imported,  and  it  is  mo9t 
important  that  correct  methods  of  procedure  be  adopted  with  them 
from  tho  start.  On  arrival  Odontoglossums  must  bj  thoroughly  cleansed, 
an  1  be  laid  thinly  on  the  stage  in  the  coolest  house,  and  shaded  from  the 
sun.  No  syringing  will  be  necessary  if  the  house  is  kept  in  a  moist  con¬ 
dition  by  damping  the  available  surfaces  several  times  a  day.  AVhen 
growth  and  root  action  commence  is  the  time  to  pltco  them  in  pots,  which 
should  bo  only  just  large  enough  to  hold  the  roots.  Even  then  tho  pots 
must  almost  be  filled  with  clean  crocks,  on  the  top  of  which  is  a  small 
1  ijer  of  sphagnum  moss,  then  a  little  of  the  compost,  consisting  of  equal 
parts  of  living  sphagnum  and  fibrous  peat,  with  some  finely  broken 
or.  cks.  Tho  soi1  must  be  carefully  worked  round  the  plants  so  as  to 
•  toady  it  when  in  the  pot.  The  mess  should  be  encouraged  to  grow  on 
ihr*  su  Gee,  as  is  <»f  benefit  to  the  plants  in  assisting  to  conserve  the 
m  listure,  besides  keeping  the  compost  sweet  about  the  newly  formed  roots. 
Water  must  be  ve.y  sparingly  given  until  roots  are  abundant,  after  which 
liberal  applications  of  soft  water  are  desirable. 
Cypripediums  on  arrival  must  be  sponged,  after  which  they  should  be 
p  >tted  into  a  compost  of  three  parts  of  peat  to  two  parts  of  sphagnum. 
l’he  pots  must  be  well  drained,  and  the  base  of  the  plant  kept  just  below 
the  rim  of  the  pot,  tho  size  of  which  must  be  governed  by  the  quantity  of 
li  i  e  roots  possessed  by  each  plant.  Some  of  the  tonderest  varieties  will 
not  require  any  compost  about  the  roots,  but  should  be  simply  covered  by 
s  nail  crocks  until  new  roots  are  made.  No  water  should  be  allowed  to 
lodge  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  ;  this  is  an  important  point  to  observe  at 
this  critical  stage.  C.  niveurn  is  verv  sensitive  in  this  matter,  and  it  is 
the  chief  reason  why  it  refuses  to  grow  in  many  places.  This  species  is 
benefited  by'  lumps  of  sandstone  mixed  with  the  compost. 
Orchids  which  have  no  pseudo-bulbs  generally  suffer  more  than  others 
during  the  journey  from  their  native  home  to  this  country,  but  they 
require  similar  treatment  at  the  commencement  — viz.,  a  house  with  a 
cool  even  temperature,  which  should  be  heavily  shaded  from  all  sun. 
Angrsecums,  Aiirides,  and  Vandas  ought  to  be  placed  on  the  stage  of  a 
cool  house  in  an  upright  position,  and  no  water  must  be  allowed  to  lodge 
in  the  crowns  of  the  plants.  The-moisture  rising  from  the  daily  damping 
of  the  house  will  be  sufficient  for  the  first  few  days,  after  which  the  old 
roots  may  be  syringed  or  sprinkled.  This  treatment  ought  to  be  continued 
until  sufficient  moisture  is  absorbed  by'  the  leaves  that  they  become 
plump.  Winn  this  has  taken  place  new  roots  will  begin  to  push  out,  and 
i  he  plants  will  require  placing  in  baskets  or  pots  sufficiently  large  to  hold 
tho  plants.  After  potting  a  warmer  temperature  will  he  essential,  bat 
“applies  of  water  must  still  be  liinite  ),  ami  careful  ventilation  and  shading 
is  necessary  until  established. 
Cxttleyas,  Dendrobium*,  an  1  Lelias  after  being  cleaned  maybe  placed 
in  pots  large  enough  for  one  year's  growth.  These  should  be  nearly' 
filled  with  crocks,  and  the  plants  steadied  by  means  of  sticks,  to  which 
the  pseudo-bulbs  are  tied.  Water  may  be  pourei  among  the  crocks,  but 
sparingly  at  first  ;  when  top  and  root  growth  has  recommenced  place 
the  compost  round  them  in  the  usual  way,  using  equal  parts  of  sphagnum 
and  peat,  to  which  some  charcoal  has  been  added.  Overwatering  is  still 
a  source  of  danger,  and  more  reliance  should  be  placed  on  atmospheric 
moisture  until  quantities  of  roots  are  made  ;  this  applies  to  all  species 
when  first  potted  or  basketed. 
Some  Orchids,  of  course,  require  different  compost  and  treatment. 
For  instance,  Thunias  should  be  laid  out  on  the  stage  of  a  cool  house, 
and  when  they  begin  to  emit  roots  and  growth  they  require  potting  in  a 
compost  of  equal  parts  of  fibrous  loam  and  peat,  and  a  little  .sphagnum 
and  coarse  sand.  From  six  to  eight  of  the  long  stem-like  bulbs  ought  to 
be  placed  at  equal  distances  round  a  7-inch  pot,  each  being  tied  to  a 
si  parate  stick.  The  base  of  the  pseudo-bulbs  must  be  kept  1  inch  below 
the  rim  of  the  pots,  and  2  inches  of  crocks  in  the  bottom  will  be  ample 
drainage.  Grow  the  plants  in  a  warm  house  in  full  sun  until  the  flowers 
are  observable  at  the  apex,  when  a  cool  dry  atmosphere  will  be  necessary  ; 
also  shade,  or  they  will  not  last  in  bloom  any  length  of  time.  When  the 
flowers  are  over  place  the  plants  in  a  greenhouse  in  full  sun,  and  give 
plenty  of  water,  gradually' withholding  it  in  October;  and  finally,  when 
the  leaves  are  falling,  keep  them  in  the  greenhouse  until  growth  starts, 
which  will  be  in  April.  They  must  then  be  repotted,  similarly  to  that 
first  recommended  ;  and  this  routine  properly  canied  out  will  be  found  to 
answer  admirably. — Foreman  X. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
11.  II.  Bath,  Ltd.,  Wisbech. — Bulbs  and  Plants. 
G.  Bunyard  &  Co.,  Maidstone. — Fruit  Trees. 
J.  Carter  &  Co.,  High  Ilolborn,  London. — Bulbs. 
W.  J.  Godfrey,  Fsmouth. —  Carnations. 
Harrison  &  Sons,  Leieesier. — Bulbs. 
A.  Perry,  Winch  more  Hill.  —  Bulbs. 
Pinehurst  Nurseries,  Pinehurst,  N.C. — North  Ca>olina  Plants. 
Anr.  Ttoozen  &  Son,  Overveen,  Haarlem. — Dutch  and  Cape  Bulbs. 
L.  Spath,  Baumscbull,  Buumschulenweg,  bei  Ber.in  — Cine,  at  Lisin 
W.  Sy  denham,  Tam  worth. —  Violas  and  Boses. 
T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd  ,  Tottenham. — Bulbs  and  Plants. 
