114 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  6,  1896. 
each  ingredient  separate,  and  mix  just  what  is  required  in  the 
proper  ratio  for  the  plant  in  hand,  or  in  some  cases  mixing  only 
the  peat  and  sphagnum,  and  adding  the  crocks  or  charcoal,  loam,  or 
whatever  else  is  wanted  as  the  work  proceeds.  An  advantage 
accruing  from  this  mode  of  procedure  is  that  the  material  gets  used 
more  regularly,  fine  and  rough  together,  thus  saving  waste,  and 
each  plant  is  treated  alike. 
For  the  purpose  of  this  note  Orchids  may  be  roughly  divided 
into  three  classes — viz.,  the  distichous-leaved  kinds  as  represented 
by  Aerides,  Saccolabiums,  Vandas,  Angrfeeums,  Phaltenopses,  and  a 
few  others  ;  the  pseudo-bulbous  and  ordinary  epiphytal  section, 
such  as  Odontoglossums,  Oncidiums,  Dendrobiums,  Miltonias, 
Brassias,  Cattleyas,  Epidendrums,  Lailias,  and  the  like  ;  and  the 
terrestrial  species  and  genera,  including  those  that  although  naturally 
epiphytal  are  found  to  thrive  better  in  a  sound  and  more  substantial 
rooting  medium  than  Orchids  generally  like.  Of  these  Cypripe- 
diums,  Calanthes,  Phaius,  Disas  and  Thunias  need  only  be  named. 
The  roots  of  most  of  the  first  division  thrive  well  in  almost 
pure  sphagnum  moss,  only  a  little  charcoal,  ballast,  or  some  similar 
hard  incompressible  material  being  added  to  insure  a  free  passage 
for  air  and  water,  and  for  the  roots  to  cling  to.  The  stronger, 
more  vigorous  kinds,  do  well  in  large  pots  or  flat  baskets,  and 
when  healthy  and  well  established  will  stand  a  fairly  thick  layer 
of  material.  The  weaker  specie*  cannot  endure  this  embedding  of 
their  roots,  and  like  small  baskets  with  only  sufficient  moss  just  to 
cover  them,  the  rest  of  the  basket  being  filled  with  drainage. 
The  kinds  named  in  the  second  section  are  much  more  variable 
in  their  likings  as  to  compost,  size  of  pot,  and  other  details.  There 
can  be  no  strict  rule  laid  down  here,  the  varying  types  of  root 
and  habits  of  species  must  be  studied  and  catered  for.  Some 
kinds,  such  as  Cattleyas  of  the  labiata  type  and  similar  species, 
the  Brazilian  Lmlia3,  some  of  the  evergreen  Dendrobiums  and 
Zygopetalums,  seem  to  require  a  well  aerated  rough  compost, 
while  many  of  the  twining,  interlacing  roots  of  Oncidiums, 
Odontoglots,  Masdevallias,  and  the  deciduous  Dendrobes  are  better 
suited  in  as  small  pots  as  possible,  the  compost  being  also  used 
in  a  finer  condition.  An  instance  of  another  class  of  root  is 
found  in  such  as  Dendrobium  macrophyllum  or  nobile,  that  are  best 
suited  in  a  deeper  make  of  pot  and  a  thicker  though  rough  compost. 
The  quality  of  the  compost  will  also  differ  of  course,  the  majority 
liking  peat  and  moss  in  varying  proportions,  some  liking  a  little 
loam  while  others  are  found  to  be  more  satisfactory  if  a  small 
portion  of  manure  is  added.  These  in  detail  cannot  here  be  dilated 
upon,  but  will  be  better  mentioned  when  treating  of  individual 
kinds. 
The  terrestrial  kinds  nearly  all  require  loam  in  the  compost,  and 
as  most  of  them  delight  in  copious  water  supplies,  the  drainage 
must  be  very  carefully  attended  to.  The  amouqt  of  loam  will,  of 
course,  vary,  and  the  other  constituents  will  be  found  in  peat  fibre, 
moss,  leaf  mould,  and  in  some  cases  dried  cow  manure.  Pots 
and  flat  shallow  pans  are  generally  used  for  these,  and  the  semi- 
terrestrial  Cypripediums  and  others.  All  should  be  placed  firmly 
in  their  pots,  so  that  they  cannot  rock  about  ;  and  the  epiphytal 
section  should  have  the  mounds  of  compost  neatly  trimmed  off 
otherwise  it  is  not  easy  to  determine  whether  the  plants  are  dry, 
or  not. — H.  R.  R. 
HARDY  FLOWER  NOTES. 
Now  does  the  lover  of  early  flowers  begin  to  see  the  fulfilment 
of  his  hopes,  for  the  garden  is  astir  with  the  new  life  of  its 
occupants.  In  beds  and  borders  and  in  the  rock  garden  the  green 
points  of  many  plants  are  piercing  through  the  dark  coverlet  which 
has  shelterel  them  since  they  dropped  to  sleep  last  year.  With  the 
fearlessness  and  innocence  of  youth  do  they  appear  as  if  no  rough 
hand  nor  biting  blast  would  dare  to  despoil  them  of  their  coming 
beauty.  These  springing  flowers  have  sent  even  more  fearless  ones 
before,  which,  when  we  see  them,  remind  us  of  the  thought  of 
Shelley  in  his  poem  on  Spring  : — 
“  .  .  Thou  art  the  child  who  vearest 
Thy  mother’s  dying  smile,  tender  and  sweet ; 
Thy  mother  Autumn,  for  whose  grave  those  bearcst 
Fresh  flowers,  and  beams  like  flowers,  with  gentle  feet 
Disturbing  not  the  leaves  which  are  her  winding  sheet.” 
For  these  early  flowers  deck  the  resting  place  of  the  autumn 
plants,  and  take  from  it  the  gloom  it  would  otherwise  wear,  remind¬ 
ing  us  that  as  they  rose  again  from  the  cold  black  earth,  so  shall 
these  autumn  flowers  once  more  delight  us.  There  is,  then,  some¬ 
thing  inspiriting  in  the  aspect  of  the  garden  now,  though  there  is 
little  sun  and  no  great  masses  of  warm  colour. 
The  Snowdrop  nestling  at  the  hedge  roots,  in  the  gras*,  in  the 
borders,  or  in  the  rock  gardeD,  has  now,  however,  gayer  companions  ; 
for  the  Crocus — in  gold,  in  varied  shades  of  blue,  or  in  garment* 
adorned  with  pretty  stripes  and  featherings — awaits  the  wooing  of 
the  sun  to  display  its  charms  to  the  world.  The  pink  and  white 
Winter  Heaths,  known  as  Erica  carnea  and  E.  herbacea,  or 
E.  carnea  alba,  are  now  wreathed  in  blossoms,  beautiful  alike  in 
form  and  in  colour — qualities  which  have  made  them  indispensable 
in  any  garden  claiming  to  have  a  collection  of  early  hardy  flowers. 
Delightful  are  these  Heaths  and  much  admired,  growing  by  moss- 
covered  stones  on  the  rockeries,  where  year  by  year  they  increase  in 
attractiveness.  They  can  be  removed  at  almost  any  time,  and  a 
small  piece  taken  off  with  root  attached  and  planted  in  sandy  peat 
will  soon  become  a  neat  plant. 
The  charming  little  Saxifraga  apiculata  has  opened  many  of 
its  primrose  or  sulphur-coloured  little  flowers,  and  many  are  yet  to 
come  to  prolong  its  blooming  time  for  many  a  day.  It  flowers  very 
well  with  me  in  a  pocket  of  peaty  soil  and  grit  on  a  rockery  facing 
almost  due  west.  In  a  contemporary  some  time  ago  I  observed  a 
remark  by  no  mean  authority  on  hardy  flowers,  to  the  effect  that 
this  Rockfoil  should  be  frequently  divided  to  induce  it  to  flower, 
as  it  did  not  bloom  so  freely  if  allowed  to  grow  into  a  mass.  I  mast 
take  exception  to  this,  as  it  flowers  very  freely  with  me,  although 
mine  is  now  a  large  plant  growing  over  the  lirhestone  which  divides 
the  rockery  into  pockets.  It  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  a  good 
sized  plant  is  much  prettier  than  a  number  of  small  ones.  The 
mass  of  greyish-green  foliage,  surmounted  by  its  spikelets  of  pale 
primrose-coloured  flowers,  is  exceedingly  pleasing.  It  may  be 
remembered  that  this  Rockfoil  was  formerly  known  as  S.  Frederici- 
Augusti  and  S.  luteo-purpurea,  and  has  also  been  known  as  S.  luteo- 
viridis,  but  Engler’s  name  of  S.  apiculata  is  now  accepted  as  correct. 
The  bright  crimson  flowers  of  Cyclamen  Coum  are  now 
cheery  looking  on  shady  rockwork,  and  give  a  welcome  bit  of 
colouring  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  flower  yet  in  bloom.  Those 
who  prize  this  little  “  Bleeding  Nun  ”  in  their  gardens  can  hardly 
understand  the  utilitarian  spirit  which  gave  it  the  old  popular 
names  of  Sow-bread  and  Swine-bread.  No  doubt  it  is  a  favourite 
with  the  porcine  race,  but  we  cannot  but  think  we  have  gained  some¬ 
thing  in  respect  of  names  when  we  can  find  a  substitute  for 
“  Sow-bread.”  These  hardy  Cyclamen  of  various  species  are  not 
nearly  well  enough  known,  and  even  when  out  of  flower  their 
pretty  leaves  attract  attention  by  their  beauty.  A  mass  of 
C.  neapolitanum,  nestling  at  the  base  of  a  small  rockery  under  a 
Lilac,  is  at  present  most  beautiful,  with  the  leathery  green  leaves 
of  varied  contour  marbled  in  a  charming  way.  The  ordinary 
C.  Coum  has  an  orbicular  leaf,  which  is  free  from  marking,  but  a 
zoned-leaved  form  which  I  got  from  Bithynia  is  even  more 
attractive. 
The  Leucoiums  or  Snowflakes  are  astir,  and  prepared  to  contest 
all  comers  in  the  tournament  of  beauty.  The  earliest  here  is  always 
the  form  of  L.  vernum  which  Mr.  J.  G.  Baker  tells  us  is  Yagneri, 
and  which  for  convenience  sake  I  call  the  Twin-flowered  Spring 
Snowflake.  It  is,  however,  being  closely  followed  by  a  few  plants 
in  a  clump  of  the  ordinary  L.  vernum,  which  are  favoured  with  a 
more  sheltered  nook  in  the  garden,  and  are  taking  full  advantage 
of  the  greater  cosiness  by  trying  to  rival  Vagner’s  Snowflake  in 
time  of  blooming.  L.  v.  Yagneri  is  often  sold  as  L.  v.  carpathi- 
cum,  which  has  yellow  instead  of  green  spots.  Those  of  L.  v. 
Yagneri  are  deep  green,  and  contrast  well  with  the  purity  of  the 
white  which  forms  the  groundwork  of  the  large  and  beautiful 
flowers.  The  Spring  Snowflake  needs  to  be  more  recognised,  as 
the  genus  is  known  to  many  only  by  the  Summer  Snowflake 
(L.  festivum),  which  is  not  nearly  so  beautiful  nor  so  desirable. 
Of  the  Crocuses  in  flower  one  may  be  selected  for  notice  at 
present,  although  many  equally  beautiful  are  ready  to  expand  their 
cups.  This  is  C.  asrius,  an  exquisite  little  Crocus,  several  corms  of 
which  came  to  me  from  Bithynia  two  or  three  years  ago.  It  is  now 
beginning  to  increase  a  little,  and  I  see  also  one  in  bud  from  seed  of 
this  Crocus  and  C.  gargaricus,  which  had  been  collected  together  on 
Mount  Olympus,  near  Broussa.  The  few  plants  which  flowered  last 
year  showed  some  variation  in  colour,  although  several  I  received 
as  C.  serius  albus  disappointed  me  by  having  no  trace  of  white  in 
the  colouring  of  the  flowers.  This  species  is  found,  according  to 
Mr.  Baker’s  “  Handbook  of  the  Irideas,”  “  on  the  mountains  of 
Armenia,  Bithynia,  Lazistan,  and  probably  also  Kurdistan, 
ascending  to  6000  or  7000  feet,  where  it  flowers  about  May,  although 
here  it  blooms  in  February  and  March.  Mr.  George  Maw  placed 
C.  aerius  in  the  division  Nudiflori,  or  species  without  a  basal  spathe, 
and  in  the  section  Annulati,  having  the  basal  tunic  of  the  corm 
separating  into  annulae  or  rings.  In  Mr.  Baker’s  arrangement, 
however,  this  Crocus  is  included  in  the  section  Holostigma,  having 
the  style  branches  entire.  The  flowers  vary,  as  I  have  said,  some¬ 
what  in  shade  of  colour,  but  are  what  may  be  called  a  “  bright 
bluish  purple,”  and  the  outer  segments  appear  to  vary  also,  some 
being  feathered  or  blotched  with  dark  purple  at  the  base  and  others 
are  almost  altogether  of  a  dark  purple  colour.  The  anthers  are 
