March  5,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
203 
watered  daily.  As  mentioned  above  they  must  be  watered  all  the 
year  round,  for  they  are  usually  in  full  growth  during  winter  at  a 
time  when  many  other  Orchids  are  quiet,  and  many  of  them  have 
to  bear  the  additional  strain  of  flowering. 
The  foliage  of  many  kinds  is  apt  to  be  attacked  by  red  spider, 
scale,  and  other  insects,  especially  if  not  properly  treated.  These 
'  must  be  removed  by  sponging,  but  prevention  is  better,  and  this  is 
|  found  in  good  culture.  A  nicely  moist  atmosphere  and  a  shady 
position  suits  them  best,  and  those  with  variegated  foliage  more 
especially  dislike  sprinkling.  Most  of  the  exotic  kinds  are  best 
grown  in  the  East  Indian  house,  though  they  will  thrive  with 
the  Cattleyas  if  the  atmospheric  conditions  are  right,  and  a  few 
species  are  best  in  the  cool  house.  I  will  refer  next  week  to  some 
of  the  better  known  kinds  now  in  flower,  giving  the  temperatures 
best  suited  to  them.— H.  R.  R. 
Culture  of  Calanthes. 
Numerous  failures  appear  to  have  occurred  with  the  Calanthes 
in  past  seasons.  I  do  not  propose  to  explain  the  cause  of  those, 
neither  could  I  do  so  if  I  attempted  ;  but  I  will  give  a  few 
particulars  of  the  system  by  which  we  have  always  grown  these 
plants  successfully.  As  soon  as  all  the  flowers  are  cut  and  we  can 
detect  signs  of  the  pseudo-bulbs  starting  to  grow  again  we  turn 
them  out  of  the  pots,  separating  the  old  from  the  new  pseudo¬ 
bulbs,  and  unless  we  want  to  increase  the  stock  we  cast  the  old  ones 
away  ;  the  new  we  clear  of  all  that  remains  of  the  old  leaves,  and 
cut  the  roots  off  to  within  an  inch  of  the  base. 
We  give  each  pseudo-bulb  a  good  sponging  with  clean  soft 
water,  this  saving  much  work  later  on,  as  we  never  have  to  clean 
them  again  ;  but  we  fumigate  lightly  if  a  green  fly  makes  its 
appearance.  We  then  take  some  boxes  about  6  inches  deep,  and 
place  in  them  about  2  inches  of  good  leaf  mould  run  through  a 
half-inch  sieve  ;  on  this  the  base  of  the  pseudo-bulbs  rest,  the  tops 
leaning  against  the  end  of  the  box,  a  piece  of  lath  being  tacked 
across  the  top  of  the  box  for  the  next  row  to  lean  against,  and  so 
on  until  the  box  is  full,  keeping  them  far  enough  apart  so  that  it 
can  be  seen  if  any  insects  attack  the  young  growth.  For  plants  of 
Calanthe  vestita  shallower  boxes  or  pans  suffice  without  any  laths. 
In  about  a  month  roots  an  inch  long  brist’e  from  the  pseudo-bulbs, 
and  they  are  then  ready  for  potting. 
The  compost  we  use  is  one-half  good  fibrous  loam  with  the 
finer  particles  sifted  out,  one-quarter  leaf  mould,  and  one- quarter 
cow  manure,  with  a  free  addition  of  charcoal  and  potsherds  broken 
small  and  a  little  silver  sand.  The  cow  manure  is  baked  on  a  flue  to 
destroy  all  animal  life,  and  then  broken  in  pieces  about  the  size 
of  cob  nuts.  Both  pots  and  materials  used  for  drainage  are 
washed  perfectly  clean,  the  pots  are  drained  well  with  rough  crocks 
a.nd  charcoal,  finishing  with  smaller  particles.  The  pots  are  half 
filled  with  drainage,  and  this  is  covered  with  moss  for  the  soil  and 
roots  to  rest  on.  Each  pseudo-bulb  of  C.  Yeitchi  is  secured  to  a 
short  stake,  0.  vestita  being  shorter  not  requiring  stakes. 
Great  care  is  taken  in  potting  not  to  break  any  of  the  young 
roots,  and  the  soil  is  sufficiently  moist  not  to  require  any  water  for 
some  time.  We  use  pots  varying  in  size  from  6  to  10-inch,  putting 
nine  or  ten  in  the  10-inch  and  four  or  five  in  the  6-mch,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  pseudo-bulbs.  We  place  them  in  a  temperature 
of  65°  to  70°  at  night,  with  a  rise  of  10°  or  15°  by  day,  on  a  stage 
about  18  inches  from  the  glass,  taking  care  that  the  foliage  does 
not  get  crowded  as  it  develops.  In  very  hot  and  bright  weather  a 
little  limewash  is  applied  to  the  glass,  this  being  the  only  shading 
afforded.  We  close  the  house  early  in  the  afternoon  with  plenty 
of  moisture,  the  temperature  sometimes  rising  to  120°  afterwards. 
When  the  pots  are  full  of  roots  liquid  manure  is  given  at  every 
alternate  watering,  using  that  obtained  from  the  stables  generally, 
and  occasionally  a  little  guano  water. 
When  the  flower  spikes  are  about  a  foot  high  we  gradually 
reduce  the  supply  of  water,  so  that  by  the  time  the  flowers  expand 
the  soil  is  nearly  or  quite  dry.  About  the  time  the  spikes  are 
6  inches  long  the  leaves  generally  commence  withering,  and  instead 
of  trying  to  keep  them  fresh  we  cut  off  all  the  decaying  portions 
when  cleaning  the  house,  and  by  the  time  the  flowers  open  the 
leaves  are  all  gone,  or  nearly  so.  When  about  half  the  flowers  on 
a  spike  are  open  we  shift  the  plants  into  a  cool  dry  house,  where 
they  generally  remain  attractive  until  starting  time  comes  round 
again . 
If  we  wish  to  increase  our  stock  of  Calanthes  we  save  the  old 
pseudo-bulbs,  and  after  washing  them  weil  lay  those  of  C.  Yeitchi 
intact  flat  in  leaf  mould.  If  we  wish  to  increase  them  very  quickly 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  break  off  the  tops  from  the  new  pseudo-bulbs 
and  lay  them  down  in  the  same  manner,  and  growths  from  the 
latter  will  generally  throw  up  a  fair  spike  of  bloom.  C.  vestita  we 
prefer  to  split  in  half  from  top  to  bottom,  and  after  being  allowed 
to  dry  a  little  powdered  charcoal  and  sulphur  are  mixed  and  rubbed 
on  the  cut  side.  When  these  have  started  growth  and  made  a  few 
roots  we  put  them  in  pairs  in  the  same  kind  of  compost  as  we  use 
for  the  others,  and  accord  the  same  treatment. — L. 
Cypripedium  insigne. 
This  popular  Lady’s  Slipper  is  one  of  the  best  Orchids  of  the 
present  season.  Very  floriferous,  it  is  seen  in  a  great  number  of 
varieties  of  a  more  or  less  bright  yellow  colour,  with  the  dorsal 
sepal  marked  with  brighter  or  fainter  black  or  maroon  spots,  and 
more  or  less  white  on  the  upper  half.  The  foliage  is  always  bright 
green  and  quite  attractive.  This  specie#  is  the  parent  of  innumer¬ 
able  hybrids  and  varieties,  which  all  bear  a  resemblance  to  the  type. 
Some  are  rare  and  costly,  but,  perhaps,  of  no  higher  ornamental 
value  than  the  species  itself,  which  is  now  as  cheap  as  a  good 
Begonia  or  Cyclamen.  This  Orchid  can  be  grown  by  anybody 
in  a  warm  apartment  or  greenhouse.  It  thrives  well  in  a  mixture 
of  peat  and  sphagnum  moss  in  well-drained  pots.  Occasional 
watering  with  liquid  manure  is  very  beneficial.  Light  sprayings 
of  the  foliage  in  summer  and  a  pure  and  warm  atmosphere  are 
essential  to  success.  In  December  or  January  the  flowers  expand 
and  keep  in  perfect  condition  for  months. — N.  J.  B.  (in  “Garden 
and  Forest.”) 
AN  EARLY  SPRING  BORDER  IN  THE  SOUTH. 
I  suppose  that  the  advent  of  spring  is  more  pleasurable  to  the 
young  than  to  the  old  ;  the  former,  with  all  the  possibilities  of  life 
before  them  and  as  yet  untouched  by  the  sharp  shafts  of  disap¬ 
pointment,  rejoice  in  the  opening  out  of  all  those  enchantments 
which  spring  brings  with  it,  ;  they  think  little  that  the  autumn  and 
the  winter  are  sure  to  intervene,  and  of  which  they  do  not  care  to 
take  account.  The  old,  on  the  other  hand,  feel  that  the  autumn 
and  winter  are  fast  approaching,  and  so  a  certain  amount  of  sadness 
must  accompany  the  brightest  spring,  and  yet  in  the  garden  both 
young  and  old  find  both  pleasure  and  enjoyment. 
The  present  season  is  one  that  has  surprised  many  of  us  ;  some 
things  are  early  and  others  not  so.  The  catkins  of  the  Hazel  are 
forward,  and  so  are,  indeed,  the  female  blossoms  ;  while,  on  the 
other  hand,  there  have  never  been  so  few  Primroses  out  in  our 
lanes  and  woods  at  this  time  of  the  year.  This  I  attribute  to  the 
long  drought  of  the  early  part  of  last  summer.  In  our  gardens 
many  of  the  spring  bulbs  are  unquestionably  early,  and  already 
afford  us  much  enjoyment. 
Along  the  drive  up  to  my  house  there  is  a  narrow  border,  and 
as  it  is  backed  by  a  small  plantation  consisting  of  somewhat  tall 
trees  it  was  not  possible  that  plants  should  thrive  in  it  ;  so  many 
years  ago  I  gave  up  the  attempt,  more  especially  as  the  border, 
facing  about  south,  is  as  hot  as  it  woll  could  be,  and  I  consequently 
determined  on  making  it  into  a  rough  sort  of  rockery,  and  this  is 
now  full  of  flower.  Long  before  the  Snowdrops  came  out  the 
flowers  of  hardy  Cyclamen  showed  themselves.  I  had  tried  these 
in  various  parts  of  my  garden,  but  somehow  could  not  get  them 
to  succeed  ;  but  reading  once  in  the  Journal  that  they  rather 
liked  the  shade  of  trees  I  made  a  bold  venture,  took  up  the  bulbs 
from  various  parts  of  the  garden,  and  planted  them  on  this  border. 
They  were,  of  course,  raised  somewhat  above  the  level  amongst  the 
stone#  which  formed  the  rockery,  and  here  they  have  succeeded 
most  admirably.  The  varieties  were,  I  believe,  vernum,  Atkinsi, 
and  Coum  ;  but  they  have  seeded  and  got  so  intermixed  that  I 
cannot  distinguish  them  now.  The  border  being  so  hot  has,  I 
suppose,  tended  to  the  ripening  of  the  seed,  and  the  consequence 
has  been  that  not  only  have  seedlings  sprung  up  in  all  directions  in 
the  border  itself,  but  they  appear  also  in  the  little  plantation 
behind,  from  whence  I  have  lifted  a  number  and  given  them  to 
friends  who  admired  them  in  the  rockery,  and  I  daresay  have  lost 
them.  Those  on  the  rockery  are  never  interfered  with.  The 
original  bulbs  have  largely  increased  in  size,  and  they  are  surrounded 
with  a  comely  progeny  of  youngsters.  I  sometimes  read  complaints 
of  persons  not  being  able  to  grow  these  charming  spring  bulbs,  and 
hence,  perhaps,  these  few  notes  may  be  of  service  to  them. 
Associated  with' these  is  a  good  bed  of  Winter  Aconites,  with  its 
charming  bright  yellow  flowers  ;  but,  alas  !  it  does  not  continue  in 
bloom  very  long,  although,  perhaps,  longer  this  season  than  many 
others,  as  until  lately  the  weather  has  been  dull  ;  it  is  one  of  those 
plants  that  persons  have  to  be  careful  about,  if  their  space  be 
limited,  because  it  increases  and  spreads  very  rapidly,  and  as  its 
foliage  is  large  in  proportion  to  the  flower  it  very  soon  absorbs  a 
large  portion  of  the  ground.  Along  with  these  are  associated  some 
clumps  of  Snowdrops.  I  do  not  care  to  grow  these  in  collections, 
and  have  therefore  only  a  few  Borts  beside  the  old  and  common 
nivalis,  which  I  think,  notwithstanding  the  newer  introductions,  is 
likely  to  hold  its  place  in  general  favour.  Elwesi  is  doubtless  a 
very  fine  form,  and  a  larger  form  of  it  that  ha#  come  up  amongst 
